Pcworld November 2021

Ports: Left side: Gigabit

ethernet, USB-A 3.2 Gen 2,

USB-C (with Thunderbolt 4),

headphone jack; right side: SD

card reader, USB-A 3.2 Gen 2,

USB-C (with Thunderbolt 4),

HDMI 2.1

Weight: 5.29 pounds (power

brick weighs 1.9 pounds)

Dimensions:

14.11x10.33x0.78 inches

In the United States, Best Buy

is the exclusive retailer for the

The Predator Triton 500 SE fits an ethernet port and more on its Predator Triton 500 SE. A $2,000
left side. variant (fave.co/3aSZn6n)

TECH SPECS includes Geforce RTX 3070
graphics and 1TB of storage, while a $2,700

Our Acer Predator Triton 500 SE review unit model (fave.co/3aX0baq) offers GeForce

costs $1,750 and includes the following RTX 3080 graphics, 1TB of storage, and

tech specs: 32GB of RAM.

Processor: Intel Core

i7-11800H

Graphics: Nvidia GeForce

RTX 3060 Max-Q with 6 GB

GDDR6 VRAM

Display: 16-inch, 2560x1600

resolution IPS display, 165 Hz

refresh rate, 500 nits brightness

Memory: 16GB DDR4 RAM

(3200 MHz)

Storage: 512GB PCIe

Gen4x4 SSD

Wireless: Wi-Fi 6 You’ll have to get under the mainboard to add more storage to
Camera: 720p webcam the Predator Triton 500 SE.

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 99

REVIEWS ACER PREDATOR TRITON 500 SE

The other specs and ports hold firm screen size suggests. The width of the display

regardless of configuration, but keep in mind is almost roughly the same as a standard

that the storage is expandable via an empty 15.6-inch widescreen laptop; the extra screen

M.2 SSD slot. The only catch is that it sits real estate is nearly all vertical.

underneath the mainboard after you’ve The display’s 165Hz refresh rate is also a

opened the laptop with hex screws, so it’s not treat to the trained eye, as it makes everything

an easy upgrade. look smoother, from cursor movements to

DESIGN AND DISPLAY web-page scrolling to fast-paced gaming.
The 500 nit matte panel helps the screen stay

At least from afar, the Predator Triton 500 SE’s legible in bright sunlight, and the resolution

silver aluminum finish and boxy enclosure of 2560x1600 is sharp enough to make

does not scream “gaming laptop,” but it can’t individual pixels invisible without the overkill

resist its share of flourishes. Acer’s Predator of 4K (fave.co/3B11pM6).

logo graces the lid and the bezel beneath the That said, it’s not the most vibrant

display, while a Turbo button sits in the middle display—it doesn’t support high dynamic

of the laptop’s trapezoidal speaker grille, range or 100 percent of DCI-P3 color space

revving up its three internal cooling fans when like some other premium gaming laptops—

pressed. Meanwhile, exhaust vents line the and it had an excessively greenish hue out of

laptop’s entire back edge, helping those fans the box. Mucking around with Intel’s Graphics

exchange air. Command Center software (fave.co/2Z3sz7V)

It’s also just a hefty laptop overall, helps, but that shouldn’t be necessary.

weighing 5.29

pounds and

measuring 0.78

inches thick.

Still, the narrow

display bezels

and 16:10

aspect ratio

make the

Predator Triton

500 SE seem

more compact

than its 16-inch The Predator Triton 500 SE’s rear edge is covered entirely in air vents.

100 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

KEYBOARD
AND TRACKPAD

While keyboards and

trackpads sometimes get

short shrift on gaming

laptops, Acer made them

respectable on the

Predator Triton 500 SE.

The keys are snappy

without feeling overly

stiff, and the laptop’s

sturdy base helps

prevent any feelings of The Predator Triton 500 SE keyboard has three customizable
mushiness as you type. backlight zones. (Go Blue!)

Tapping the Predator key on the grainy side for aspiring Twitch

also brings up the Acer’s PredatorSense streamers. That said, it does support high

software, where you can change the colors dynamic range, which helps improve the

and patterns on the keyboard’s three picture in subpar lighting conditions. The

backlighting zones. laptop’s microphone produced clear,

The trackpad doesn’t disappoint either, unmuffled audio, but volume was on the quiet

with a smooth glass surface that never side on default settings. (Boosting the mic in

succumbs to friction. That feeling of Windows’ Sounds menu helped [fave.

smoothness is reinforced by the high refresh co/3nas18z].)

rate display, which eliminates the subtle For security, the Predator Triton 500 SE

cursor jitter you find on standard 60 Hz has a fingerprint reader built into its

panels. The clicking mechanism is somewhat touchpad, but it doesn’t support face

stiff, however, especially as you move your recognition via Windows Hello. It also skips

way up the touchpad. out on including any kind of privacy shutter or

WEBCAM, AUDIO, kill switch for the webcam, which is a letdown
AND SECURITY on a laptop of this price.

Speaker quality could be better as well,

Like most Windows laptops, the Acer even by laptop standards. Despite the

Predator Triton 500 SE has a 720p webcam, presence of upward-firing speakers running

which is adequate for videoconferencing but the length of the keyboard, audio lacks

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 101

REVIEWS ACER PREDATOR TRITON 500 SE

character and offers middling maximum PCMark 10
volume levels.
CPU performance
PERFORMANCE
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE 6,966
Though it certainly has the bulk of a gaming Core i7-11800H 6,903
laptop, the Acer Predator Triton 500 SE 6,889
does a fine job of balancing both Acer Nitro 5 AN515-45-R7S0 6,543
productivity and gaming duties. It stays Ryzen 7 5800H 5,646
quiet while browsing the web and editing
documents—you’ll have to listen closely to Razer Blade 14 (2021)
hear any fan noise—and doesn’t get Ryzen 9 5900HX
uncomfortably warm in your lap.
Dell XPS 17 9710
The Predator Triton 500 SE also turned in Core i7-11800H
solid benchmark scores, and had no issues
keeping up with 1440p, 60 fps gaming—the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED
gold standard—at high graphics settings in UX582 Core i9-10980HK
the games I tested.
LONGER BARS INDICATE BETTER PERFORMANCE
On to the benchmarks:
On the work side, the Predator Triton 500 little over 20 minutes, perhaps due to a
SE’s PCMark 10 score of 6,966 topped those combination of its larger 16:10 footprint and
of several other laptops we’ve tested recently, its triple-fan cooling system to keep the CPU
including the Dell XPS 17 with the same Intel from throttling down.
Core i7-11800H CPU. That processor is
obviously overkill for basic office tasks, but Cinebench, meanwhile, performs a quick
the Triton’s score in PCMark’s Digital Content stress test of CPU performance. While the Triton
Creation subtest (9,366) was also ahead of didn’t fare quite as well as Dell’s XPS 17 in this
those of its peers. test—at least in multi-threaded performance—it
Handbrake is a more intensive test,
illustrating how the processor holds up while Handbrake Encode
encoding a large video file. The Predator (Android Tablet)
Triton 500 SE stood out here as well, holding
its own against the AMD Ryzen processors Seconds
whose additional cores tend to make quick
work of this test. It encoded our test file in a Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage 1,073
Edition Ryzen 9 5900HX 1,189
1,223
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-45-R7S0 1,250
Ryzen 7 5800H 1,348
1,355
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE 1,493
Core i7-11800H
2,316
Razer Blade 14 (2021)
Ryzen 9 5900HX

Gigabyte Aorus 17G
Core i7-10870H

Dell XPS 17 9710
Core i7-11800H

Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED
UX582 Core i9-10980HK

Acer Predator 300 SE
PT-314-51s-71UU Core i7-11375H

SHORTER BARS INDICATE BETTER PERFORMANCE

102 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

Cinebench R15 0.38 3DMark FireStrike 1.1

All threads Graphics performance

Single thread

Dell XPS 17 9710 230 2,104 Razer Blade 14 (2021) 21,202
Core i7-11800H 232 2,058 Ryzen 9 5900HX 20,959
240 2,026 19,496
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE 231 2,010 Gigabyte Aorus 17G 17,335
Core i7-11800H 203 1,750 Core i7-10870H 16,470
202 1,712 15,638
Razer Blade 14 (2021) 205 Acer Nitro 5 AN515-45-R7S0 14,789
Ryzen 9 5900HX Ryzen 7 5800H
1,045
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-45-R7S0 Acer Predator Triton 500 SE
Ryzen 7 5800H Core i7-11800H

Gigabyte Aorus 17G Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED
Core i7-10870H UX582 Core i9-10980HK

Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 Dell XPS 17 9710
OLED UX582 Core i9-10980HK Core i7-11800H

Acer Predator 300 SE Acer Predator 300 SE
PT-314-51s-71UU Core i7-11375H PT-314-51s-71UU Core i7-11375H

LONGER BARS INDICATE BETTER PERFORMANCE

LONGER BARS INDICATE BETTER PERFORMANCE 3DMark Time Spy 1.1

Graphics performance

overall proved to be quite nimble. Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage 10,820
Gaming performance is similarly Edition Ryzen 9 5900HX 9,776
9,605
admirable, with the Predator Triton 500 SE Gigabyte Aorus 17G 8,605
faring better than several other laptops with Core i7-10870H 7,748
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPUs. 7,548
Razer Blade 14 (2021) 7,004
Looking at 3DMark’s Fire Strike DirectX 11 Ryzen 9 5900HX 6,408
benchmark, the Predator Triton 500 SE
outperformed both the Dell XPS 17 and the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-45-R7S0
less-luxurious Triton 300 SE (fave. Ryzen 7 5800H
co/3aUOWPO), both with similar GeForce
RTX 3060 graphics cards. Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED
UX 582 Core i9-10980HK
Similar results emerged from 3DMark’s
Time Spy benchmark, which tests DirectX 12 Acer Predator Triton 500 SE
performance at a 1440p rendering resolution. Core i7-11800H
The Predator Triton 500 SE did lose out to its
cheaper 300 SE sibling in Rise of the Tomb Dell XPS 17 9710
Raider’s benchmark tool, but not by much. Core i7-11800H

Anecdotally, I never had to compromise Acer Predator 300 SE
PT-314-51s-71UU Core i7-11375H

LONGER BARS INDICATE BETTER PERFORMANCE

on resolution or graphics quality while
playing No Man’s Sky, Nioh, Descenders, or
Apex Legends, even on the system’s default
settings (which is what we test at). In Apex,
Steam’s framerate meter tended to float
around 85 fps, ticking up by about 10
frames when I activated the laptop’s Turbo

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 103

REVIEWS ACER PREDATOR TRITON 500 SE

Rise of the Tomb Raider is solid for a gaming laptop, but you should
Very High DX11 19x10 still expect to need a charger before the
workday is done, even before you get to play
Frames per second any games.

Gigabyte Aorus 17G 119.09 BOTTOM LINE
Core i7-10870H 112.00
101.00 For everything that’s on offer, the Predator
Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage 93.02 Triton 500 SE is both a remarkable value and
Edition Ryzen 9 5900HX 91.60 an impressive balancing act. Gaming laptops
84.00 with high refresh rates tend not to come in
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-45-R7S0 83.75 16:10 aspect ratios, and the one notable
Ryzen 7 5800H 64.93 exception—Dell’s XPS 17 9710—has both a
standard 60Hz display refresh rate and a
Acer Predator 300 SE higher price ($2,099, when similarly
PT-314-51s-71UU Core i7-11375H equipped) to boot.

Acer Predator Triton 500 SE While the Triton is by no means
Core i7-11800H inexpensive at $1,750, it’s a reasonable ask
for its combination of portable gaming and
Razer Blade 14 (2021) productivity on an ultra-smooth screen.
Ryzen 9 5900HX Best of all, you might not even be
embarrassed to be spotted with it.
Dell XPS 17 9710
Core i7-11800H

Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED
UX582 Core i9-10980HK

LONGER BARS INDICATE BETTER PERFORMANCE

fan mode. (I’d suggest playing with
headphones on if you do this.)

Battery life was admirable as well, thanks
to the honking-big 100 watt-hour battery that
Acer stuffed inside. A runtime of 8 hours and
39 minutes in our looping video playback test

Battery Life Acer Predator Triton 500 SE

Minutes PROS

Dell XPS 17 9710 595 • Velvety 165 Hz refresh rate in a 16-inch, 16:10
Core i7-11800H 547 display.
519
Acer Predator 300 SE 434 • Strong battery life for a gaming laptop.
PT-314-51s-71UU Core i7-11375H 385
377 CONS
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE 324
Core i7-11800H • Display could be more vibrant and better calibrated
out of the box.
Razer Blade 14 (2021)
Ryzen 9 5900HX • Middling onboard speakers.

Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED BOTTOM LINE
UX 582 Core i9-10980HK
The Acer Predator Triton 500 SE is a powerful laptop
Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage whose high refresh rate display benefits more than
Edition Ryzen 9 5900HX just gaming.

Acer Nitro 5 AN515-45-R7S0 $1,750
Ryzen 7 5800H

LONGER BARS INDICATE BETTER PERFORMANCE

104 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

PNY LX3030 SSD: Incredible
durability for twice the price

This PCIe 3 drive sustains long writes with the top performers and is rated for a staggering
27,000TBW per TB of capacity. BY JON L. JACOBI

P NY’s new LX3030 NVMe SSD isn’t else that involves writing lots and lots of data,
for everyone. It’s marketed directly it might also be of interest.
at Chia cryptocurrency plotting, a
very high-bandwidth sustained Why? The LX3030 is the fastest PCIe
write task. If you want some info on how much 3.0–based sustained writer we’ve tested and
data Chia requires, you can find it here (fave. its TBW (TeraBytes that can be Written) ratings
co/3E0aqao). But if your workload involves are astounding: 27,000TBW per 1TB of
something similar, such as continuous large- NAND. Seagate’s scorching-fast FireCuda
scale backup, video encoding, or anything 530 (fave.co/3vs8HYl) is rated for 1,250TBW
per terabyte—a lot of data by normal

IMAGE: PNY NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 105

REVIEWS PNY LX3030 SSD

standards, but shy one zero compared to the LDPC is Low-Density Parity Checking; AI is
PNY’s rated durability. the imitation of human intelligence—
completely inappropriate in this
The catch? When I say the LX3030 is not circumstance so I’ll call it an advanced
for everyone, I mean it: The 2TB version I algorithm; and I/F is simply flash interface.
tested is priced at $1,170—more than twice
what the aforementioned FireCuda 530 Just pure speculation: The drive is heavily
costs. Gulp. overprovisioned so that more cells are
available as replacements, or as PNY claims,
PRICE AND DESIGN there’s special sauce in the controller firmware
and the NAND is super reliable. Or…
The rest of the LX3030 story is rather
mundane. It’s a four-lane PCIe 3 drive in the Truth be told, price, warranties, and TBW
standard 2280 (22 mm wide, 80 mm long) ratings are joined at the hip. Drives that carry
M.2 form factor. PNY was extremely tight- high TBW ratings and longer warranties are
lipped about details. Peeling back the label, more expensive because the vendor stands a
however, revealed a Phison PS5012-12ES-32 higher likelihood of having to replace it.
controller, eight unknown 3D NAND chips (I
found no Web entry for the chip numbers), There’s been scuttlebutt around the
and two Kingston 1GB DRAM chips. industry for years that NAND is far more
durable than most ratings indicate. Also,
So why is PNY willing to offer these controllers have become aces at maximizing
super-large TBW ratings? To quote the speed and/or longevity. And it’s a well-known
company, “The LX family of SSDs utilize fact that most users don’t write nearly as much
Lifextension technology, a combination of an data as they think they do. 54,000TBW is
advanced AI Engine, LDPC and Flash I/F to writing a 30TB of data every day for the five
deliver ultra-high plotting endurance.” That years of the 2TB drive’s warranty. That’s a lot of
doesn’t really tell us a lot, but for the record: data—Chia plotting amounts, I’ve been told.

PNY’s LX3030 offers outstanding longevity ratings and is a good performer over PCIe 3.

106 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

PNY’s TBW ratings in the LX family spec CrystalDiskMark 6
sheet are open to interpretation and don’t
exactly match those in other advertising. The MBps
1TB version is covered by the aforementioned
27,000TBW, but the warranty is for only two PNY LX3030 Seagate Firecuda 530 (PCIe 3)
years. The only other drives I’ve seen with Adata Gammix 570 Blade (PCIe 3) Samsung 980 Pro (PCIe 3)
higher TBW ratings than the LX3030’s are
Intel’s pure Optane SSDs (fave.co/2Xy0Vj6), Sequential Write 3,034
which are even pricier, but rated in the (Q=32, T=1) 3,486
petabytes (!) if you can find one—they were
discontinued in early 2021 (fave.co/3ni8aoi). Sequential Read 3,167
(Q=32, T=1) 3,427
PERFORMANCE
3,462
The 2TB LX3030 I tested was strictly mid-tier 3,571
in its overall performance. Its 3GB writing and
3.4GB reading are very fast (it’s PCI 3 only, 3,561
remember), but it can’t touch something like 3,556
the Seagate FireCuda 530 for everyday
workloads. If bleeding-edge performance or LONGER BARS INDICATE BETTER PERFORMANCE
PCI 4 support are what you’re looking for,
look elsewhere (fave.co/3vs9d8J)—this SSD is The LX3030 was well off the pace of top-tier
about endurance. drives such as the Samsung 980 Pro, but this drive
is about longevity.
This so-so overall performance may well
have something to do with the special NAND Samsung 980 Pro (fave.co/3pl4AfJ), or Adata
handling PNY claims is involved in promoting S70 Blade (fave.co/3jkSqPW), but the
longevity. Rigorous error checking, wear LX3030 is far pricier than all of those, so we
leveling (spreading writes over all the NAND), couldn’t in good conscience put it up against
and finer voltage control might indeed make budget wonders.
for slower performance.
Where the LX3030 took flight was in our
The LX3030 was the slowest in the pack in 450GB write test. It bested all other drives by
CrystalDiskMark 6, as well as in our real-world at least a couple of seconds. In fact, it turned
48GB transfer tests shown below. It’s likely in the best time we’ve seen over PCIe 3. PNY
not fair to compare the LX3030 to drives like is apparently serious about the SSD being
the FireCuda 530 (fave.co/3vs8HYl), designed with Chia plotting in mind.

The LX3030 does what it needs to, but
of course I’d like to see a PCIe 4 version.
Only PNY (and likely Phison) knows if it
could pull the superior endurance out of
faster transfer rates.

The PCIe 3 tests utilize Windows 10 64-bit
running on a Core i7-5820K/Asus X99

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 107

REVIEWS PNY LX3030 SSD

48GB Transfers 450GB Single-File Write

Seconds Seconds

PNY LX3030 Seagate Firecuda 530 (PCIe 3) PNY LX3030 Seagate Firecuda 530 (PCIe 3)
Adata Gammix 570 Blade (PCIe 3) Samsung 980 Pro (PCIe 3) Adata Gammix 570 Blade (PCIe 3) Samsung 980 Pro (PCIe 3)

Total Time 340 450GB Write 239
284 242
243
320
311 281

48GB Folder 133 SHORTER BARS INDICATE BETTER PERFORMANCE
Write 113
Surprise, surprise. The LX3030 delivered an
48GB Folder 130 absolutely outstanding 450GB write (over PCIe 3)
Read 122 performance.

48GB Write 152 Kingston DRAM, cards, and software. All
120 testing is performed on an empty or nearly
48GB Read empty drive that’s TRIM’d after every set of
136 tests. Performance will decrease as the
133 drive fills up. If your drive, given similar
hardware, does not perform similarly,
24 please let us know.
24
26 BOTTOM LINE
26
The LX3030 is pricey and then some, so you
31 really need to be sure you’re writing the
27 amount of data that’s required to make full use
28 of its longevity. That’s likely Chia plotting
30 (fave.co/3vtoTZj). If so, then you’ll appreciate
the peace of mind the LX3030’s ratings and
SHORTER BARS INDICATE BETTER PERFORMANCE warranties provide.

The LX303 was decent but not great in our 48GB Otherwise, look to the far less expensive
transfer tests. competing drives shown in the charts, all of
which also offer superior performance and
Deluxe system with four 16GB Kingston plenty of durability, and also support PCIe 4
2666MHz DDR4 modules, a Zotac (NVidia) for future-proofing.
GT 710 1GB x2 PCIe graphics card, and an
Asmedia ASM3242 USB 3.2×2 card. It also
contains a Gigabyte GC-Alpine Thunderbolt
3 card, and Softperfect Ramdisk 3.4.6 for the
48GB read and write tests.

The PCIe 4 testing was done on an MSI
MEG X570 motherboard socketing an AMD
Ryzen 7 3700X 8-core CPU, using the same

108 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

Getting back to these
moments we miss
starts with
getting informed.

Get the latest information
about COVID-19 vaccines at

GetVaccineAnswers.org

FEATURE

SOME OF
THE BEST
WINDOWS 11
FEATURES ARE

110 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

HERE’S WHERE TO
FIND THEM.
BY MARK
HACHMAN

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 111

FEATURE WINDOWS 11’S BEST HIDDEN FEATURES

M icrosoft places the most new capabilities waiting for you when you
disconcerting aspects of finally upgrade.
Windows 11 front and center,
while its best features are We mentioned some of these features
hidden deeper within.” That’s how I closed in our deep-dive Windows 11 review.
my Windows 11 review (see page 25), and it Others, like the new Snap View, could
still feels true today. But what are those easily remain hidden until you eventually
hidden, superior features? stumble upon them. But rather than waiting
to discover some of Windows 11’s best
Yes, you’ll need to hunt a bit. But features by happenstance, you can use this
Microsoft has scattered some hidden gems article as a guide.
here and there within the new OS, and we’ll
show you what they are. We’d still advise you GREATER SECURITY
to wait on Windows 11 (fave.co/3DQeFVJ)
while Microsoft smooths out the bugs, but at PCWorld has spilled a lot of digital ink on
least you’ll know that there are some cool Windows 11’s hardware restrictions (fave.
co/3C7aDbn), specifically the Trusted

112 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

Platform Module capabilities (fave. A Trusted
co/3vlsU1M) that Microsoft is trying to Platform
enforce. For consumers, the TPM Module, which may
requirement may feel more like an obstacle to already be integrated into
overcome, rather than a feature to be your PC’s CPU.
celebrated. Still, Microsoft
predicated the entire to land in a jumble on your laptop’s screen.
Windows 11 platform When you redock, they’re scattered randomly
on the premise that over those available displays.
securing your PC via
hardware helps protect it When you undock a laptop within
from attacks both known and Windows 11, all of your available windows
unknown, just as using a lock on minimize, so that they land on your laptop’s
your laptop is an added layer of display in an orderly fashion. When you
protection against data theft. redock your PC, all of the windows return,
right where you left them. (This generally
Aside from the question of whether your works as advertised within Windows 11, as it
PC uses supported or unsupported did just now when I tested it. Five minutes
hardware, TPM isn’t something you need to prior, however, I had undocked my laptop
think about. It just is there. We’re still not sure from a Thunderbolt port and then redocked it
in what ways the added security will manifest in the other Thunderbolt port on my PC. That
in Windows 11 machines. On Microsoft’s confused poor Windows, and I needed to do
Surface devices, for example, you simply a bit of tidying up.)
don’t have the option to turn off Memory
Integrity, a Windows Security feature that TIPS AND GET STARTED
isolates certain parts of your PC to prevent
them from being attacked. Windows 11’s Out of Box Experience
(OOBE)—the setup process you are guided
UNDOCKING YOUR
LAPTOP PRESERVES
WINDOW STATES

On Windows 10, undocking your laptop from
a Thunderbolt or a display cable often causes
everything to go a bit haywire: When
disconnected, all of your open windows tend

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 113

FEATURE WINDOWS 11’S BEST HIDDEN FEATURES

through on a clean installation—

is truly excellent. But what you

might overlook are the two

supplementary apps: Tips and

Get Started. You can access

both at any time, though there

are no real signposts within

Windows 11 explicitly pointing

you toward them. (There might

be one within the OOBE

experience, but you could

easily miss it.)

Get Started is more than an

introductory app; it points you

to some really useful options,

such as choosing new apps to

download and spice up Startup Boost actually exists in Windows 10, so this isn’t a

Windows 11. It’s fairly basic, and Windows 11–specific tip. But it’s still useful.

if you’re already familiar with

Windows (or Windows 11 in particular), you much time the update will require. (We

may not see anything particularly special. haven’t tested this specifically to see if the

Tips is a little different. There are so many estimates are accurate.) This may be a tad

opportunities to learn something new within gimmicky, as anyone who has tried to transfer

any operating system, and there’s nothing files within Windows understands—

saying that Microsoft can’t keep a constant Microsoft’s estimated time to completion can

stream of them coming. Take 30 seconds, vary dramatically, even within the same file

launch the Tips app, and see what’s there. transfer! Still, the new estimated times

Even people who regularly work within should at least give you an idea of whether

Windows 11 can discover some new tricks. you need to hunt down another cup of coffee

ESTIMATED ‘TIME TO while you wait. (And remember, you can
UPDATE’ schedule them for after hours, too.) You’ll
see the new estimated times within

If you need to update your device for any Windows 11’s Windows Update section

reason, Windows 11 will now try to guess how within the Settings menu.

114 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

Remember, too, that Microsoft is downloaded before, such as an HTML5

separating more and more applications from version of Spelunky, an exploration game.

the main OS. In real-world terms, that means (Microsoft has said before that you might be

Microsoft can download and apply updates offered a trial of Game Pass, too, for example.)

to apps like the Windows Subsystem for Linux Windows 11 includes a link that supposedly

quietly, in the background, without the need will explain this a bit more, but it’s a bug that

for a reboot. Apps will still require updates goes to this Azure page (fave.co/3E2uBEr)

within Windows 11, and you may see apps instead. Still, we may see this particular

pause to download and apply updates after setting fleshed out more over time. Why not

you’ve opened them. That’s annoying, try it and see what happens?

though it’s unclear how common this will be. CORTANA

DEVICE USAGE It’s a little bittersweet to write this, but Cortana

This little feature might not be much today, isn’t part of Windows proper any more, and

but it has potential. For the past few months, hasn’t been for some time. Microsoft’s smart,

Windows 10 has offered you the choice of personalized assistant, Cortana, is now an

“deciding” how you will use your PC as part app, as she has been for the last few months.

of the initial setup process: You

can, for example, tell Windows

that you’ll use your PC for

school or for gaming or

business. But that was

essentially it. In Windows 11,

there’s a dedicated Windows 11

Settings menu that gives you

more control over this feature.

and you’ll find it within

Personalization > Settings.

Don’t expect profound

changes to your PC as a result:

switching on Gaming, for

example, seemed to prompt my

PC to download some simple

gaming apps that I’d Windows 11’s Cortana app.

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 115

FEATURE WINDOWS 11’S BEST HIDDEN FEATURES

But Cortana is still there, and you can personally can’t stand listening to music while I

configure her to always listen if you so work, but there’s something smart and

choose. I’ve become a simplistic Cortana satisfying about setting yourself a list of tasks,

user, asking her to do basic math, set a sitting down to accomplish them, and checking

reminder, or simply let me know when 20 them off your list. Clock allows you to do that.

minutes has expired so I can run a new LINUX GUI APPS
benchmark. If you don’t want to invest in an

Alexa- or Google-powered smart speaker, I’m not a skilled Linux user by any metric, but

there’s one right in front of you within your PC. Windows Subsystem for Linux has allowed me

FOCUS MODE WITHIN to explore the Linux operating system via the
THE CLOCK APP Windows Subsystem for Linux. Essentially, the
WSL is a way to run Linux within the Windows

Windows 11’s humble Clock app now includes Terminal shell, letting you experience Linux

a way in which you can set yourself a period of without spinning up a virtual machine or a

focused activity, and then relax for a bit. This is dedicated device. (Unlike Windows Sandbox,

also known as the Pomodoro Technique, and however, WSL accesses your PC’s file system,

it’s a useful way to get things done. The Clock so you can wreak unexpected havoc if you

app doubles down on this productivity theme don’t know what you’re doing.)

by integrating with To-Do and with Spotify. I Microsoft upgraded WSL to WSL2 last

year, and added support for

Linux graphical apps and GPU

support. This means you’ll still

work within a command-line

environment in something

like Ubuntu, but you’ll also

have the option of running

windowed apps. It doesn’t

appear that you can run an

actual Linux GUI desktop shell

within WSL2, though—

perhaps because Windows

I personally don’t use Focus Mode, since I already have a workflow users would see how
established without it. But it’s a handy tool for those who don’t, and reminiscent Windows 11 is of
it offers Spotify integration to boot. Linux in some places.

116 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

Your Phone

also allows you to

keep your existing

mobile messaging

apps in place

(sorry, Teams

Chat) and even

pin them to your

desktop. Yes,

you can run

PC apps on

your PC, but if you

WSL lets you run Linux within the Windows terminal shell. prefer the look

YOUR SMARTPHONE’S and feel of  an
ANDROID APPS Android app, Your Phone has your back.

Are these all of the hidden features within

Unfortunately, native Android apps remain Windows 11? Probably not…and even more

a really hidden feature for now—though are coming as Microsoft adds new features.

Microsoft promised they’d

be included within Windows

11, they just haven’t yet been

made available. But if you

have a supported Samsung

Android phone, you can run

mirrored Android apps from

Your Phone on your desktop.

Your Phone is already a great

way to keep tabs on your

phone without having to

physically handle it, and Your

Phone already allows you to

place texts and even make

calls via your phone right Windows 11’s Your Phone app, running on a Samsung Galaxy S20+.
from your PC. Here I’ve pinned the MLB At Bat app to my Windows desktop.

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 117

FEATURE

ULTRAWIDE VS. D

WHICH SHOULD

118 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

DUAL MONITORS:

D YOU CHOOSE?

KNOW THE PROS AND CONS
OF BOTH OPTIONS.
BY MATT SMITH

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 119

FEATURE ULTR AWIDE VS. DUAL MONITORS

W ant to maximize your A 34-inch ultrawide monitor, the most
desktop’s real estate? You common size, is not as large you might think.
have two options: an This size of ultrawide is nearly identical to a
ultrawide monitor or a 27-inch widescreen monitor in height and
dual-monitor setup. Either choice will about 8 inches wider.
massively expand the screen space at your
command. But ultrawide and dual-monitor Purchasing a second 27-inch monitor will,
setups are not the same. Each has its of course, net you a second monitor just as
strengths and weaknesses. large as the first (fave.co/2Zazegw). A second
27-inch monitor adds 23.5 inches to the
Here’s how to decide whether an ultrawide width of your setup. That’s about 15.5 inches
monitor or dual monitors is right for you. wider than a 34-inch ultrawide monitor.

HOW WIDE IS IT? To reach the equivalent of two 27-inch
monitors in a single display, you must go
Everyone looking to buy an ultrawide monitor or all-out with a 49-inch super-ultrawide with a
dual monitors wants more usable display space. 32:9 aspect ratio, such as Samsung’s CHG90
But how much do you gain with each scenario? (fave.co/3b2iafz). That’s almost exactly as tall

120 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

and wide as two

27-inch monitors

side by side, but

considerably more

expensive.

Going dual has

another advantage,

one that no ultrawide

can ever match:

flexibility.

You can use one

of your two monitors

in a portrait

orientation, adding Besides offering a wider expanse than a single ultrawide monitor, a dual
vertical instead of display is more flexible in terms of screen angles and orientation.

horizontal space.

This is perfect if you need to display monitor leaves you with wide, short

documents on a second screen or want to windows that are awkward to use. A dual-

have multiple social media and chat apps monitor setup also provides you with more

open while working on your primary monitor. locations to place windows.

You can even mix and match monitors of The aspect ratio of an ultrawide monitor is

different sizes to perfectly fit your desk. a problem even when you’re not using

MULTITASKING Windows Snap. Most apps are programmed
for use with a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio

The flexibility of a dual-monitor setup has and have a user interface designed for that

advantages for multitasking, as you can aspect ratio. Resizing an app to a 21:9 aspect

change the shape of your setup to fit your ratio often leaves large, empty areas or forces

needs. This isn’t the only way dual monitors portions of the interface to one side.

beat ultrawide in productivity, however. Ultrawide owners end up manually

Windows Snap (fave.co/3vyDwdI), a resizing windows to an approximately 16:9

feature built into Windows that allows you aspect ratio. It’s like playing a game of Tetris

to quickly resize and move windows for with pieces that don’t fit. You’ll struggle to

better multitasking, works best on dual find an arrangement of windows that doesn’t

monitors. Using Snap on an ultrawide waste space.

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 121

FEATURE ULTR AWIDE VS. DUAL MONITORS

PIXEL DENSITY course, but it has some utility. Dual 4K

Dual monitors are on a winning streak, thanks monitors are great for editing ultra-HD video.

to another reason that two monitors is better You can view a full-screen preview on a

than one: resolution. second monitor while editing in the first.

4K monitors aren’t hard to find. You can Photographers and creative artists might also

pick up the Dell S2721QS (fave.co/3G8rLzS), find similar uses for this setup.

my go-to recommendation among affordable Gamers, though, should stay away. Dual

4K monitors, for only $370—or you can buy 4K might seem appealing at a glance but, like

two for twice the price. That’s an effective a bug zapper, the allure can only end in pain.

resolution of 7680×2160, putting over 16 PC GAMING
million pixels at your disposal.

Ultrawide doesn’t come close. LG’s Ultrawide monitors have taken their thumps

34WK95U-W (fave.co/3G73SZp), the most so far, but gamers can disregard the

pixel-dense ultrawide monitor, has a lashing I’ve dished out. Ultrawide is the

resolution of 5120×2160. That’s impressive king of PC gaming.

but works out to barely more than 11 million A dual-monitor setup has an obvious

pixels, and costs about 30 percent more than issue: the bezel running down the middle of

a pair of Dell’s 4K screens. the display. Even the thinnest, most minuscule

Not everyone needs 16 million pixels, of monitor bezels are blatantly obvious when

you’re using two

monitors side by side.

Playing a game on two

monitors at once is

technically possible,

but it’s a really bad

idea.

Ultrawide monitors

offer not just more

usable space for

gaming but a more

immersive aspect ratio.

A wider aspect ratio

LG’s 34WK95U-W offers an impressive 11 million pixels with its 5120×2160 means that in most
resolution, but that can still be bested by a pair of 4K monitors. games you can see

122 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

more at once.

Scenery and objects

that remain outside

your field of view on

a 16:9 widescreen

become visible on a

21:9 ultrawide.

A wider aspect

ratio is especially

useful in certain

games. Landing a

plane in Microsoft Flight Simulator is easier

on a 21:9 monitor thanks to the

improved sense of perspective a When it comes to gaming, you can’t beat the uninterrupted
wide field-of-view offers. Gamers expanse of a single ultrawide monitor—when it’s curved, as with
deep into Civilization IV or the AOC CU34G2X, the experience is even more immersive.

Humankind can see more of the

map for a complete view of their empire. support ultrawide monitors.

MMO fans can use the space to customize You’ll see an image if you connect a game

the user interface or load add-ons (in games console to an ultrawide monitor, but it will have a

where that’s allowed, of course). 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio with letterboxing on

Most gamers with dual monitors play on each side. Resolution is also an issue. The most

one monitor and use the second for Discord, common ultrawide resolution is 3440×1440,

a game walkthrough, or to catch up on some which translates to 2560×1440 when connected

reality TV while waiting in a queue to play to a 16:9 source. The PlayStation 5 and Nintendo

Final Fantasy XIV. This is better than having a Switch don’t support this resolution and instead

single monitor, to be sure, but it can’t beat fall back to 1080p.

the seamless feel of an ultrawide. Don’t buy an ultrawide monitor if you plan

CONSOLE GAMING to use a monitor with a game console.

This point may seem obvious to veteran SIMPLICITY

gamers, but it’s worth repeating for those Ultrawide can claim another important

new to using a game console with a advantage here over dual monitors. It’s just

computer monitor. Game consoles don’t one monitor.

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 123

FEATURE ULTR AWIDE VS. DUAL MONITORS

One monitor means one display A single ultrawide monitor is a plug-and-

connection and one power cord. There’s no play experience that requires zero

need to worry about how monitors are configuration. This is useful if you don’t want

arranged in Windows’ display settings. You to spend time messing with settings or if you

don’t have to fret over differences in image don’t frequently switch computers.

quality between monitors or calibrate DUAL MONITORS
monitors to fix it. A third-party monitor stand FOR THE WIN
or arm won’t be necessary.

Simplicity has value. More monitors mean The verdict is clear. In general, dual monitors

more space and pixels but can also mean take the win over ultrawide. Going dual snags

more headaches. A dual-monitor setup is you a more flexible setup that’s better for

hardly uncommon and is supported by multitasking and, if you buy high-end 4K

modern operating systems, but you may still monitors, packs more pixels than any

encounter edge cases where a particular ultrawide in existence.

laptop, desktop video card, or application This doesn’t mean a dual-monitor setup is

doesn’t work as it should. Uncommon better for everyone. I personally prefer an

problems become likely as your setup ultrawide monitor. Simulation, strategy, and

becomes more complex. MMO games are my favorite genres, so an

ultrawide’s immersion really

hits the spot. I also lack the

surface space to use a pair of

27-inch monitors, while a

34-inch ultrawide is the right

fit for my desk.

Your choice should fit

your needs, of course.

Ultrawide is my preference

because it works best for my

niche needs. Still, it’s clear

that dual monitors win in

most situations. Readers on

the fence should stop

With a single ultrawide monitor, you don’t need to mess around with worrying and buy that
arranging your monitors in Windows’ display settings. second monitor.

124 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

for some, feeling

LEFT OUT

lasts more than a moment.

We can change that.

We’ve all had moments where we’ve felt we didn’t belong. But
for people who moved to this country, that feeling lasts more
than a moment. Together, we can build a better community.
Learn how at BelongingBeginsWithUs.org

#Dadication

fatherhood.gov

Here’s How HOW TO BUILD, MAINTAIN,
AND FIX YOUR TECH GEAR

How to upgrade to Windows 11:
Every option explained

Microsoft has several tools to upgrade you from Windows 10 to Windows 11 in a matter
of minutes. BY MARK HACHMAN

W indows 11 (see page 25) the original Windows 11 beta (fave.
has finally been released to co/3vxJJ9N), but Microsoft has added a
the public, and you can tool to facilitate the process. In fact, there
download it right away if are four ways to download Windows 11,
you’d like! Here’s how to get Windows 11, a each of which has its own unique
free upgrade for your Windows 10 PC. advantages. We’ll show you all four, after
explaining what you should know before
Downloading the official final version of you upgrade.
Windows 11 is very much like downloading

IMAGE: MICROSOFT NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 127

HERE’S HOW UPGR ADE TO WINDOWS 11

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO off the upgrade. You’ll pay full price going
DOWNLOAD WINDOWS 11 that route, though; to save some cash, check

Before you begin downloading Windows 11, out our guide on how to get Windows for

make sure you have the right PC hardware. cheap (or maybe even free [fave.

While we don’t think there’s much risk to co/3pCQ96X]). You can also upgrade to

downloading and installing Windows 11, Windows 11 Pro after first upgrading to from

there’s always the chance that something Windows 10 Home to Windows 11 Home,

could go wrong. Take a moment and back up though you’ll need to enter a Microsoft

critical files to an external hard drive (fave. account to do so.

co/3nlNb3Z) or the cloud (fave. The time that downloading and

co/3FWaMk6) before proceeding. Our installation of Windows 11 requires will vary

Windows 11 upgrade checklist (fave. based on your PC’s speed and your available

co/3lYLqdp) can help you ensure that you broadband bandwidth. We’d say that

have all your ducks are in a row. allocating 30 minutes to an hour sounds

Also make sure you understand that about right, but it may be very different for

Windows 11 Home will require a Microsoft you. Plan on having at least 9 GB of free space

account (fave.

co/3DUzY8W) to

administer. If you own

a Windows 10 Pro

account and upgrade

to Windows 11 Pro,

you’ll be able to use a

local (or as Microsoft

now calls it, “offline”)

account. To upgrade

to Windows 10 Pro

(fave.co/3pllB9l) and

then to Windows 11

Pro, the simplest way

is to go to the

Microsoft Store and

upgrade to Windows There’s no need to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro unless you
10 Pro before kicking love Windows Sandbox or local accounts.

128 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

available to download

Windows 11, and

make sure your PC is

up to date, with

Windows 10 Version

2004 or above

installed. Simply run

Windows Update on

your computer before

installing Windows 11

to make sure it’s

properly patched.

You’ll need a PC

that meets the The Registry Editor. If the required entry doesn’t exist, you’ll have to create it.

minimum hardware

specifications of Windows 11. We would also 11 on supported hardware via Windows

highly encourage you to read our earlier story Update (our first option, below) instead. To

on the Windows 11 minimum hardware proceed using the Registry Editor and install

specifications (fave.co/3C7aDbn), download Windows 11 on unsupported hardware,

Microsoft’s Health Check app, and check to follow these steps. (If you’re uncertain about

see if your PC is eligible to upgrade to what to do or don’t want to risk your PC,

Windows 11. You’ll need a PC with at least a don’t attempt this!)

TPM (Trusted Platform Module) 1.2 to qualify. • In Windows 10, open the Registry Editor

The easiest and safest way to qualify for by tapping the Windows key and then

Windows 11 is simply to have a PC that meets entering “Registry Editor” or regedit in the

Microsoft’s restrictions. search box.

If you own a PC with a TPM 1.2 but not a • Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\

TPM 2.0 installed, there is an “official” way SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup. If the folder isn’t

around the restrictions (fave.co/2XwO3JY). there, right-click the Setup folder and create

You’ll need to open the Registry Editor, the MoSetup subfolder.

though, which is the foundation of your PC. • Within the MoSetup folder, right-click

Microsoft would like you to know that there and select New >DWORD (32-bit) Value.

are serious risks (fave.co/3ChcPgx) to doing • Name the new registry entry

so, and recommends upgrading to Windows AllowUpgradesWithUnsupported

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 129

HERE’S HOW UPGR ADE TO WINDOWS 11

TPMOrCPU. Double-click it, then change the the other installation options below offer. In

registry value to 1. Windows 11’s case, you should strongly

This method allows your PC to bypass the consider this option. Windows 11 isn’t

check for TPM 2.0, as well as the required optimized, and we’ve found more than a few

CPU family and model. You can also directly bugs. It also feels a bit laggy. A clean install

apply an image installation of Windows 11 to helps eliminate some of these issues.

the disk, too. Doing this via the Microsoft A clean install typically means wiping your

DISM command-line tool will also bypass the documents, apps, and settings from your PC

TPM/CPU check, Microsoft says. and starting fresh. That’s where the cloud

CLEAN INSTALL VS. helps. If your documents are stored on
UPDATING IN-PLACE OneDrive (or in Box, Dropbox, an external
drive, whatever) you’ll be able to simply copy

Installing Windows 11 via Windows Update is them back over. You’ll need to download and

an “in-place” or “incremental” installation, reinstall apps and games, however, as well as

where the Windows 11 code is essentially patch them. Keep in mind that if you upgrade

added to a PC with existing apps and to Windows 11, let the ten-day grace period

documents. It’s a safe approach, provided expire, and then decide to go back to

you’ve backed up your existing files. (Again, Windows 10, you can—you’ll just have to

back up your

computer before

upgrading your

operating system!)

Windows 11 should

also allow you to

“roll back” to

Windows 10 within

a period of time

(typically ten days) if

you simply don’t

like it.

A “clean install”

offers you the option

of starting fresh, and

typically that’s what Simply click “Download and install” to begin downloading Windows 11.

130 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

download and install a

clean copy of Windows

10 instead. (If you own a

valid Windows 10 or

Windows 11 license, this

is all free.)

You can always reset

your PC—Windows 10 or

Windows 11—at any time

to make things tidy. Just

make sure that you have

everything backed up.

Now that you know

everything you need to

know before upgrading, The opening screen of the Windows 11 Installation Assistant.

let’s get to the nitty-

gritty. There are four different ways you can Downloading Windows 11 via Windows

install Windows 11. Update is the easiest way forward. You’ll likely

INSTALL WINDOWS 11 be asked for confirmation that you’ve backed
VIA WINDOWS UPDATE up critical apps and documents, then the
installation will proceed.

Now that Microsoft has released Windows 11, DOWNLOAD WINDOWS 11
there’s no need to be part of the Windows VIA THE WINDOWS 11
Insider program, which was the way to INSTALLATION ASSISTANT
download the Windows 11 Insider beta.

At some point, you’ll be asked to The Windows 11 Installation Assistant and the

download Windows 11, via an option that Create Windows 11 Installation Media tool

looks something like the screen on the (described later) are quite similar: If you’ve

previous page. You can also choose to be tried running Windows Update and Windows

what Microsoft calls a “seeker,” and go into 11 isn’t being offered to you, you can

Windows Update and click “Check for jumpstart the process via the Windows 11

updates.” If you don’t see this “choice” screen Installation Assistant. If you have more than

and “Check for updates” doesn’t offer one PC you’d like to upgrade, you can use the

Windows 11 to you, try our next suggestion. Installation Media tool on multiple PCs.

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 131

HERE’S HOW UPGR ADE TO WINDOWS 11

Using the Windows

11 Installation Assistant

(fave.co/3vwRvko;

clicking the link will

download the assistant)

simply provides you

with a way to download

and install Windows 11

on a single PC. We

haven’t tested this

method all the way

through, but it appears

that the Installation

Assistant will download

Windows 11 while you

wait, instead of in the

background as

Windows Update This is what you’ll see as you install Windows 11 using the Create Windows
does. There shouldn’t 11 Installation Media tool.

be any substantive

differences, though you may have to wait a the tool requires you to format, or erase, the

while for the process to complete. entire drive first. Downloading an image ISO,

DOWNLOAD WINDOWS the next option, solves that problem.)
11 VIA THE CREATE For this, you’ll need a DVD and DVD
WINDOWS 11 INSTALLATION
MEDIA TOOL burner, or a USB key that’s at least 8GB or
more. You may need to use a dual-layer DVD.
You can then tell Windows to download the

The Create Windows 11 Installation Media file to the USB key, or as an ISO file for

Tool is perfect if you have to upgrade more burning to the DVD. You’ll be able to select

than one Windows 10 PC in your home. The the language, edition, and architecture

difference here is that you can use the tool to (choose the 64-bit option), and then the

download and burn to a DVD, if your PC still procedure will begin.

has a DVD drive, or simply to a USB key. Once the media tool has been created,

(Don’t use an external hard drive for this, as you’ll either need to burn it to a DVD using

132 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

your existing DVD burning tools, or you’ll don’t need to. Simply right-click the ISO file
have a USB key with Windows 11 on it. To and select Mount, and Windows will simply
install Windows 11, you’ll need to reboot your treat the file like a virtual DVD in a disc drive.
PC with the DVD or USB key installed. If You’ll be able to kick off the installation
everything goes according to plan, your PC process in one easy step.
should automatically begin installing
Windows 11. You should treat an ISO file as you would
a strange, random USB key you’ve picked up
If it doesn’t, you’ll have to follow the off the street, though—if you didn’t
instructions for entering your PC’s BIOS or download it from Microsoft, be very wary.
UEFI settings in its preboot environment. Microsoft’s installation page provides
Consult your PC’s documentation on how to instructions for verifying the “hash” or
do this. Typically, this requires you to press a identity of the ISO at the bottom of the page
key (such as Esc or Delete) immediately after (fave.co/3ppYZEO). If you’ve downloaded
tapping your PC’s power button. You’ll want the ISO itself, you should be fine; the hash
to set your PC to boot from a USB/DVD, or check is just for the paranoid.
else simply check to see if it can
boot from either drive before
booting normally.

DOWNLOAD Microsoft’s installation page provides instructions for verifying the
WINDOWS 11 WITH identity of the ISO.
AN ISO DISK IMAGE

This is my preferred way of
installing a new OS, if I’ve
committed to upgrading the
operating system.
Downloading an ISO file
allows you to simply tuck it
away like any other document
on an external hard drive. If
you’d like, you can burn it to a
DVD or save it on a USB key,
too. With Windows 10 or
Windows 11, though, you

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 133

HERE’S HOW

How to make Windows 11 look like
Windows 10

Windows 11 gives Microsoft’s operating system a bold new look, but you can still make
it feel (mostly) familiar. BY MATT SMITH

M icrosoft knows how you want and, given Microsoft’s current attitude toward
Windows to look. That, at user interface customization, it may never be.
least, seems to be the Still, there are several key tweaks that can
company’s message with make you more comfortable.
Windows 11 (see page 25). It makes big
changes to the user interface and continues 1. START MENU LOCATION
the trend of making user customization more
difficult. It’s not currently possible to fully Windows 11’s most obvious design change is
revert Windows 11 to the look for Windows 10 the relocation of the Windows Start menu
from its traditional home, nestled on the

134 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021 IMAGE: MICROSOFT

1. are also in the Taskbar
section of the
taskbar’s left side, to the center of the taskbar. Personalization settings.
Fortunately, this change is easy to revert. You will see a list
labeled “Taskbar items”
Open the Windows Start menu and then that includes four
the Settings app. In Settings, navigate to options: Search, Task
Personalization, then Taskbar, and open view, Widgets, and
“Taskbar behaviors.” You’ll see a field labeled Chat. Use the toggles
Taskbar alignment next to each to turn all
with a drop-down four icons off.
menu. Change the
drop-down menu An important note
from Center to Left. about Search: There’s
currently no way to
The change takes restore the full Search field from the Windows
place immediately. 10 taskbar. Turning off the new Search icon
means you can’t access Search by clicking a
field or icon on the taskbar. It will still be
available through the Windows + S keyboard
shortcut, however.

2. REMOVE 2.
NEW ICONS

While we’re here,

let’s disable the new

icons added by

Windows 11. These

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 135

HERE’S HOW MAKE WINDOWS 11 LOOK LIKE WINDOWS 10

3. functions more like a
Windows 7 Start Menu
3. START MENU DESIGN with a Windows 10 coat
of paint, but it was the
Microsoft is kind enough to let you easily best skin I could find.
change the Start menu’s location and
remove some icons, but the Start menu itself While Open-Shell
is a different story. You’ll need to use a works OK, it’s not
third-party program. perfect. It can’t properly
replace the Start Menu
The free option is Open-Shell (fave. and it doesn’t restore
co/3G7M93P), an open-source program Windows 10’s features.
(formerly known as Classic Shell) that can
replace the start menu. Download the Stardock’s Start11
program and install it. However, make sure to (fave.co/3m2ng1D) is
disable Classic Explorer and Classic IE during an easier option. It
installation. If you don’t, Open-Shell will also doesn’t have the Start menu icon problem of
modify Windows Explorer in a way that Open-Shell and requires no installation of
doesn’t jibe with the look of Windows 10. additional files to deliver an attractive menu in
the Metro design style. Start11 costs $4.99,
Once installed, open the program called however, so you’ll have to decide if its ease of
Open-Shell Menu Settings. Select the use is worth the price.
Windows 7 style menu and then open the
Skin tab. I used the Fluent-Metro skin (fave. 4. CHANGE ICONS
co/30Hr1kN) for this guide. In truth, it
The taskbar icons in Windows 11 are quite
similar to those in Windows 10, so you might
not feel the need to change them. Other
icons throughout the operating system are
significantly different.

First, download a Windows 10 icon pack.
A variety of these can be found online: I used
a Windows 10 Build 10125 icon pack (fave.
co/3m0V92G). Place your icons in a folder
you can conveniently remember.

Let’s start with desktop icons. Open the
Settings app, select Personalization, open

136 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

icons, most notably the
new icons for drives and
user folders in Windows
Explorer. You can use Drive
Icon Changer (fave.
co/3vzKizT) to change
drive icons, however.

4. 5. DISABLE
ROUNDED
Themes, and then Desktop Icons. A menu will CORNERS

appear with the five usual desktop icons Round corners are key to
the new look of Windows
present. Click an icon you want to change 11. Not everyone loves
them, however, and there’s more bad news.
and then tap “Change icon.” Navigate to It’s not currently possible to change them
through Windows 11 itself or with a third-
where you placed the icon pack, select the party solution.
You do have one option. Windows 11 will
icon you want to use, and then tap Open. I’ve revert to square corners if you turn off hardware
graphics acceleration (this will also turn off
replaced the Recycle Bin icons in the other visual features like transparency).

screenshot below.

You can also change the

icons of individual folders and

shortcuts. Right-click on an item

and open Properties, then

head to the Customize tab. At

the bottom you’ll see the

Change Icon button. Click it

and select an icon you’d like to

use as described in the

previous paragraph.

Unfortunately, Windows 11 5.
doesn’t let you change some

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 137

HERE’S HOW MAKE WINDOWS 11 LOOK LIKE WINDOWS 10

Well, there is one

other option: You can

disable your graphics

hardware. Open Device

Manager, expand

Display Adapters, and

right-click the display

adapter listed. Select

Disable Device. Your

screen will flicker for a

moment, but when 6.

Windows returns, the

rounded corners will be have disappeared. registry hacks circulating online claim to
partially or fully disable these features, but in
I don’t recommend this, however. my testing they either caused side effects or,
in many cases, didn’t work at all—likely
Disabling your graphics hardware will cause because Windows 11 has received many
updates over the past few months.
the Windows UI to feel slow and stilted, and
Keep an eye on projects that aim to help
you won’t be able to use 3D apps or games users change the look and feel of Windows
11, such as ThisIsWin11 (fave.co/3jqeatN).
until you turn the hardware back on. This project isn’t especially useful for now
because it mostly replicates tweaks you can
6. CHANGE THE WALLPAPER achieve manually, but it may evolve into a
more feature-rich option.
Last but not least, you can restore the original
Windows 10 wallpaper. This is not included It also wouldn’t hurt to let Microsoft
with Windows 11, but is available from a know that you’d like more customization
variety of sources online, such as this 4K options. Much of this ultimately falls on
sample on Imgur (fave.co/3B4ftV8). Microsoft, which has gradually eliminated
options for customizing the Windows
Right-click the image after you download it interface over time.
and then select “Set as desktop background.”
The change will take effect immediately. For now, enjoy the changes you’ve made.
It might not fully restore Windows 10, but
7. WHERE TO GO FROM HERE hey—at least the Start menu is fixed.

Windows 10 purists will be disappointed to
hear this leaves several features of Windows
11, like the new context menu and File
Explorer, in the operating system. A variety of

138 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

How to watch TV on your PC

There are several ways to watch live TV on your PC, some much easier than others. We
walk you through your options. BY BRAD CHACOS

T here are thousands of options for CHECK YOUR CABLE
watching shows and movies on SUBSCRIPTION FIRST
your TV: Netflix, Hulu, and HBO
Max are just a few popular ones. Do you have a cable subscription? If so, you
But what if you want to watch live TV, may already have access to live TV on your
including local channels? You can watch live PC. Many cable companies offer streaming
TV through your PC just as you would watch live TV as part of their standard cable
Netflix, or you can kick it old-school with a TV package. Comcast’s Xfinity (fave.
tuner and an antenna. Here’s how. co/3m1TIRV) and AT&T’s DirectTV Stream
(fave.co/3vL0pep) are examples of

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK/SHOTPRIME STUDIO NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 139

HERE’S HOW WATCH TV ON YOUR PC

Internet-enabled cable packages that can LIVE TV STREAMING
stream to not only a PC, but also to mobile SERVICES OFFER
devices like an iPhone or Android device. À LA CARTE OPTIONS

This is the best option for streaming live Live TV streaming had a moment around 2015

TV to your computer. A cable subscription to 2016, led by the introduction of Sling TV

will offer access to dozens if not hundreds of and PlayStation Vue. The pitch was simple: It’s

channels, including location television and like a cable subscription, but with a Netflix-

live sports events. like interface and pricing. These services

The interface and apps offered by Xfinity, failed to dethrone cable with the speed many

DirectTV, and similar services are mediocre, anticipated (and PlayStation Vue has since

but they have the benefit of bringing your shut down), but several great options remain.

cable subscription to multiple devices. Most The top options include YouTube TV (fave.

services will let you pause or record live co/2ZbYWBy), Sling TV (fave.co/3C2FiGt),

television on a device and then pick it up Hulu Live TV (fave.co/3B6lsZE), fuboTV (fave.

later. You can schedule to record a favorite co/2Xxng06), and Philo (fave.co/2ZdF7de).

show from your PC, for example, and then Signing up and using each service is as simple

watch it later on your TV. as using Netflix or Hulu, and live TV streaming

What’s the downside? Price. Cable services typically lack the installation service

subscriptions typically start a hair below $100 and contract fees common to a cable

per month, and more appealing subscriptions subscription. Pricing varies significantly. The

are well over that. With that said, a cable most affordable services are around $30 per

subscription is arguably the best value overall, month, but the most

as it will provide access to full-featured services

tons of channels and many can reach $100

live events. per month.

Although easy to

use, live TV streaming

services are limited when

compared to a cable

subscription. Sling TV looks

affordable at a glance, with

service starting at $35 per

month. Yet you’ll soon notice the

Comcast’s Xfinity service lets you watch live TV on your PC. basic level of service is missing many

140 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

popular channels,

like Discovery, USA,

and major cable

news channels. The

next most

expensive level of

service has those

channels but lacks

several live sports

channels. To access

both, you must

upgrade to a plan

that starts at $50

per month.

Even then, You can watch TV on your PC with YouTube TV and similar offerings.

Sling TV doesn’t TV TUNERS PLUS ANTENNAS
include access to local news channels or ARE AFFORDABLE BUT
bundle any premium channels and streaming LIMITED
services, like HBO Now or Disney+ (fave.

co/3C55uAi). You might end up buying A TV tuner converts radio waves into picture

those separately or hopping to a different, and sound for a television or another

more expensive service like YouTube TV, device. Adding a TV tuner to your PC will

which does offer local channels. Sounds let you attach a standard television antenna

confusing, right? It is, and that’s the problem (fave.co/3ptOyAh) and watch free, over-

with live TV streaming. the-air TV broadcasts right on your

If you’re willing to spend time comparing computer. Some tuners support Android

tables of available channels, though—or devices as well.

perusing our sister site TechHive’s guide to You’ll find two basic types of TV tuner:

the best live TV streaming services (fave. USB and add-on cards. USB TV tuners are

co/3joqkU2)—this can be an excellent easy to install because they attach to a USB

choice. Pricing usually beats the cost of a port on your PC. Just plug the tuner into USB,

cable subscription and service is generally attach an antenna to the tuner, install a

available the moment you sign up. Most live compatible software or app, and you’re

TV streaming services even offer a free trial. good to go.

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 141

HERE’S HOW WATCH TV ON YOUR PC

An add-on card plugs

into a desktop computer’s

internal PCI Express slot.

This makes installation

more complicated and

limits it to conventional

desktop computers, but

the card doesn’t take up a

USB port while in use.

The only cost is the

price of the TV tuner and

the antenna you’ll attach to

it. Once installed, the TV

tuner receives free over-the-

air broadcasts. Sounds The Winegard Elite 7550 antenna.

great, right? Unfortunately,

you’ll pay with another valuable resource: time. need to use the software that came with the

TV tuners and OTA DVR options are niche tuner, which is easy but leaves you limited to

devices designed for enthusiasts. You will the features that came with it, or you have to

figure out how to connect the

tuner into third-party software,

like Plex or Kodi. This might be

more than you bargained for.

(Our sister site TechHive’s guide

to the best DVR options for cord

cutters [fave.co/3jo8sIQ] can

help you make sense of it all.)

Over-the-air television has

limits even when the TV tuner

works. It’s best for live sports

broadcasts, as most major events

will be shown on over-the-air

An over-the-air DVR, such as the Tablo Quad, gives you more networks. A TV tuner is much less
control than the cloud DVRs that streaming services offer. useful for television, as you’ll be

142 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

limited to major network shows, and useless for to stream video, and you’ll typically pay less
movies or niche live events, like concerts or less than for cable. You won’t have access to as
popular sporting events. These aren’t typically many channels but, with a little research or
available on over-the-air television. the help of our guide to the best live TV
streaming services (fave.co/3joqkU2),
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO you can find a solution that delivers what
WATCH TV ON YOUR PC? you want.

Check your cable subscription first. Cable TV tuners are only useful if you want to
and satellite TV still make up more than half watch and record over-the-air television. It’s
the market for live TV in the U.S. (and their not great as your main source for live TV, but it
global market share is only slightly lower). can work well alongside a live TV streaming
Odds are good you have access to a cable service. For example, Sling TV is affordable
subscription that you can use for live TV on but doesn’t include local channels. A TV tuner
your PC. can fill that gap.

If you don’t, live TV streaming services For most people, streaming live TV
are a good alternative (with YouTube TV through a cable service or live TV streaming
[fave.co/2ZbYWBy] the best option for most service is the best option by far. It’s easy,
people). They’re available to anyone with an affordable, and provides access to the
Internet connection fast and reliable enough channels you want.

Hulu is
one of our
favorite
live TV
streaming
services.

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 143

HERE’S HOW

How to speed up your laptop with
Windows 11’s power mode

Microsoft’s Windows 10 power-performance slider moves to Windows 11, but it isn’t
that easy to find. BY MARK HACHMAN

I f you’re wondering how to increase the Microsoft offers an easy way to boost
performance of your Windows 11 PC, performance in Windows 10, as our previous
you may already know one way: Use the article notes (fave.co/3B3FG6c). On the
Windows 10 power-performance slider. Windows taskbar, clicking the battery icon
But in Windows 11, Microsoft has hidden it in opens the power slider, where you can trade
a new location. We’ll show you where. lower performance for extended battery life.

144 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021 IMAGE: MICROSOFT

performance slider to

“best performance” can

give you an extra boost of

6 to 7 percent,

depending upon the

benchmark. (Check out

those reviews for the

actual numbers.)

As our Windows 11

review mentions (see

page 25), Microsoft

moved the power-

performance slider from

In Windows 10, finding the Windows power-performance slider is its traditional place within
simple: Just click the battery settings. the Windows taskbar to a

new location within the

Naturally, this feature is common on Windows 11 Settings menu. Clicking the

laptops, less so on desktops. But it does existing battery icon on the Windows 11

make a difference. Microsoft, for example, taskbar doesn’t reveal the power slider.

dials down the

performance slider

on its devices to

their most minimal

settings,

preserving battery

life at the cost of

performance. On

Surface devices

like the Surface

Laptop 4 (fave.

co/3jfyVII) and the

Surface Pro 7+

(fave.co/3jfyVII),

simply sliding the Whoops! There’s no way to get to the Windows 11 Power Mode from here.

NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 145

HERE’S HOW SPEED UP A LAPTOP WITH POWER MODE

Instead, it actually opens the
Windows 11 quick settings,
where you can adjust the
volume levels, turn on
Focus Assist, and more.

HOW TO GET TO
THE WINDOWS 11
POWER MODE

In Windows 11, the Windows

power-performance slider

isn’t a slider. In fact, it has a

formal name: Windows 11

Power Mode. Go to the Windows 11 Settings > System > Power & battery menu to
To get to it, you’ll need to access the Windows 11 Power Mode dropdown menu.

visit the Windows 11 Settings

menu proper, either by navigating through faster, if the machine’s not plugged in. That

the Start menu or by clicking the WIN+X will only happen when you’re actively being

button and navigating to the proper location. using it while it’s on the battery, however,

Within Settings, go to System > Power & and not while it’s sleeping. If your “laptop”

Battery, then scroll down to the “power is always sitting on your desk, dialing up a

mode” button. Here you should see several little extra performance can be the pick-

options, capped off with “Best performance.” me-up it needs to run a bit faster.

Choose the one that works for you.

Note that these menu choices are

dependent upon your PC’s hardware maker. If

you’ve bought a desktop or built one yourself,

you may not see any options here under

Power Mode. But if you’ve purchased a

laptop, you should have several options from

which to choose. Why not crank up your PC

to maximum power?

True, asking your laptop to run at “Best Clicking on “Best performance” may drain your
performance” levels may drain your battery laptop’s battery faster.

146 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021

Mesh Wi-Fi vs. traditional router:
Which one’s best for your home?

You can go with the easy answer—or the one that’s actually best for you. BY ALAINA YEE

N early everyone is familiar with Mesh routers (fave.co/3DXf5d0) came on
traditional routers—they’ve the scene around 2015, and with them came a
been around pretty much different kind of setup that relied on multiple
forever at this point. You need devices. Usually you place at least two nodes
just one to manage the internet connection around your house, with the option to easily
that’s provided through your modem. For add more for thorough coverage. The
some folks, this may be the combination arrangement can be repositioned and/or
modem and router (also known as a expanded as needed to eliminate dead zones.
gateway) that you received from your
internet service provider. Though mesh routers are newer, they
don’t make their traditional counterparts

IMAGE: ROB SCHULTZ NOVEMBER 2021 PCWorld 147

HERE’S HOW MESH WI-FI VS. TRADITIONAL ROUTER

obsolete. They’re just different. And because with multiple stories or a wide, spread-out

mesh routers are generally pricier when floor plan. The coverage works like a series of

compared to traditional routers with similar dots all interconnected to one another, hence

features, people often wonder if they’re really the name “mesh.” The nodes can talk to their

worth it. So we’ve laid it all out here in a nearest neighbor(s) to relay the signal back to

showdown, so you understand the pros and the node that is connected directly to the

cons of each option when it comes to key internet and is managing traffic on your

features. Spoiler: A lot of what makes one network, which provides two benefits. First,

better depends on your living situation. the signal can stay stronger because it doesn’t

WI-FI COVERAGE have to travel as far between nodes. Second,
delays at the hub are minimized because the

Everyone wants a router that provides a data can take different paths to get there. And

strong, stable signal no matter your location should your home still have any dead zones,

in a home. And both mesh and traditional you can just reposition the nodes or buy more

routers can provide that out of the box— to ensure thorough coverage.

depending on the type of home you live in. In contrast, traditional routers operate as a

Because a mesh network relies on single point that transmits and receives data.

multiple nodes, it’s a good option for homes When a device communicates with a

traditional router, the

signal has to travel the

full distance from

wherever it is to the

router’s location. That

can create areas with a

weak signal or outright

dead zones wherever

the signal isn’t strong

enough to travel that far

or penetrate barriers

like walls or doors.

Traditional routers can

provide good coverage

Mesh routers provide Wi-Fi coverage in a different way than traditional in homes with smaller
routers do. This is how the network would look in physical form. square footage and a

148 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2021