Computers, Laptops & Tablets

Dell’s ultimate ultraportable, the XPS 13, takes on Apple’s popular MacBook Air in a pound-for-pound battle of sub-portable notebook dominance. How does this PC challenger match up with Apple’s popular thin and light notebook?

One of the key advantages of a laptop over a desktop PC is the laptop’s battery. Portability is nice, but it’s the freedom from electrical outlets that really makes a laptop shine. You can use it in your favourite chair, in a cafe or on a bus—until that battery dies. Then you’re carrying a lump of metal, glass and plastic that’s useless until you find a power outlet. Here’s how to extend your laptop’s battery life in the quest for going all day without the tyranny of the power cord.

When it comes to big ticket Christmas gifts, a PC is one of the biggest. So you don’t want to mess it up by choosing the wrong one. My suggestion is steal a tip from Santa: make a list and check it twice. It’s not going to tell you who’s naughty or nice, but by making a list of key requirements and priorities, you’ll be sure to make the right choice when it comes to picking a PC to give a special someone.

Got someone on your Christmas shopping list who’s all about the Mac? Don’t worry, we all have a few of those (in fact, some of us might just be one of those). Apple’s iMacs and MacBooks come pretty well equipped, but there is always room for improvement and that means plenty of gift opportunities. As one of those Mac people, I have a few suggestions for you.

The holidays are a a good time as any to improve or upgrade one’s PC experience with accessories, peripherals, and various gifts that can update an older PC or add functionality and fun. Here are some gifts that will make anyone’s PC better.

In and of themselves, today’s tablets are highly-connected, smart and powerful devices that can easily be used for work or Entertainment. The right peripherals can make them better devices, depending on what users need. Here are some top picks under $50.

Get your tablet game on lock with any of these accessories for under $100. They’ll up your tablet’s form and fashion. And, of course, they’ll make great gifts this holiday season for all your tablet-loving friends and family.

Intel describes its RealSense technology as enabling your PC to see more like you do. That sounds interesting, but once you realize what this actually means, it becomes clear that RealSense isn’t just another incremental upgrade. It’s a new direction for computers that has the potential to dramatically change the way we interact with PCs and what we do with them.

The wait is over (sorry about that) and as of November 12, Microsoft began rolling out a “Canadianized” version of its digital assistant to the Windows 10 PCs of Hosers across much of Canada. Here’s what a Cortana that’s tweaked for Canada sounds like and how to get it.

“That doesn’t look like any router I’ve ever seen.”   That’s the general consensus I heard about the Almond+ when I showed it around. It’s a device that stands in for three types of things in your smart home: a powerful dual-band router, a long range wifi extender, and a smart home hub.   It arrived from Best Buy wrapped in brown packing paper and accompanied by a Securifi Door/Window Sensor, and a Peanut Smart plug. Also in the box were precisely two packing peanuts; I’m guessing the shipping budget was a bit tight, or those were rogue peanuts on the lam from a future Pixar film. Either way I got to researching the Almond+ and getting it setup. Here’s how it went.