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 WELCOME PAGE

Contact us
Editor Madeline Bennett madeline@computershopper.co.uk
Reviews Editor James Archer james@computershopper.co.uk
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DESIGN & PRODUCTION
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CONTRIBUTORS
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Kay Ewbank, Simon Handby, Mike Jennings, Nicole Kobie,
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ADVERTISING
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S
Account Manager Ashley Wood
Deputy Advertising Manager Rebecca New
020 3890 3824
o Windows 7 is officially over. Microsoft switched off
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R | MAY 2020 3
CONTENTS
Contents
p92
p70
Regulars
6 Letters
Your monthly missives of wit and wisdom,
tips and tricks, and moans and groans
8 Mel’s World
The government is promising that we’ll all
have access to superfast broadband by 2025.
A sceptical Mel Croucher wonders if this
particular political pledge will go the same way
as all the similar promises made in the past
10 Kay’s Corner
Hard disks and cloud services the world over
are groaning under the weight of redundant
files that will never see the light of day again.
Kay Ewbank on the proliferation of dark data
12 Rants & Raves
The robots are taking over, or at least they
will be once they’ve worked out how to take
the bins out. Plus, would you be willing to
hand over your private data in exchange for
a bit of privacy in the khazi?
130 Zygote
The grass isn’t always greener, even if it is
capable of generating electricity. And it
certainly isn’t greener if you’re smoking it
and all the details are published online
4 MAY 2020
Issue 387 May 2020
p112
p106
Features
News
All the latest news and views from the
technology world, including:
14 Need to Know
Nvidia launches a game-streaming service
but loses titles from a leading publisher,
and coronavirus hits the tech industry
92 Move Beyond Windows 7
16 From the Lab As Microsoft finally ends support for the
In-depth coverage of all the latest scientific venerable Windows 7, we look at the best
and technological advances ways to migrate to a new operating system
or a new computer. With our guide, you’ll
17 The Lowdown: Sonos recycling mode
find it’s a lot easier than you might think
The audio company is offering to recycle its
old speakers in an attempt to reduce waste,
but is it just a ruse to encourage consumers 106
6 Robot Revolution
to buy more of its products? N longer the preserve of
No
dystopian sci-fi, robots
are now an integral part
Learn of everyday life, and
they’re smarter and
ccreepier than ever before.
120 Helpfile & Business Help Nicole Kobie investigates
Got a PC problem, app annoyance or
Windows woe? Fear not: Simon Handby 112 The Unofficial
is here to answer all your queries Apple Archive
David Crookes talks to the
124 Advanced Projects online researcher delving
Its name may be synonymous with internet into the Apple archives
searches, but as Clive Webster explains, that the company doesn’t
Google is not always your best choice want you to see
| COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
 p80

p70 p124

Reviews Group Tests

70 Home Office PCs
18 Hot Product Six of the best all-round
Why spend more than a couple of hundred pounds on a computers for your home
Chrome OS laptop? You might be tempted when it’ss as fast, office, with all the power
flexible and portable as Google’s own Pixelbook Go and flexibility provided by
a desktop PC for just £600

22 Laptops 36 Smart Home 80 Fitness Bands

Microsoft’s Surface Pro X uses a mobile-style
processor for better connectivity and battery
life, but creates Windows compatibility
problems in the process
26 Displays
The Razer Raptor 27 (page 27) is a well-
designed gaming performer with HDR – sadly,
it’s still overpriced
30 Networks
Although the Netgear Orbi WiFi 6 RBK852 is
an extremely quick mesh system, Wi-Fi 6
needs to grow before it can be worth it
31 Printers
The Citation One MKII, Harman Kardon’s Track your exercise levels
second take on a smart speaker, goes heavy without shelling out on
on the bass a top-of-the-range
smartwatch with a flexible,
37 Audio lightweight and money-
A great microphone takes Cooler Master’s saving fitness band
MH630, an otherwise decent gaming headset,
to another level
39 Video
The modular Insta360 One R can switch 66 Your Software*
between action camera and 360° modes, but Back up, restore and manage your
not all modules are created equal hard disk with the full version of
Paragon Hard Disk Manager
40 Handhelds
Forget the Motorola Moto E6 Play (page 41);

The Fujitsu fi-800R is a speedy yet overly
complicated document scanner that’s better
for businesses than homes
32 Components
Highly effective, quiet and customisable, the
NZXT Kraken X53 is a brilliant AIO watercooler
6
its more resilient sibling, the Moto E6 Plus, is
the budget smartphone to buy
FULL
47 Wearables PA CKAGES
The Garmin Vivomove 3 is a respectable
fitness-focused smartwatch, although the
cheaper Vivomove HR is a smarter investment

33 Home Cinema 48 Best Buys

Even though its HDR support is lacking, the
Samsung UE50RU7470UXXU is good value
for a 4K TV
Looking for the best kit we’ve reviewed
* FREE
recently? From PCs and laptops to watches SOFTWARE
EDITION ONLY
and games, it’s all in our Best Buys section

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 5

LETTERS

Letters
With the Digital Divide continuing to grow alongside an ageing population,
one reader has a suggestion on how the gap can be closed
letters@computershopper.co.uk

Where’s Panda?
Thanks for a very useful and
sometimes great magazine.
I intend to keep up my subscription
despite the situation that I’ve
described below.
In your article on free security
software (Advanced Projects,
Shopper 384), the Panda package
was described as “the best free
antivirus” package by Clive
Webster. On the strength of this,
I declined to renew my Norton
Deluxe Security software licence
and installed the Panda set as instructed.
When I received Shopper 385, I was glad
to see a group test on security software and
related matters. ‘Now I can see how well the
Panda product compares with all the
well-known offerings,’ I thought. Can you
imagine my surprise/dismay/annoyance to
see that the Panda product was not even
mentioned in the whole article?
Would you explain why you left out what
had been described as the best in its class?
Brian Howe
We get our security test
results from SE Labs, which
comprehensively tests a
subsection of paid-for and free
antivirus suites. In this case, Panda
wasn’t tested in the latest round of
results, which meant that we
couldn’t include it. That’s not to say
that we have anything against the
software, just that we didn’t have the
test results to give a meaningful
opinion. We’ll look to include more
software in our next test, looking at
multiple sources of test results.
Crossing the Divide
I found the article concerning the
Digital Divide (Shopper 384) really
interesting, even though, probably in
common with most other Computer
Shopper readers, I consider myself to be
fully digitally literate.
While I have never seen the appeal of
detailing my personal life on Facebook or
broadcasting my every fleeting thought
on Twitter, I am very comfortable using
online banking, shopping and other web
services for almost everything I do.
However, as I was finishing reading the
article and metaphorically clearing my
RAM to move on, it struck me that the
problem is highly relevant to even the
most digitally competent.
Very few of us will reach old age without
suffering some loss of memory, manual
dexterity and/or visual acuity, if not all
three; others may be unfortunate enough
to be struck down by Alzheimer’s or other
major physical ailments.
The more ‘wired-in’ one is to the digital
society, the worse the onset of such
problems will be. For every adult leaving
school fully digitally competent, someone
else is likely to lose their previous
competency due to old age or infirmity,
meaning that the Digital Divide is clearly
here to stay.
Because of a background in IT, I am
often asked to assist less confident friends
install new software or set up online
accounts for them; this regularly involves
being entrusted with passwords or other

Star letter
Reopening Windows
When Windows XP eXPired, I decided
to solve that problem with a
Windows 7 machine sourced, used, from
eBay. £50 was not much of a risk, and I did
not intend to keep it for long anyway.
I got to like it and carelessly did not go
for the free upgrade to Windows 10. With
the January deadline approaching, I made
another decision. I got a nice used Core i3
machine with Windows 10 and an SSD
from my local computer shop. More than
£50, but less than the sum of its parts.
It was a spontaneous act as I could see
no real benefit in 10, but the faster PC was
a bonus and the world was not going to
stand still for me. It sat in my study for a
while and then, after reading several issues
of Shopper, I had a simple solution. Put the
Windows 7 HDD in the Windows 10 PC.
The old HDD was a bit small so I cloned
it on to a spare 500GB one using Paragon
software from the magazine to give a bit of
extra storage space. The drivers for the
screen monitor and LAN connection had to
be updated, but after that it was plain sailing.
Fire up Windows 10, hold Shift-restart and
select Windows 7. I also upgraded MS Office
from 2003 to 2007 for visual appeal. get the hang of it without needing advice
You can tell I don’t like change very much, from my grandchildren. I couldn’t have
but I can now move over in my own time. done it without Shopper.
Hopefully I will be around long enough to Tim Wood
 Write in and win
Do you wish your computer was faster when booting and loading
applications? Thanks to Crucial, you can achieve your dream of a
faster PC or laptop with a 500GB MX500 SSD. The writer of our
Star Letter will be awarded one of these solid-state devices, which
can be installed in a desktop PC or a laptop.
This SSD is 45 times more energy-efficient than a typical hard STAR
drive, and has sequential read and write speeds up to 560/510MB/s PRIZE
and random reads/writes up to 95K/90K IOPS, making it the 500GB
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6 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

 LETTERS

personal details. This works fine at a
personal level, not only because my elderly
friends know they can trust me, but also
because they know that at my age I won’t
remember the details anyway.
However, as we all get older and society
becomes ever more digital, we may all
cross the Digital Divide at some time and,
just to survive, may be driven to seek the
help of younger, more technically literate
people, whom we may not know well, or
even at all.
To avoid creating a golden opportunity
for scammers and fraudsters, I suggest that
an official, free to use, walk-in or visiting
Digital Advice Bureau should be established,
where people needing to access online sites
could be guided through whatever digital
service they want to access by trusted,
vetted and highly competent Digital
Assistants operating under total discretion
with rigorous safeguards and mandatory
severe penalties for any abuse.
This should be complemented by some
form of highly secure Digital Help Access
ID card for those using the service, in order
to store details that the holder may not be
able to recall.
Such a scheme could offer a tempting
business opportunity for the banking
industry to help recover its reputation as it
would be of obvious financial benefit, but it
would also require financial support from
the government, since it would be of
equally clear social benefit.
Simon Battley
What’s up, WhatsApp?
Here’s one for your Resident Paranoid,
Mel Croucher. My brother and sister
owed me a small amount of money for a
donation I’d made. The easiest way to pay
(for me) was direct bank transfer. However,
sending bank details via text or email is a
no-no, so the obvious secure system to
use is WhatsApp. I created a temporary
broadcast list with their addresses in it (I’ve
successfully WhatsApp’d before to both of
them). I created the following message:
My bank details are
Sort code xx-xx-xx
Account number xxxxxxxx
Account name
They didn’t get the message. Looking back,
the message only got one tick.
I tried again a week later, copying the
original message to the same broadcast
group. Still just one tick.
I have never known a WhatsApp
transmission to fail. The complaint from
law enforcement agencies was that,
because WhatsApp has end-to-end
encryption, they couldn’t see all sorts of
illegal practices going on, including,
presumably, details of bank accounts that
could be used for money laundering.
Can someone now not only monitor
secure WhatsApp transmissions but
intervene to prevent delivery? Who and
how? Or am I just being paranoid, and it
was just one of those (crazy) things?
Ian Hemmings
According to WhatsApp, there have been no
changes to its encryption processes. Here’s
what the firm has to say on its website:
“WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption
ensures only you and the person you’re
communicating with can read what is sent,
and nobody in between, not even WhatsApp.
This is because your messages are secured
with a lock, and only the recipient and you
have the special key needed to unlock and
read them. For added protection, every
message you send has its own unique lock
and key. All of this happens automatically: no
need to turn on settings or set up special
secret chats to secure your messages.”
You can also run an extra security check
for each individual contact in any WhatsApp
group (though not the group itself). Click the
contact’s name and select Verify Security
Code from the popup list. You can then scan
the QR code if you’re near them, or send
them the 60-digit number to check you both
have the same one.

In the next issue

Spec your Make a
perfect PC VPN router
The best We show you how
processors, RAM, to create a secure
motherboards, Wi-Fi network to
storage and more protect yourself
to build your from trackers
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The year of
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The next generation Machine
of laptops will be more thinking
innovative, connected Artificial intelligence
and flexible than ever, (AI) is quietly
as manufacturers entering all aspects
take tips from the of our lives. We
smartphone market explore how smart
to create all-in-one machines now are,
machines for work and the dangers of
and play biased AI systems

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ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 7

MEL’S WORLD
Life in the slow lane
Want a free, fast Wi-Fi connection? Try war-torn, poverty-stricken South America –
there’s more chance of getting one there than there is in the UK, says Mel Croucher
BEFORE I ARRIVED here, I
couldn’t even spell Colombia.
But here I am, and now I can.
I am heading for Commune 13
in the fabled city of Medellín,
which Time magazine once
dubbed “the most dangerous
district of the most dangerous
city in the most dangerous
country on earth”. Blimey!
My destination has been
awarded the accolade of drugs
and murder capital of the world,
MEL CROUCHER which is what made it the
Tech pioneer and all-round good egg natural choice for the location
letters@computershopper.co.uk of the hideously violent and
massively long Netflix series
called Narcos. But I don’t really
approve of Netflix or box sets,
so I haven’t watched it.
I am on a green bus, high up
between the cloud forests and
coffee country in the Andes
mountains. The purpose of my
visit is to represent the senior
wing of the Euro Techno All-Stars
in the Colombian national sport,
which is called Tejo. This amusing
pastime involves hand-eye
coordination and alcohol. It’s a
lot like darts, except that you
play it with hand grenades.
I spot something anomalous
as the bus struggles up a steep
incline, and I photograph a
It all went wrong around 1990. That’s when
Britain led the world in internet connections
burned-out shrine to the Virgin
Mary from my side of the
steamy bus window. I’d like to
send the scorched image to
any friends and family on
distant continents who may be
in the slightest bit interested,
although a Wi-Fi signal would
seem highly unlikely. The nearest
town is 30 miles away.
But I give it a try anyway,
allowing my phone to recognise
my crinkled, sun-kissed face, and
fire up. The little screen confirms
that I have a Wi-Fi connection.
For those of you with a short
8 MAY 2020
attention span, I would like to
remind you that I am on a bus,
in the middle of nowhere, in a
country fresh out of a civil war
that lasted 45 years, killed
200,000 civilians, displaced
two million children and five
million adults, and in the past
year has welcomed two million
refugees from over the border
in Venezuela.
The Wi-Fi connection is
brilliant. It’s not password-
protected and is completely free
to use. I have to lean across a
dangerous-looking woman to
take the photo, and she informs
me that the shrine to the Virgin
Mary has been burnt out by rival
crime syndicates as a warning to
snipers who pray there for a
good aim in their assassinations.
So this is the kind of society it
takes to get a nationwide free
Wi-Fi service. Olé!
SURREY STATE OF AFFAIRS
Two days ago, riding the South
Western Railway en route to the
airport, I couldn’t get a Wi-Fi
signal at all. And it was not as if I
was in the Andes. I was in Surrey.
Not only that, but my habitual
seat in the Quiet Zone, clearly
marked as reserved for the
elderly, disabled, pregnant and
Lib Dem voters, had been
hijacked by free-range children.
And that’s not the half of it.
A bit later on, while I waited for
my flight to Colombia, I was
refused access to the Heathrow
‘free’ Wi-Fi service, unless I
gave them my email address,
password and sperm count, then
they wanted me to tick a box to
agree they could spam me with
special offers for Toblerone.
Where did it all go wrong? I
know, it probably all went
wrong around 1990. That’s when
Britain led the world in internet
connections, with dial-up access
at 56 kilobits a second over our
copper wires strung out along
antique wooden telegraph poles.
Do you remember John
Major’s Citizen’s Charter from
back then? The bit where he
promised to keep us in the global
lead for information technology
and communications? It took
the next decade to supply fewer
than one in 10 UK households
with broadband, by which time
most of Europe and half the
Far East had overtaken us.
Then there was that smiley,
slithery Tony Blair, who declared
he’d make sure free high-speed
terminals would get installed in
all community centres, post
offices, transport hubs and
pubs, to deliver the fastest
connection speeds in the world.
Not forgetting his old pal Gordon
Brown, who promised superfast
broadband for every UK home,
and that, once again, “Britain will
be the world leader in the digital
economy by 2020”. By the time
he said that, we’d been overtaken
by Madagascar.
PORKY PIES
And let’s not forget Porky
Cameron, promising that we
would all have access to the
fastest Wi-Fi speeds in the
world by the end of his
parliament. He was right in a
way, although getting access
involves leaving the UK and
travelling to the dozens of
countries currently ahead of
us in the league table.
Which brings us to Prime
Minister Boris Johnson, and
his written promise to
single-handedly deliver
“superfast full fibre for all by
2025”. According to my doctor,
full fibre increases the weight,
size and softness of your bowel
movements, confirming my
suspicion that what the PM
promises is full of shit.
Meanwhile, back in Colombia,
it is clearly evident that what
you need to provide effective,
universal access to the internet
is a regime controlled by a bunch
of extortionists, homicidal
maniacs, robber barons and lying
shysters. Hey! On reflection,
there’s hope for us yet.
| COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
 KAY’S CORNER

The dark side

Analysts estimate that up to 90% of digital information is ‘dark data’ – old files that will
never be looked at again. Kay Ewbank attempts to shed some light on the situation

KAY EWBANK
Software guru and Shopper legend
letters@computershopper.co.uk
Chances are you no longer have the apps
you used to create the documents
AVE YOU COME across the
term ‘dark data’? It sounds good,
dooesn’t it? The sort of thing that
woould turn up on The X-Files, or
hat Brian Cox would talk about
th
meaningfully while sitting by a
amp fire in the Serengeti.
ca
Hoowever, before you get too
exxcited, it’s the online equivalent
off the ‘miscellaneous’ file in your
filing cabinet – the stuff you
create, save, then never look at
gain. Old word processor
doocuments, emails, photos, all
the stuff gathering digital dust
on your hard disk drive or in
cloud storage. A more accurate if
rather less impressive term for
dark data is dusty data.
The term ‘dark data’ was
dreamed up by analyst firm
Gartner, which defines it as
“the information assets
organisations collect, process
and store during regular business
activities, but generally fail to use
for other purposes (for example,
analytics, business relationships
and direct monetising)”.
The people studying dark
data estimate that around 84%
to 90% of business information
is dark data. Goodness only
knows the percentage on most
home computers.
Dark data is mainly used to
refer to business data, although
being cynical that’s probably
because the companies talking
about dark data are usually
offering some new and ground-
breaking way to make your dark
data useful, if you just buy their
wonderful new product.
I started thinking about dark
data after a course I attended
recently on GDPR, the data
protection regulation that came
into force last year. One of the
things the course pointed out
was that dark data is still covered
by GDPR, even if you’ve not
looked at the document’s
contents for years. If someone
gets in touch asking for all their
data to be deleted, or to see all
the data a company holds, that
applies to the dark data, too.
This is tricky when dark data isn’t
catalogued or searchable.
DARK MATTER
Now, complying with GDPR
regulations isn’t likely to be a
problem for most of us unless
we’re storing data for business
use, but the reality is if we apply
the term ‘dark data’ to mean files
that we’ve not looked at for
years and couldn’t say what’s in
them, most of us probably have a
lot more dark data than actual
useful files on our disk drives or
in cloud storage. It’s all too easy
to use the well-known filing
method of “we’re gonna need a
bigger disk drive” when running
out of digital space, but that in
itself creates problems. Think
about the amount of time it
takes for your antivirus software
to run a scan of your hard disks,
and the time it takes to back up
your storage (you do run
antivirus software and back
up your disks, don’t you?).
Security is another potential
problem. You may not have
looked at any of those old
emails, phone logs or photos,
but they probably all have some
identifiable data within them, and
if your computer was hacked or
stolen, the information would be
valuable for the person doing
the hacking. If you’re running a
business, this is even more
important as you’d need to alert
the victims whose data you’ve
lost, and given that you don’t
know what data’s been stolen,
that would be tricky.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not
telling you to go out and delete
all your old data. If you did, sod’s
law would ensure that you
accidentally deleted Great Aunt
Emma’s memoirs just before
someone offered you a fortune
for the film rights; or more likely
that you deleted that lovely
photo of the dog you’d been
meaning to print out. Also, for
most of us, the process would
take forever. Chances are you no
longer have the applications you
used to create the documents in
the first place, or you have no
recollection of what it was all
about anyway, so how would you
work out what to delete?
SAFE HAVEN
What I am suggesting is a
two-part process. First, that you
work out what of your particular
set of files is really dark data, and
move it from storage that is
easily accessible and potentially
vulnerable to a removable disk
drive that you put safely away.
That way, you don’t sit grinding
your teeth waiting for the
antivirus software to check for
problems, and the files aren’t
vulnerable to hackers or to you
absentmindedly deleting the
wrong folders.
Second, try not to create even
more dark data. Don’t store
every single photo of the dog
just because you can; pick the
ones where he’s looking at the
camera, and bin the 90% where
you got a shot of the back of his
head. Don’t keep all the emails
telling you your supermarket
delivery details, or the tennis club
cleaning rota. Delete them while
you still remember what they
were about and that you don’t
need them. Then set yourself a
reminder to copy stuff off your
main machine and to longer-term
storage once every few months.
I’m planning on doing both
the moving of data to longer-
term storage and being more
selective about what I save. I’ll
get round to it, honest. Just as
soon as I’ve emptied my
foot-high in-tray that’s full of
letters about pet insurance and
offers about new boilers and
instruction booklets from kit
that’s already broken. Dark data
isn’t just digital.

10 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

 RANTS
S & RAVES
S
What chance do the robots have of taking over if they can’t even empty the bins
properly? And what chance do any of us have of privacy in an American loo?
adel ine B ennett
M b manually operated. When the robot arm picks up
MONDAY 10th FEBRUARY was a momentous day for a select group
of residents in the East London town where I reside: the first day of
the hotly anticipated wheelie bin trial. The day arrived after several
weeks of debate on our Facebook community hub. Many residents
had complained about these bins spoiling the look of the place, and
also took issue with Redbridge Council’s reasons for switching to
this new form of rubbish collection, suspecting there was more to
it than cutting down on plastic waste and keeping streets tidier.
I was one of the chosen few to be selected for this trial, and
happened to catch the first rubbish collection in action from my
window, and it was a pretty exasperating process to witness.
First off, the wheelie bin has to be placed in the exact right spot
at the back of the lorry for the robot arm to be able to grab it, and
Mo ore - Colyer
Roland
F
FIRST, A CAVEAT: I appreciate digital snooping and breaches that
spill masses of personal data on the internet are bad news. But too
many people get far too paranoid about their digital privacy.
For a while now, I’ve heard conversations that go along the lines
of ‘oh Facebook is watching me’ or ‘Google spies on me’. Both
companies do collect data, but they then serve up relevant adverts
rather than find out what you did last summer.
Yet people seem to take great exception to adverts based on
their browsing habits and product purchases being shown to them.
And often these are also the same folks who spill all their thoughts,
feelings, intimate issues and what their last meal was on social media.
I’ve seen people spout reams of text about dead animals or
indeed parents accompanied by some form of supposedly
motivational quote over the stock image of a sunset, rather
than embrace more traditional decorum. Yet these same people
refuse to use a smart speaker in case it overhears their
12
ften the robot arm fails to move anyway and has to
oft
be
t bin, it is painfully slow to do its emptying job. It
the
a doesn’t empty all the rubbish on all occasions,
also
le
eading to a Benny Hill-like chase between a bin man
(orr is it rubbish person?) and a flurry of loose papers
down n the street. Picking up a sheet of paper while wearing
thick p
pro otective gloves is nigh-on impossible, it seems.
There are actually two robot arms at the back of the lorry,
which I suppose theoretically should operate at the same time.
But in this case, the guys stood around and waited for the left arm
to finish before loading up the right one. Perhaps this will change
over time, as the bin men get more familiar with the machinery.
I haven’t done any specific testing for accurate results, but I’d
estimate that for each bin emptied by the robot, three could easily
be done by the bin man, who is still required to collect, perfectly
place and return each wheelie bin to its home.
Ironically, I was watching this performance on the back of
editing our article on robots (page 106). Based on what I saw,
we’re a long, long way off having to worry about being replaced
by the machines any time soon.
coonversations
o about the latest episode of Z List
Strictly
S Celebrity Island Dine With Me On Ice.
Given there’s now a TV show where people spout
about
a their intimate sexual health issues on camera,
itt’s
t odd there’s such a concern that third-party online
coompanies
o want browsing data so they can better
targget
g advertising. I’d much rather have adverts that tout
nice jaccckets to me than have to pay 10p per Google search.
Until such companies start using my data to grass me up to the
NHS for drinking more than the recommended alcohol intake, I’m
happy trading my data for the ability to search the greatest source of
information in the world without parting with my hard-earned cash.
Really, it’s privacy in the physical world I’m worried about.
Thanks to smartphones, anyone can capture you on camera
making a fool of yourself. And try and enjoy an economy class flight
without being nudged by the person beside you, or in my lanky case,
being walloped by the trolley each time the cabin crew push it by.
But by far the most heinous breach of privacy no-one seems to
be addressing are public toilets in the USA. There’s usually a huge
gap between the door and its frame, both on the bottom and the
sides, meaning that it’s not hard to make contact with a passer-by
when you are enjoying one of life’s least-acknowledged pleasures.
I’d happily give Mark Zuckerberg a slew of private data if he could
use his influence to fix the ‘restrooms’ of our American cousins.
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
Monitors

Wide open
possibilities
With two high-performance
monitors in one

Available at:

Brilliance 49” 32:9 SuperWide curved display

499P9H
 Nvidia’s ‘Netflix for games’ launches amid controversy
SAY WHAT?
NVIDIA’S GEFORCE NOW game-streaming service has finally launched,
leaving its lengthy beta version to pipe demanding games across the
internet to low-powered devices.
In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past year or so, GeForce
Now is effectively a form of ‘Netflix for games’ in that you can stream
select games to all manner of devices, from the
Nvidia Shield console and PCs, to laptops with
integrated graphics and smartphones.
Nvidia achieved this by setting up a
cloud-based game streaming service created
by filling data centre servers with powerful
graphics cards and other hardware to effectively
take care of the graphics rendering, heavy lifting
and computing tasks, and then using a decent
internet connection to pipe a video feed of a
game to a compatible device.
Initial reactions have been positive, with
GeForce Now praised for being able to stream
games at 1080p resolution with virtually no lag, providing you have a fast
enough broadband connection.
However, it’s far from perfect, as not only is a 15Mbit/s internet
connection required, which might be out of the reach of people in areas
that can’t get fibre broadband, but the number of games available to
stream on the service is also limited.
Coronavirus outbreak infects the tech industry
SAY WHAT?
IT NORMALLY TAKES a shortage of raw materials
to halt chip and tech production, but as the
outbreak of COVID-19 – or coronavirus as it’s more
commonly called – has shown, biological events can
also wreak havoc on the technology world.
While coronavirus has spread across the
globe to varying degrees, it has had the largest
impact in China, its country of origin. That’s hardly
surprising given the country’s vast population,
but the virus has also had a direct effect on the
technology world.
Companies including Tesla, Qualcomm and Hon Hai – which makes
iPhones for Apple, as well as products for HP and Sony – have all been
affected by the virus outbreak. The reason is that all of those companies
have manufacturing and supply chain links in China; the country plays
host to major semiconductor foundries, for example.
In a bid to curtail the spread of coronavirus and protect the health of
workers, many of these factories have been shut down while quarantines
are in effect. And closed factories means a shortage of parts and products
for the aforementioned companies and others to sell.
Tesla, for example, saw its stock price tumble by 17% when it
announced that supply chain problems would mean a delay in deliveries
of its Model 3 electric cars.
14
This was something that blighted the launch of Google’s Stadia
game-streaming service, but while that’s gaining games, Nvidia has just
lost all Activision Blizzard games from GeForce Now.
At first, this seemed like a move by the giant games publisher to
ensure people who want to play its games have to buy them outright, not
stream them from a service for a rather modest
monthly cost. But closer inspection revealed
the games shouldn’t have been there in the first
place, and Nvidia admitted it made a mistake.
“Activision Blizzard has been a fantastic
partner during the GeForce Now beta, which we
took to include the free trial period for our
founders membership,” Nvidia said.
“Recognising the misunderstanding, we
removed the games from our service, with hope
we can work with them to re-enable these, and
more, in the future.”
However, a future partnership between Nvidia
and Blizzard Activision might not happen, as the game publisher wanted
to negotiate a new commercial agreement with Nvidia before the graphics
giant could serve up its games on GeForce Now, according to Bloomberg.
As Nvidia has said it won’t have commercial agreements with games
publishers as part of its business model for GeForce Now, such an
agreement with Activision Blizzard isn’t likely to happen.
Even Apple, with its vast wealth, was forced to
revise its first-quarter revenue forecast. The firm
closed 42 of its stores in China, and reported there
had been very low footfall in the stores that had
remained open and running at reduced hours.
“We are gradually reopening our retail stores
and will continue to do so as steadily and safely as
we can,” said Apple.
The result is Apple reduced its earnings forecast
for only the second time in nearly two decades.
Closer to home, coronavirus has also shaken up
a long-standing fixture in the industry’s calendar: Mobile World Congress
(MWC) in Barcelona. After Sony, LG, Nvidia, Amazon, MediaTek and Intel
all pulled out of the international conference due to concerns about the
mass gathering of people from across the world potentially exposing
others to coronavirus, MWC’s organisers, the GSMA, decided to cancel
the conference, which incidentally Shopper was due to attend.
This made it clear that coronavirus was not just a problem for people
exposed to it in faraway lands or in quarantined hospitals, but something
that has, at the time of writing, an industrial impact.
The prevailing concern around coronavirus is naturally its death toll,
which has sadly increased as the outbreak spread. But as action is taken
to control the virus, its wider impact comes into view.
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
 Maps
milestone
Google Maps had
its 15th birthday
in February,
which pre-dates
SO WHAT? smartphones, but the
mapping service is still going strong.
HERE’S THE RUB with game-streaming its business model. This is a bit of a chicken
services: even if you have a service that can and egg situation, but one that could either 5G whizz
stream games to all manner of devices with no speed the success of game-streaming services Researchers at Ericsson boasted that
lag, you need games to stream in the first place. or doom them. the company has smashed the maximum
Many publishers are keen to keep control Microsoft’s Project xCloud streaming 5G speed record, achieving download
over distribution of their service has an ace up its rates of 4.3Gbit/s on the millimetre
games. EA, for example, has
Recognising the sleeve in that Microsoft wave spectrum
its own online store and misunderstanding, already controls the Xbox
game platform – akin to we removed the games game ecosystem, We’re jammin’
Valve’s Steam – but also including Xbox Live and a University of Chicago researchers have
offers a subscription service
from our service” slew of developer houses; built a bracelet that uses ultrasonic
Nvidia statement
on its Origin platform. it also has one of the noise to quietly jam smart speakers and
If it lets those games go to a streaming largest cloud platforms in the world. other microphone-equipped devices
service, it needs to ensure it cuts a solid deal But for others, like GeForce Now, things that could listen in on the wearer
with the provider to compensate for allowing might not be so simple. If Activision Blizzard
its games on another service it doesn’t control. games remain off the game-streaming Cyber punked
Game-streaming services are nothing new, service, GeForce Now could lose access to Nvidia has teamed up with game
having popped up around a decade ago in the some of the most popular games in the developer CDProjekt Red to create
form of the now dead OnLive. But as the world, such as Overwatch. the limited edition GeForce Cyberpunk
technology has improved, it’s only really now While game streaming might have been 2077 RTX 2080 Ti graphics card, which
starting to look like a viable alternative to heralded as the potential death knell for gaming comes clad in a striking yellow livery
running games locally. PCs and games consoles, things aren’t looking
And as game streaming has yet to properly so straightforward. As such, we’d not advise
establish itself, there’s no real standard set for binning your games machine of choice just yet. Flipped off
F
S
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip
phone appears to have
p
ccompromised on durability
iin order to fit in a foldable
display, as gadget botherer
JerryRigEverything found
the screen is prone to scratching
thatt th
th
SO WHAT?
Mac attacks
YOU MIGHT SHRUG at the news that Apple’s adversely affected, so closed factories in China, Cyber threats aimed at Macs have
profits could be a few less billion this year than and thus a knock-on effect to supply chains, outpaced those targeted at Windows
last year, and a lack of Model 3 cars might also could see companies run out of machines to PCs for the first time, signalling that
leave you nonplussed, but according to sell, or potentially delay the release of their Apple’s computers are not as secure
supply-chain analytics company TrendForce, next latest-and-greatest notebook. as they once might have been
the coronavirus outbreak and its effect on the For you, dear reader, all this adds up to a
technology industry could potential shortage in tech Windows woes
see smartphone production We think any and components that might Microsoft was forced to pull the latest
decline 12%, meaning if economic and force you to reconsider a Windows 10 update – labelled
you’re after the latest new PC build or the KB4532693 - as it was found to be
flagship phone you could find
tech market impacts replacement of an aging deleting files on some PCs
yourself out of luck. will be short-lived laptop or smartphone.
If you’ve been holding off and localised” But Andrew Bartels, Malware museum
getting a PlayStation 4 Pro or Andrew Bartels, Forrester vice-president at analyst The National Portrait Gallery received
Xbox One X, you might find house Forrester, believes 347,602 emails containing phishing,
stocks are limited, as console manufacturing is the impact of coronavirus should be brief. scams and malware in 2019, with a
also said to have taken a hit. The laptop, smart “Based on the experience of past natural volume so large there’s a chance the
speaker and smartwatch segments of the tech disasters and epidemics like SARS, we think malware could have affected thousands
world are also set to see a decline, as China is any economic and tech market impacts will be of devices connected to its network
one of the main areas of manufacture, even if short-lived and localised,” he predicts.
they are designed in other parts of the world. “For durable goods like computers and
A chip shortage over the past 18 months or communications equipment, demand will be
so has already seen the production of laptops delayed but recover quickly.”

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 15

 MIT develops AI to edit outdated
Wikipedia articles
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) technology could
be used to rewrite outdated Wikipedia articles,
reducing the workload for human editors, thanks
to a system developed by Massachusetts Institute
of Technology (MIT).
While AI systems are now capable of generating
text and can check facts, and bots have been used
to edit Wikipedia in the past, they aren’t always
the most capable or able to mimiic the tone of
human writers.
By training its system on two databases,
one with pairs of sentences and another
with a relevant Wikipedia senten nce,
the researchers at MIT were able e to
generate an AI that can find outd dated
text in Wikipedia pages, and then n
rewrite them similar to how a
flesh-and-blood editor would.
The AI system works by
looking at new or updated
information typed into the
user interface in an unstructured
sentence, one without grammar
d claim is true or false.
or style. The AI then finds the
relevant Wikipedia entry,
pinpoints the section the
updated information is
referencing, and then rewrites
the sentence with amended
details in a human-like fashion.
Bee-inspired software could power
next-generation drones
NEXT-GENERATION DRONES could be powered by
software inspired by how bees adapt to and navigate
their surroundings.
Scientists from the University of Sheffield are
reverse-engineering bee brains to create a drone
prototype, which is influenced by the flying insects’
ability to navigate accurately over several kilometres
and learn environmental features on the fly to then
find their way back to their hive.
Professor James Marshall from Sheffield
University presented his team’s work at the
American Association for the Advancement of
Science conference in Seattle, detailing how it aims
to create small drones that can effectively navigate
their surroundings as bees do.
“Bees are really consummate visual
navigators. They can navigate a
complex 3D environment with
minimal learning very robustly, using
only a million neurons in a cubic
millimetre of brain. For us, they’re at
a sweet spot for brain size and
intelligence,” Marshall explains.
Despite their tiny size, bee brains
can multitask and are able to optimise
16
It’s not for us
The idea is that the AI removes the need for to adapt to
human editors to laboriously search through and
amend Wikipedia entries.
this company, it’s
“There are so many updates constantly needed for this company to
to Wikipedia articles. It would be beneficial to adapt to us”
automatically modify exact portions of the articles, European Commissioner Thierry
with little to no human intervention,” says Darsh Breton on Facebook’s desire to
Shah, a PhD student at the MIT Computer Science dictate how it should be regulated
and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, and one of the
lead authors of a paper detailing the research.
ead of hundreds of people working
“Inste
The Colonel
on mod difying each Wikipedia article, you’ll was passionate
only nee ed a few, because the model is about his fried
helping or doing it automatically. That offers
dramaticc improvements in efficiency.”
chicken and this
The AI can also help identify so-called ‘fake new Skill makes
newss’ as it has been trained to recognise re-ordering your
thee difference between a legitimate
Wikipedia sentence and information
favourite KFC menu
that is factually incorrect. The system items easier than
seeks evidence to ascertain if such a ever but in a fun and
The system is not ready for full use
memorable way”
Jason Cassidy, marketing director
on Wikipedia just yet, as it has been
for KFC Canada, on the fast-food
give
en a score of four out of five for
joint’s adoption of Amazon Alexa
accuracy by human editors and a score of
three--and-a-half out of five for grammar
accuraccy. As such, it outperforms other AI Creating
tools buut isn’t quite able to mimic human unique and
editors just yet. (Phew! – Ed.)
previously
impossible
opportunities for
private citizens to
experience space
is why Space
the distances the insect flies from its hive to forage
for nectar, meaning the brain learns and adapts to
Adventures exists”
Space Adventures chairman Eric
new scenarios very fast.
Anderson on a partnership with
Currently, AI systems used for image processing
Elon Musk’s SpaceX
can’t compute what they see anywhere near as
quickly as some of the smallest natural brains.
To try to replicate how bees navigate, researchers For those who
have split the project into two experiments. fail to embrace
The first involves attaching radar transponders to
bees and analysing their flight paths so researchers
change, there is a
can gain insight into their neural processes. real risk of being
The second experiment involves the more left behind”
gruesome process of inserting a tethered electrode Baroness Martha Lane-Fox
into a bee’s brain and then observing its movements highlights the danger of a digital
around a virtual reality environment. By skills shortage in the UK
analysing the neural signals, it is hoped
he scientists will gain a deeper look
th
into bee movements.
A digital form
“We’ve modelled maybe 25% of requiring
the honeybee brain, maybe a touch manual input might
more,” Marshall adds.
“We have bee-like robots that
be more accurate,
can fly around the lab behaving as quicker and cheaper”
a bee would, extracting information A government guide to AI use in
om the world.”
fro the public sector misses the point
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
 Sonos recycling mode
Why is the company killing off its own smart speakers?
SO SONOS IS BRICKING ITS
OWN SPEAKERS?
In a nutshell, yes. But Sonos doesn’t
call it that, rather the smart speaker
maker calls it ‘Recycle Mode’.
The whole thing works when a
Sonos customer decides it’s time
to discard one of their smart
speakers. Rather than drop the
speaker into a bin or bung it into
an attic to collect dust, the speaker
can be traded in for money off a
shiny new Sonos speaker.

I’M LISTENING…
Of course you are, because who
wouldn’t want to get some money
or credit for something they don’t
want any more? But before a
Sonos speaker can be traded in,
Sonos requires that it’s put into
its Recycle Mode.
To do that, users need to log
into their Sonos accounts online,
then opt to participate in the
‘Trade Up Program’, choose the
product they want to trade in and
select ‘Recycle Selected Devices’.
Once that’s done, they then need
to use the Sonos app on their linked smartphone to confirm their SOUNDS SENSIBLE
selection. Then, the countdown to the recycling mode is activated, Yes, but here’s the rub: the whole process means end-of-lifing what are
and in 21 days the device will effectively be deactivated. That means effectively perfectly good speakers.
purging all user data from the smart speaker and effectively When in Recycle Mode, the Sonos speakers can’t be used at all,
bricking it, a bit like a very severe factory reset, only with no reboot meaning they can’t be passed on to someone who might just want a
at the end. basic speaker without Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant support.
The speaker can then be delivered to Sonos or taken to a local Taking this approach has seen a bit of a backlash against Sonos,
recycling point, and the person can get up to 30% off the price of a as breaking down old devices to recycle parts is better than throwing
new Sonos product. them into landfill, but reusing the device first is the more
environmentally friendly approach as nothing is really wasted.
SO SONOS IS REALLY ECO-CONSCIOUS? This was highlighted by one Twitter user going by the name of
It certainly seems that way. Sonos spouted its ‘atomicthumbs’, who noted that someone
recycling motivations thus: “As part of offering
a great incentive for long-time loyal customers, “Recycling locally is much recycled five ‘good condition’ Sonos Play:5
speakers that ‘could easily be reused’ but were
we also want to encourage responsible disposal
of older devices. more environmentally friendly rendered useless by the recycling mode.
“Anyone even remotely familiar with
“The best way to do that is recycling locally,
which is much more environmentally friendly than packing up and shipping recycling can tell you the mantra, ‘reduce, reuse,
recycle’. Recycling takes energy and, while it

heavy devices back to Sonos”

than packing up and shipping heavy devices
back to Sonos. That said, our goal is to keep
old players out of the landfill, so if local
recycling isn’t an option, customers are welcome to ship it back to
Sonos at our expense with prepaid labels.”
However, there’s also a second motivation. Older Sonos products,
according to the company, don’t have the onboard processing power
to handle the firm’s latest smart speaker services and features.
So the idea of the Trade Up Program is to effectively get people
with older Sonos speakers on to the latest speakers and audio
systems, while ensuring the older devices don’t end up in the hands
of folks who might expect them to have more capabilities than the
hardware can support.
saves materials, reuse is always better,”
atomicthumbs pointed out.
“Sonos is throwing any claimed
environmental friendliness in the trash in order to sell more speakers.
This is the most environmentally unfriendly abuse and waste of
[perfectly good] hardware I’ve seen in five years working at a recycler.”
One could argue there’s a degree of scepticism in saying that
Sonos’s approach to recycling is just a move to sell more speakers.
But it’s hard to challenge that there are more environmentally friendly
ways to handle the recycling of old speakers.
Sonos might need to go back to the drawing board when it comes
to how it approaches recycling and admit that bricking functioning
smart speakers might not be the best way to tackle it.

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 17

 REVIEWS
YOUR TRUSTED GUIDE TO WHAT’S NEW

CHROME OS LAPTOP

GOOGLE
Pixelbook Go
★★★★★
£829 • From store.google.com

VERDICT
Google’s latest premium Chromebook strikes the perfect
balance between performance, portability and usability

18 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

It’s not particularly flashy,
but the Pixelbook Go feels
solid and beautifully built,
at the same time as being
very light and slim
ADDING ‘GO’ OR ‘Lite’ to a product’s name is
usually an indication that it’s had its function
or appearance curtailed in some way. That’s
why we were surprised that Google chose to
go with the Pixelbook Go as the name for its
latest flagship Chromebook.
Where most manufacturers have opted to
go in at the low end with their Chromebooks,
Google has historically chosen to do the
opposite, using its own-brand products as
standard-bearers.
RECYCLABLE MATERIAL
So is the Pixelbook Go a cut-down product? In
most ways, absolutely not. It’s slim, light, very
nicely put together, and it has a big, bright
13.3in screen. With a comfy keyboard and
large touchpad, it’s a great all-round machine.
It even houses not a weak Intel Celeron CPU,
as so many of its Chromebook brethren do,
but a Core i5-8200Y. This is a proper laptop in
every sense other than it runs Chrome OS.
And yet, despite its relatively high price
and grown-up specifications, it seems Google
has lowered its sights somewhat with the
Pixelbook Go. It doesn’t run the very latest
10th-gen Intel CPUs, instead sticking with
low-power eighth-gen chips. And it’s much
more of a basic design than the 2-in-1 Pixel
Slate (Shopper 374) and the original Pixelbook
(Shopper 368).
The compromise is that the Pixelbook Go
starts out considerably cheaper than both of
these. Indeed, prices start at £629 for the Core
m3-based Pixelbook Go, which comes with
8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
There are a total of four models in the
range, and as you progress through the
ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020
ranks, the prices rise, too. We were sent the
Intel Core i5-8200Y model with 8GB of
RAM and 128GB of storage, which costs
£829. It’s a shame that you don’t get the
model with the 4K Molecular Display until
you get to the top-end £1,329 Core i7 model
– all the others come with the same 1080p
screen as our review unit.
IN THE GROOVES
It’s clear, then, that the Google Pixelbook Go
is not a ch heap optiion. In terms off its desiign,
however, it’s right up there with the very
best laptops on the market. It’s not
particularly flashy – even the red model
is pretty plain – but it feels solid and
beautifully built, at the same time as being
very light (1.06kg) and slim (13.4mm).
Unusually, the most eye-catching part of
the Pixelbook Go is its crinkle-cut underside.
Aside from adding a little extra bit of grip, it
doesn’t have much point. The rest of the
design is unfussy yet appealing. Its gently
curved corners and flat lid feel friendly and
approachable, and we particularly like the
smooth matt finish, which Google calls
“finely painted magnesium”; it feels lovely
under the palm.
Other nice touches abound. The chassis
feels remarkably rigid given how slim it is,
and the lid closes with a satisfyingly soft yet
solid thunk. Another nice touch is that you
can open up the laptop with just one finger
without it tipping back on its heels. Far too
many manufacturers neglect this important
aspect of laptop design, making the lid
magnet too strong or the gap too thin to
easily get any purchase on.
Although there are some other feature
highlights, notably a 1080p webcam (that’s
something not even Apple’s high-end
MacBook Pro laptops have), there’s not a
huge amount else to get terribly excited by
on the features front.
Connectivity, as you’d expect from such a
slim device, is minimal. You get a pair of USB
Type-C ports, one on each side of the base
and both of which can be used to charge,
output video or connect peripherals. There’s
allso a 3.5mm head dset jack k on th
he left
ft ed
dge,
and that’s your lot for physical ports. There’s
no microSD card slot or SIM card slot for
on-the-go connectivity.
Wireless connectivity is covered by a
simple dual-band 802.11ac card, which
supports Bluetooth 4.2 and dual-band 802.11ac
Wi-Fi. Again, it’s a surprise that the Pixelbook
Go doesn’t support the latest Wi-Fi 6
technology, and although this isn’t the end of
the world, it is a little disappointing.
KEY VICTORIES
The Pixelbook Go’s keyboard, on the other
hand, is a real highlight: it’s a delight to type
on, whether you’re a hunt-and-peck specialist
or a high-speed touch-typing dynamo. It has a
solid base, the key action is light, quiet and
well dampened, yet just positive enough to let
you know your key presses have registered,
while the key tops are large enough to keep
typos to a minimum.
When it comes to layout, the usual
Chromebook rules apply, which won’t be to
everyone’s tastes. You get a Search button
on the left-hand side where you’d normally
find a Caps Lock key, which has always been
19
 a source of irritation with Chromebooks.
There’s also a Google Assistant key where
you’d normally find the Windows or
Command keys on other laptops, which is
less of an imposition.
tty
tt
Fortunately, the rest of the layout is prett
sensible. With the UK layout, you get a narro ow
but double-height Enter key. The Shift keys
have a decent width to them, as do the
Backspace and Tab keys, and the cursor
cluster isn’t too cramped.
The touchpad works well, too. It’s spaciou us
enough to allow you to perform multitouch
gestures comfortably, and the click doesn’t
feel overly heavy or insubstantial. Note,
however, that since it’s mechanical, clicking
doesn’t work at the very top of the pad.
WHERE ANGLES FEAR TO TREAD
The weakest part of the Pixelbook Go has to o
be the display, although it’s good enough forr
most uses. It’s a 1,920x1,080 panel measuring
13.3in across the diagonal, and it’s perfectly
sharp and reasonably bright. We measured
peak brightness at 369cd/m2; not as high as
the brightest laptops, but it should be good
enough for most indoor situations and even
some outdoor use in the shade.
It’s colour-accurate, too, and has a very
high contrast ratio of 2,275:1, ensuring
onscreen images have real punch and
presence. It isn’t without its issues, however.
The first is that viewing angles are
disappointing: tilt the screen left, right, up
or down and the display dims noticeably
past around 45°. It’s also a little grainy, and a
touch too reflective – never a good
combination with middling brightness.
The touchscreen works well enough for the
few times you’re likely to want to use it,
clicking links, scrolling through web pages and
the like. You’ll likely stick to the keyboard and
touchpad, but it’ss nice to have the option.
Google has tuc to th
of 8th-
20
Slatte, wh
hich
h seems like a miissed d opporrtuniity
given that 10th-gen processors are now
available. Still, if the results of our tests are
anything to go by, there’s not much need for
more oomph anyway.
DRAWN OUT
We’ve been happily using the Pixelbook Go as
a work laptop with few issues. Tens of tabs
open in Chrome, with multiple large Google
Sheets spreadsheets running, don’t faze the
Core i5 chip at all. We suspect the Core m3
might struggle a bit more when you really
load it up, but it’s clear you don’t need
anything faster than the processor and RAM
supplied with our model.
In Geekbench 4, the Pixelbook Go scored
3,595 in the single-core test and 6,271 in the
multicore test, so again it has no generational
advantage over the previous Pixelbook (we
tested a Core i7 model of the latter, which
scored 4,020 and 7,752 respectively). Still,
it’ss a big step up from Celeron-p
powered
Chromeb book k 4; the formerr managed d onlly 1,1141
in the single-core test and 1,062 in the
multitasking test. Acer’s offering is much
cheaper, but the Pixelbook Go shows you
don’t need to scrimp on performance when
buying a Chrome OS laptop.
Where the Pixelbook Go stretches out a
lead over all its rivals is battery life. Quite
simply, it’s stunning in this regard. In our video
rundown test, it lasted 14h 15m, which is
nearly five hours longer than the Dell Inspiron
Chromebook 14 and nearly six hours longer
than the Pixel Slate. This really is a laptop you
can work on all day without plugging it in into
the mains, and the fact that you can charge it
via USB Type-C only adds to the convenience.
GO FOR IT
With battery life this good and a keyboard
this usable, there are some very good reasons
to use the Pixelbook Go over even a similarly
priced Windows laptop.
Indeed, now that you can run Android apps
andd Linux on Chrome OS, there are becoming
fewwer reasons not to choose it. Even the
And droid Lightroom app works well, so it’s a
respectable device for image editing as well as
genneral browsing and word processing.
The display could be better, but that really
is the only serious misstep. All round, it’s
quitte simply a superb machine that gets the
balaance between usability, looks and
perrformance spot on. If you’re planning on
buyying a laptop this year, you should at least
connsider the Google Pixelbook Go.
Jonathan Bray
SPECIFICATIONS
PR • RAM
ROCESSOR Dual-core 1.3GHz Intel Core i5-8200Y
8GB • DIMENSIONS 311x206x13.4mm • •
WEIGHT 1.06kg
CREEN SIZE 13.3in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 1,920x1,080 •
SC
RAPHICS ADAPTOR Intel UHD Graphics 615 • TOTAL
GR
TORAGE 128GB SSD • OPERATING SYSTEM Chrome OS •
ST
WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS store.google.com •
PA
ART CODE GA00526-UK
Battery life 14h 15m
0% -50 Reference +50 +100
See page 88 for performance details
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
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 WINDOWS 10 2-IN-1
MICROSOFT Surface Pro X
★★★★★
£1,269 • From www.microsoft.com
VERDICT
An upgraded design and lovely display are overshadowed by
Windows compatibility issues with the mobile-style processor
AN INSTANT CONCERN about the
Surface Pro X, Microsoft’s
new premier tablet, is that it
recalls 2012’s Surface RT. This
was a fabulous piece of hardwarre
but couldn’t run a lot of regular
Windows apps and this,
ultimately, proved its undoing.
Microsoft quickly changed its mind and
reinstated full Windows on its fu uture hybrids
with the Surface Pro.
More recently, however, Microsoft has
changed its mind once again and d decided it’s
time for another try. Thus, we ha ave the
Microsoft Surface Pro X, which runs full
Windows 10 but, once again, can n’t run all
Windows 10 apps. Is history abo out to repeat
itself all over again?
CLEAN UP
Outwardly, the Surface Pro X looks much
like any other Surface hybrid, albeit with a
slightly refined design. It has a 13in 4:3 IPS
display in a slim chassis that houses all of
the machine’s core hardware, and there’s an
integrated kickstand at the rear to prop up
the screen at any angle of your choosing.
As with any other Surface Pro, the
detachable keyboard acts as a protective
cover when stowed. Unfortunattelly, it’s sttill
an optional extra. That means you should
budget at least an extra £130 fo or it, because
it’s optional in name (and price)) only.
There are a number of small cosmetic
differences between the Surface Pro X and
the most recent Surface Pro 7 (Shopper 385).
The Surface Pro X is slimmer an nd has more
gently rounded corners, and in the space
above the keyboard there’s a sm mall slot in
which you can stow the Surface e Slim Pen,
where the stylus charges quietly y as it
sleeps. This is a much better solution
than the stick-it-on-the-side app proach of
the Surface Pro 7.
The big changes, however, reeside within.
Instead of being equipped with an Intel Core
CPU and integrated GPU, the Su urface Pro X
features Microsoft’s SQ1 chip, which is based
on Qualcomm’s Windows-on-Sn napdragon
chip, the Snapdragon 8CX.
In a sense, the Surface Pro X is essentially a
giant smartphone and, in keepin ng with that
heritage, it has integrated 4G coonnectivity,
allowing you to stay connected without
having to faff around with Wi-F Fi passwords.
You’ll have to pay extra for a daata plan if you
want to make the most of this, however.
22
Viewed in the context of the price of the
12.9in iPad Pro, the price of the Microsoft
Surface Pro X looks almost reasonable and,
when it comes to the design, it’s definitely up
there with Apple’s flagship tablet.
It feels beautifully made, it’s super slim and
the screen takes up most of the front of the
chassis, with barely any bezels. And, despite
measuring 1.2mm thinner, 5mm narrower and
6mm taller than the Surface Pro 7, the Surface
Pro X has a larger 13in display. Not bad,
considering the chassis still has room for the
Surface Pro’s trademark kickstand.
CONNECTION POINTS
As for connectivity, the Surface Pro X has
two USB Type-C ports (one more than the
Surface Pro 7), both of which can be used for
charging. However, there’s no USB Type-A
port – the chassis is just too thin – and no
3.5mm headset jack either, which is
somewh hatt baffl
ffling.
The Microsoft SQ1 SoC has integrated 4G
connectivity courtesy of Qualcomm’s X24
modem, and this is pretty simple to set up.
Either insert your own SIM in the slot under
the kickstand or use the tablet’s e-SIM
capability to get it up and running.
In a highly unusual (but not unwelcome)
move, the system’s SSD is fully user
replaceable. Just pop out the small access
hatch that sits under the kickstand (a SIM
ejector tool works for this), unscrew the Torx
screw holding the SSD in place and you can
swap it out with a drive of your choosing.
Be warned, however: you’ll need a 22x30mm
M.2 drive to replace it with, and these aren’t
particularly easy to find compared to their
full-size equivalents.
PEN PAL
As with all other Surface Pro devices, the
keyboard attaches to the tablet body with a
sttrong magnett and a couple of lugs to hold
it in place.
It’s coated with soft, hydrophobic
Alcantara fabric on both sides, which feels
lovely under yo our palms, and the keys
themselves combine good travel with a
sensible amount of feedback and plenty of
space around each one. Typos on this
keyboard are, mercifully, minimal.
The touchp pad is just as good. At
100x56mm in size, it’s ever so slightly taller
and narrower than the one on the Surface
Pro 7’s keyboa ard cover, but not so much as
would make a tangible difference.
It works jusst fine with Windows 10’s
multitouch gesstures, and the click is perfectly
weighted. Bein ng a diving-board-type touchpad,
you can’t click it right at the top edge, but
move your fing ger a centimetre or so down
towards the ce entre and it works just fine.
The stylus works well, too. It has a more
flattened shape than the standard Surface
Pen, to help it fit in the keyboard charging
slot, but otherw wise its features are similar: a
button on the barrel and a button/eraser
function on the top of the stylus. It’s
pressure-sensitive, detects the angle of
the pen, enabliing intuitive shading, and it
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
feels pretty responsive witth
hardly any lag. Palm rejection
is excellent as well.
The Surface Pro X’s 13in
IPS PixelSense display is
simply superb. It isn’t quitee
perfect, but it’s as close to
o it
as you’d ever need it to be e.
Its resolution of 2,880x1,92 20
and pixel density of 267pp pi
ensures it’s tack sharp,
and it’s bright, too,
reaching a peak of
452cd/m2 in our tests.
It’s also very colour-acccurate. With the sRGB
setting enabled in the display settings, our tests
showed it achieving 91.7% coverage of the sRGB
colour gamut and a contrast ratio of 1,394:1.
Colour-accuracy results were even more
impressive, with the display achieving numbers
close to ideal across all colours. This is a
sensationally good display by any standards.
IN ARM’S WAY
The Microsoft Surface Pro X is a mighty fine
piece of hardware, that much is clear. The
question is, without an Intel or AMD chip under
the hood, can you use it for day-to-day work?
The answer to this question is, largely, yes.
We’ve been using it quite happily for word
processing and browser-based tasks, and in
doing so have had as many as 30 tabs open in
Edge. It’s perfectly responsive and, as long as
the tablet will run the app you want it to run,
you shouldn’t have any problems.
However, therein lies the rub, which is that the
system’s SoC is an ARM chip, which means lots
of apps simply won’t install in the first place. In
particular, the Surface Pro X won’t run any 64-bit
application that hasn’t been ported to ARM 64.
The Pro X will run 32-bit (x86) apps, which
might help you get around this issue. We were
able to install a 32-bit version of Chrome as well
as Photoshop CC (after a few false starts where
Adobe CC failed to install), so it isn’t quite as
restricted as the Surface RT, which was only able
to run Windows Store applications. Even so, you
can expect performance issues with resource-
heavy applications, because the x86 Windows
apps run in an x86 emulator. Although Chrome
and Photoshop would run, neither felt as nippy
as you’d expect from the hardware at hand.
And there are other issues. Any hardware
that needs a driver to work with Windows will
only be able to talk to the Surface Pro X if the
manufacturer has specifically written ARM 64
drivers for them. Given the Pro X is one of only a
handful of ARM 64 Windows devices around, we
can’t see many manufacturers investing the time
or money required. Games won’t work, either, if
they use a version of OpenGL beyond 1.1.
Either way, if you’re thinking of buying a
Surface Pro X, you’re going to have to do some
serious research to ensure all the software and
the hardware you want to run will work on it.
All in all, it’s a bit of a mess.
With such great hardware, that’s a shame,
because there’s clearly plenty of potential
here. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get our usual
ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020
4K benchmarks to run, but with h Geekbench 4
scores of 3,509 in the single-core test and 11,643
in the multicore test, the Surface Pro X is very
nearly as powerful as the top Core i7 version of
the Surface Pro 7.
It’s further behind the 12.9in iPad Pro, which
scored 4,979 and 12,921 respectively, but should
still be fast enough to run most applications
without problems. It’s mainly the software and
driver compatibility that causes issues.
That said, the SSD is also slower than that of
the Surface Pro 7 – we recorded a sequential read
speed of 1,463MB/s and a sequential write speed
of just 364MB/s – but you might be willing to
accept that when you see the difference in
battery life. In our video rundown benchmark, the
Surface Pro X lasted nearly two hours longer (9h
3m vs 7h 20m) than the Core i7 Surface Pro 7.
STYLUS OVER SUBSTANCE
The Surface Pro X is certainly a nice piece of kit.
It’s slim and light, and has a big, beautiful display.
Its keyboard, touchpad and Surface Slim Pen all
function superbly, and battery life is excellent.
Add in upgradable storage, built-in 4G
capability and nippy performance, and it looks
like the perfect 2-in-1. It’s a little pricier than the
equivalent Surface Pro 7, which is odd, but not
by much, and it’s more cost effective than the
cellular 12.9in iPad Pro.
However, Microsoft’s decision to use an
ARM-based processor at the heart of the
Surface Pro X means it has some pretty big
limitations when it comes to the software you
can run on it. Ultimately, this puts the brakes
on the Surface Pro X’s appeal.
No matter how good the hardware is or how
attractive it looks, if you can’t run the software
you need to run on it, it’s not going to work for
you. At the very least, make sure you do your
homework before you splash out.
Jonathan Bray
SPECIFICATIONS
PROCESSOR Octa-core 3GHz Microsoft SQ1 • RAM 8GB •
DIMENSIONS 287x208x7.3mm • WEIGHT 774g • SCREEN SIZE
• SCREEN RESOLUTION 2,880x1,920 • GRAPHICS
13in
ADAPTOR Adreno 685 • TOTAL STORAGE 256GB • OPERATING
SYSTEM Windows 10 Home • WARRANTY One year RTB •
DETAILS www.microsoft.com • PART CODE MNY-00002
Battery life 9h 3m
0% -50 Reference +50 +100
See page 88 for performance details
 WINDOWS 10 LAPTOP
ACER ConceptD 7
★★★★★
£2,299 • From www.acer.com
VERDICT
The ConceptD 7 delivers almost anything a
serious content creator could wish for
MUCH LIKE THE desktop ConceptD 500
(Shopper 385), the ConceptD 7 is a
workstation for creative types – only this
time, in laptop form. We’ve tested the
mid-range spec, which includes 32GB of
RAM, a 1TB SSD, Intel’s Core i7-9750H CPU
and a 6GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 for
extra graphical muscle.
BALANCE OF POWER
It’s sturdily built, with a reassuringly
robust aluminium chassis measuring
359x255x17.9mm. Given what the Concept 7
has under the hood, cramming everything
into such a slim package and keeping the
weight to 2.21kg is an impressive feat.
However, it is worth noting that the 628g
power supply is pretty chunky, and will add
to your load when carrying it in a backpack.
As you’d expect of a workstation machine,
the ConceptD 7 has an impressive array of
connectivity options. There’s a USB Type-C
ThunderBolt 3 port on the right side, where
you’ll also find two USB3.1 ports and a mini
DisplayPort output. On the left side you get
another USB3.1 port, an HDMI output, two
3.5mm jacks and an Ethernet connector,
which you’ll want to be a little wary of as its
uncovered edges are quite sharp.
There are a few absent features we’d
have liked to have seen, such as Wi-Fi 6
support or any kind of biometric login
option, although the most glaring omission
is that of any form of SD card reader.
That’s a big miss for photographers.
Much better is the keyboard. It’s
conventional in terms of its layout, but the
keys are perfectly spaced out and enable
fluid typing free of typos. It’s backlit, too,
and this can be adjusted to one of four
brightness levels.
The touchpad, however, felt a little too
sticky in terms of friction. We found it’s best
24
used witth thee ve
eryy tip
p of the
e fing
ger,, to
minimise contact and thus drag.
The ConceptD 7’s star feature is the 15.6in,
4K IPS display. Acer claims it covers 100% of
the sRGB colour gamut, and this proved more
or less true in our testing, where we measured
99.6% coverage. Even better is the average
delta-E result of 0.8: anything at 1 or below is
professional quality, so the ConceptD 7
definitely lives up to its workstation promise.
A peak brightness of 365cd/m2 is good rather
than great, but that’s still high enough for
indoor use, and the screen backlighting is
nice and uniform across the panel.
The speakers are pretty good, too, which
makes a change for laptops. Although they’re
downwards-firing, so could get muffled by
certain surfaces, we were highly impressed
by their clarity and overall sound quality,
even at maximum volume.
If you don’t like the way they sound, you
can tweak the audio via Acer’s ConceptD
Palette app using the MaxxAudio suite of
tools. These allow you to create sound presets
for Gaming, Movies, Music and Voice, which
is a nice touch for those with audiophile
tendencies. WavesNX promises to “turn any
pair of headphones into a high-end 360°
surround-sound system” by tracking your
head movements via the laptop’s 720p
webcam and adjusting the audio as you move.
It’s a pretty niche feature that only works with
wired headphones, but we found its surround-
sound effect surprisingly convincing.
OLD FAVOURITE
The Intel Core i7-9750H is a CPU we’ve seen
perform well many times before, and backed
up with a hefty 32GB of memory, it propelled
the ConceeptD 7 to a very strong 185 overall in
our 4K benchmarks. That’s a few points
ahead d of the Razer Blade 15 (Shopper
3800) and one point ahead of the
similarly work-minded MSI P65
Creator (Shopper 375). In fact, you’d
have to pay much more for a Core
i9-powered laptop such as the Apple
MacBook k Pro 16in (Shopper 385) to get
significanttly better CPU performance.
Thee SSD iss alsso onee of the
e fa
astest we
e’ve
e
seen, landing an excellent sequential read
speed of 2,878MB/s and a sequential write
speed of 2,587MB/s. Even the MacBook Pro
can’t keep up with that read speed, though its
2,889MB/s write speed was higher.
It may not be designed or marketed as a
gaming laptop, but in terms of graphical
performance, the ConceptD 7 certainly has
the capability to double-up as one. During our
Metro Last Light Redux test at 1080p on high
settings, the ConceptD 7 averaged 139fps,
which is up there with some of the top-
performing gaming laptops we’ve tested.
Battery life is less standout: in our video
rundown test, the ConceptD 7 lasted 4h 52m.
This isn’t a terrible result given how powerful
it is, but it means it’s probably best viewed as
a space-saving home workstation rather than
a truly mobile laptop for road warriors.
CREATIVE SIDE
Even so, the ConceptD 7 is a superb
workstation laptop, suitable for designers,
photographers and video editors alike. In
particular, its display is a delight to work with
and demonstrates exceptional colour
accuracy across the Adobe RGB gamut.
It may lack an SD card slot, and battery
life prevents it from being truly mobile, but
the ConceptD 7 is an appealing premium
laptop that delivers where it matters.
Andy White
SPECIFICATIONS
• RAM
PROCESSOR Hexa-core 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-9750H
32GB •DIMENSIONS 359x255x17.9mm • •
WEIGHT 2.21kg
SCREEN SIZE 15.6in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 3,840x2,160 •
GRAPHICS ADAPTOR 6GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 •
TOTAL STORAGE 1TB SSD • OPERATING SYSTEM Windows
10 Pro • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.acer.
com • PART CODE NX.C4HEK.001
Windows overall 185
Multitasking 195
Battery life 4h 52m
0% -50 Reference +50 +100
See page 88 for performance details
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
WINDOWS 10 CONVERTIBLE
LENOVO Yoga C940
★★★★★
£1,335 • From www.lenovo.com
VERDICT
This powerful hybrid manages to outperform
and outlast the best of its competition
LAPTOP MAKERS ARE beginning to adopt
Intel’s 10th generation processors en masse,
and the latest to do so is Lenovo, with its
Yoga C940 series of laptops. Available with a
14in display, the company’s flagship
convertible goes head to head with the Dell
XPS 13 2-in-1 (Shopper 386), which has also
recently updated to Intel’s latest silicon.
Both laptops have fully rotating hinges,
which allows for usage in several different,
tablet-like configurations, but the Yoga C940
differs in that it comes with an active stylus
stowed away neatly in a slot in the spine of
the machine. The Dell is stylus-compatible,
but doesn’t come with one in the box and
doesn’t have a slot in the chassis for it.
Another thing the Yoga C940 has that the
Dell device doesn’t is an integrated cover
for the 720p webcam, which you can slide
across for privacy.
This camera isn’t compatible with the
facial recognition of Windows Hello, but
there is a fingerprint reader that sits just
below the bottom right-hand corner of the
keyboard for speedy unlocking.
SIX SHOOTER
The keyboard is pleasant enough to type on;
we’d prefer more travel and more positive
feedback but it feels solid and robust enough,
and there’s a good amount of space
surrounding each key, ensuring typos are
kept to a minimum. The touchpad, too, is
large and responsive.
Connectivity is limited, as you might
expect of a laptop with ultraportable
dimensions like this, but you do get a little
more than you do on the XPS 13 2-in-1.
There’s a full-size USB3.1 port sat alongside a
pair of Thunderbolt 3-enabled USB Type-C
ports on the left edge of the machine, and
it’s also good to see the new Wi-Fi 6 (aka
ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020
802.11ax) wireless
standard supported.
The Yoga C940 can be
config gure
ed witth eitthe
er a 10
080p or 4K
display. Both have an aspect ratio of 16:9 and
both are stylus-compatible. We were sent the
former, and it performed reasonably well in
our display testing.
If you’re going to use the display for any
kind of photo editing or colour-critical work,
however, do seek out the Intel Graphics
Control Panel by searching for it in the
Windows 10 Start menu. We found that,
with the power-saving settings enabled,
dynamic contrast kicked in, dimming the
display noticeably when there was a lot of
dark content on the screen.
With this disabled, brightness peaks at
369cd/m2, which is good: a fair notch behind
the Dell XPS 2-in-1’s 538cd/m2, admittedly,
but around the same as the 13.5in Microsoft
Surface Laptop 3 (Shopper 385). The contrast
ratio is excellent at 1,635:1, while sRGB
coverage is fine but not amazing at 91.4%.
RAISING THE BAR
Where the Lenovo Yoga C940 sets itself apart
from the crowd is its speakers, which take the
form of a Dolby Atmos-branded ‘soundbar’
that stretches across the centre of the laptop,
in the crease between the screen and
keyboard. They don’t produce much bass but
can pump out audio with a surprising amount
of body and volume – good enough, at least,
for watching video or listening to podcasts.
We’ve so far been impressed with Intel’s
10th-ggeneration mobile CPUs, and the Core
i7-1065G G7 in the Yoga C940 is no exception.
Backed up with 16GB of RAM in this
configuration and a 256GB Samsung SSD,
the C9 940 performed impressively in our
4K beenchmarks.
Its overall score worked out to 102,
jusst three points ahead of the XPS 13
2-in-1 – though this could be expected,
as both models we tested had the
same CPU. In any case, it’s a
commanding performance for
such a slim laptop.
The Yoga C940 uses integrated
graaphiccs, but these are Intel Iris Plus
graphics, so while
we wouldn’t advise
ru
unning
g moost 3D gamees,
it does outperform 10th-gen
Core i5 chips with lower-spec GPUs. The Acer
Swift 5 (Shopper 386), for example, produced
31fps in the GFXBench Car Chase offscreen
test to the Yoga C940’s 59fps.
The Yoga C940 put in a strong
performance in our storage tests, too, its
Samsung SSD achieving sequential read and
write speeds well in advance of the XPS 13
2-in-1 and 13.5in Surface Laptop 3, with
2,585MB/s and 2,062MB/s respectively.
Battery life was even more impressive.
The Yoga C940 lasted for 11h 13m in our
looped video test, hours longer than both
the Dell and Microsoft laptops.
HINGE BENEFITS
Whichever way you slice it, then, the Lenovo
Yoga C940 is a mighty fine convertible. It’s as
fast as all its rivals in all the relevant metrics
and outlasts them all when it comes to
battery life. It has good levels of connectivity,
highly impressive speakers and, although the
display isn’t outstanding, the quality is still
very good overall.
Couple that with a sleek, lightweight
chassis, a solid 360° hinge and a bundled
stylus, and you have a laptop that combines
great performance and good looks with a
keen sense of value.
Jonathan Bray
SPECIFICATIONS
PROCESSOR Quad-core 1.3GHz Intel Core i7-1065G7 • RAM
16GB• DIMENSIONS 308x223x14.5mm • WEIGHT 1.3kg •
SCREEN SIZE 13.5in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 2,256x1,504 •
GRAPHICS ADAPTOR Intel Iris Plus Graphics • TOTAL
STORAGE 256GB SSD • OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 10
Home • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.lenovo.
com • PART CODE 81Q9CTO1WWENGB0
Windows overall 102
Multitasking 96
Battery life 11h 13m
0% -50 Reference +50 +100
See page 88 for performance details
25
 WFHD VA MONITOR
PHILIPS Brilliance
439P9H
★★★★★
£800 • From www.amazon.co.uk
VERDICT
Great quality, features and size, but it’s not
necessarily the biggest or the best option
THE PHILIPS BRILLIANCE 439P9H is an
ultrawide display that aims to improve
productivity by offering a vast amount of
space – handy if you work with loads of
windows or with huge spreadsheets.
Design-wise, it looks good, with a smart,
minimalist stand and slim bezels. It’s robust
and versatile, too: you get 130mm of height
adjustment, tilting and swivelling movement
and 100mm VESA compatibility. The only
concern is making sure you have room for it,
as it’s a gigantic 1,058mm wide.
LOST IN SPACE
That’s a diagonal 43in worth of screen space,
presented in a 32:10 aspect ratio with a
conventional 1800R curvature. Both this
size and the resolution of 3,840x1,200
point to a monitor that’s intended as a
replacement for dual 1080p displays.
There are more pixel-dense ultrawide
monitors, including Philips’ own Brilliance
499P9H (Shopper 377), but the 439P9H is still
sharp enough for photo and video work, and
there’s always plenty of screen real estate for
using multiple windows or wide applications.
As well as the huge size and resolution, the
439P9H uses VA technology alongside 10-bit
colour, and it has AMD FreeSync that peaks at
100Hz. The inclusion of VA technology is
interesting: it lowers cost when compared to
IPS and lends itself to top-notch contrast, but
IPS panels tend to have better colours.
There’s also DisplayHDR
p y 400 support,
pp ,
although thiis is only an entry-level HDR
standard. More
M helpful are the side features:
the 439P9H has an integrated KVM switch,
so you can control
c two PCs or laptops
using a single keyboard and mouse,
and the Win ndows Hello-compatible
webcam helpfully makes it
possible to set
s up facial
recognition authentication.
There’s also
a a slew of
ports on off
ffer. These
include two USB Type-C
ports, both of
o which can
deliver powe er (one 75W,
the other 155W), and one
of which can n act as an
upstream po ort. There
are also four full-size
USB 3.1 portts, one with
fast charging, as well as
Gigabit Etheernet, two
26
DisplayPort 1.4 inputs and a sole HDMI 2.0b
connection. You also get two 5W speakers
that provide enough punch and clarity for
casual media use and video calls.
This is an extremely well-rounded selection
of inputs, although it remains irritating that all
of this panel’s ports are on the rear and face
downwards, making them tricky to reach.
Thankfully, however, the standard Philips
onscreen display is sensibly organised and
very fast, with navigation controlled by
snappy buttons beneath the bottom bezel.
OFF COLOUR
At its default settings, the 439P9H delivers a
brightness level of 400cd/m2 – dead on the
requirement for DisplayHDR 400 certification
– and a black level of 0.18cd/m2. Those figures
create a contrast ratio of 2,222:1, an excellent
figure that squeaks past the larger 499P9H.
That superb contrast means that the 439P9H
has huge vibrancy and punch, along with a
lack of noticeable banding and plenty of
pleasing subtlety on show.
Average delta-E is less impressive, at 2.27,
but colour performance improves significantly
upon switching to sRGB mode. Delta-E drops
to a much better 1.25, and 97.9% sRGB gamut
coverage will suffice for mainstream editing.
g need to look elsewhere,
Professionals might
however, as the e 439P9H could
also only manag ge 79.4% of the
Adobe RGB gam mut and 86.9%
of the DCI-P3 ggamut.
The other sccreen modes
don’t offer mucch, either.
Gaming mode h hinders contrast,
Photo and Officce modes don’t
deliver significaant colour
accuracy impro ovements, and
Movie mode m makes everything
worse across th he board.
It’s worth sa
aying that the
400cd/m2 is on nly using the
default brightness setting of
60%; whack this up to full and
the 439P9H pea aks at 529cd/m2
while maintainiing contrast and
colour levels. H
However, while
Philips has satissfied HDR’s
brightness requiirements, its
black level can’t reach the depths demanded
by DisplayHDR 400. Activating HDR on this
screen will deliver only a tiny improvement,
so no-one should buy this screen on the
strength of its HDR options.
Uniformity is an issue, too. Ultrawides
often struggle with this, but the 439P9H has
it particularly tough, losing up to 35% of its
backlight strength on the left edge and up to
28% on the right edge.
BIGGER FISH
The Brilliance 439P9H has several big
advantages. The design, for starters: this
screen’s width is a huge boon for lots of
situations, and the display has great features,
from its USB and Ethernet connectivity to
its KVM switch and pop-up webcam. The
439P9H serves up impressive contrast and
good colour in its sRGB mode, too.
It does have its downsides, however. The
499P9H is bigger and sharper (thanks to its
higher resolution), and has better colour
performance. The 439P9H’s colours and
contrast are generally good, but the
uniformity issues mean that this screen won’t
always cope with colour-sensitive tasks in the
sRGB colour space, and it’s not able to handle
Adobe RGB or DCI-P3 work, either.
The Philips Brilliance 439P9H is good if
you need lots of horizontal space and if you
don’t do too much colour-sensitive work.
However, keep the larger 499P9H on your
radar – it’s only a little more expensive,
despite the higher size and resolution.
Mike Jennings
SPECIFICATIONS
SCREEN SIZE 43in • RESOLUTION 3,840x1,200 • SCREEN
TECHNOLOGY VA • REFRESH RATE 100Hz • VIDEO
INPUTS DisplayPort, HDMI • WARRANTY Three years RTB
• DETAILS www.philips.co.uk • PART CODE 439P9H
CONNECTION PORTS
HDMI DisplayPort x2 USB3.1 x4
USB Type-C x2 Ethernet
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
QUAD HD IPS MONITOR
RAZER Raptor 27
★★★★★
£699 • From www.currys.co.uk
VERDICT
With its immaculate design, vivid IPS panel
and terrifying price, the Raptor 27 aims high
HAVING ALREADY PLANTED flags in mice,
keyboards, headsets, speakers, soundbars and
questionably useful light-up mousepads, Razer
is continuing its attempts to take over PC
hardware with its first-ever desktop monitor.
The Raptor 27 targets the sweet spot of a
27in screen at 2,560x1,440, with a fast refresh
rate of 144Hz. The matt-finish panel also uses
IPS tech, which traditionally offers better-
looking colours than VA or TN panels at the
cost of higher response time, although Razer
claims the default 7ms can be lowered to 4ms
with pixel overdrive enabled, and as low as
1ms with the motion blur reduction setting.
Refresh rate syncing is also included, in the
form of AMD FreeSync 2, and it’s also certified
as G-Sync Compatible, so whether you own an
AMD or Nvidia graphics card, you’ll be able to
sync the refresh rate to the GPU output,
reducing screen tear, up to the 144fps mark.
The Raptor 27 even promises HDR support,
albeit to the lowest DisplayHDR 400 standard.
CLEVER GIRL
That’s a lot of encouraging specs, though one
of the best things about the Raptor 27 is its
physical design. Build quality is outstanding:
the aluminium stand is completely wobble-
free and offers height and tilt adjustment, and
the base is decorated with RGB light strips
that can be synced to other peripherals within
Razer’s Chroma ecosystem. That’s only one of
its party tricks, too: the screen can also tilt all
the way back until it’s flat, granting easy
access to the ports that would otherwise be
hidden within the rear recess.
Besides the expected HDMI 2.0b and
DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, and a 3.5mm combined
mic/headphone jack, there’s also a USB
Type-C port, which can carry a DisplayPort
you’ve g
signal as well as data. If y got this
connected to your PC,
you can also make
use of two USB2
passthrough ports.
It’s a happily
versatile mix, and the
way the cables can be
routed – in their own
individual channels,
cascading down the
back of the sloping
stand – looks
marvellous. If Razer
was trying to improve
subtlety with this bit of
cable-tidying, however,
ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020
it probably shouldn’t have e made all the
bundled cables bright green.
Nevertheless, no other monitor balances
style with practicality so effectively. Further to
this, the Raptor 27 employs a joystick control
instead of fiddly individual buttons, and the
onscreen display (OSD) is easy to navigate,
and stuffed with a rich variety of settings.
MOTION DWELLING
The main Gaming screen is where the meat
of customisation lies. There are toggles for
Adaptive Sync, Overdrive, Motion Blur
Reduction, HDR (more on this later) and even
a built-in refresh rate counter.
The Overdrive feature is limited to three
settings – off, weak and strong – but there’s
not much difference between the latter two. A
tiny touch of blurring remains, so the Raptor
27 doesn’t entirely escape the drawbacks of
using an IPS panel, but both settings are
definitely up to the task when gaming. The
Strong setting doesn’t suffer the common
overdrive-induced issue of high input lag, so
we were happy to leave it on.
Sadly, motion-blur reduction is best avoided.
It does indeed cut blurring on very fast-
moving objects, but it also drastically reduces
brightness while adding some hideous strobe
crosstalk – a double-image effect – on those
same objects. Leaving MBR off with overdrive
on sets the response time to 4ms, which is no
1ms but a lot better than the default 7ms.
We never felt the Raptor 27 was too slow
for high-octa ane gaming, and
refressh rate-syncing works
well, ttoo. Even though
G-Sync isn’t technically
suppo orted natively, it
successfully cut down on
screen tear when connected
to a GTX 1060-based PC.
As foor more general image
quality, w we found the sRGB
profile yields the best results.
Coverage e of its namesake
gamut ccoverage is a
practiccally perfect 99.5%,
and although an
a
aveerage delta-E E of 2.2
28 means it’s not
amazingly accurate as well, the 1,209:1
contrast ratio keeps everything punchy.
Peak brightness is decent too, at 381cd/m2.
Engaging HDR mode (which needs to be
done manually via the OSD) allows this to
rise to 476cd/m2, at least in HDR content
specifically, so the Raptor 27 does indeed
meet the requirements of DisplayHDR 400.
However, when viewing non-HDR content in
HDR mode, brightness only reaches 365cd/m2,
which is lower than in sRGB mode.
Still, even basic HDR is a potent addition to
the Raptor 27’s imperfect but accomplished
picture quality. Although the Gigabyte Aorus
AD27QD (Shopper 379) heavily undercuts it,
HDR makes for a fairly compelling reason to
choose the Raptor 27 over its more numerous
and even cheaper HDR-less rivals.
SPEND GAME
At least, it is if you have the cash for it. Paying
£699 for a 27in, Quad HD monitor requires
either an outrageously inflated bank account
or an outrageously inflated sense of bravado.
While the design is brilliant and HDR is a
luxury extra, the Aorus AD27QD and Acer
Nitro VG270UP (Shopper 382) both deliver
similarly high specs and performance (the
Nitro VG270UP only differing in its lack of
HDR) for hundreds of pounds less. That leaves
the Raptor 27 as a monitor that’s beautifully
made, but just too expensive to recommend.
James Archer
SPECIFICATIONS
SCREEN SIZE 27in• RESOLUTION 2,560x1,440 • SCREEN
TECHNOLOGY IPS • REFRESH RATE 144Hz • VIDEO
INPUTS HDMI, DisplayPort • WARRANTY One year RTB •
DETAILS www.razer.com • PART CODE Raptor 27
CONNECTION PORTS
HDMI DisplayPort USB2 x2
USB Type-C 3.5mm mic/headphone
27
 MESH WI-FI SYSTEM
NETGEAR Orbi WiFi 6 RBK852
★★★★★
£710 • From www.amazon.co.uk
VERDICT
The fastest mesh system we’ve ever seen, but the high price and a
few missing features mean it’s not quite ready for most homes yet
WE’VE LONG BEEN admirers of the Orbi
range of mesh Wi-Fi products, particularly
the RBK50 (Shopper 358). With the system
running on the older 802.11ac technology,
however, it’s time for a change with the
Netgear Orbi WiFi 6 RBK852.
As you can tell from the name, this model
is a Wi-Fi 6 product, built using the latest
802.11ax wireless specification, designed for
the largest homes and the greatest number of
wireless devices. As you might expect, this
kind of technology doesn’t come cheap, and
the system starts at £710, more than double
the current price of the RBK50.
CROSS THE STREAMS
As with that older system, the RBK852 is a
two-pack: you get one router and a satellite.
This time around, the router has a 2.5Gbit/s
WAN port and four Gigabit Ethernet ports (up
from three on the original), and the satellite
has four Gigabit Ethernet ports. The USB port
from the original has been removed, although
given that we’ve never used one for sharing a
printer or storage device, we don’t think that
this loss will be felt too keenly.
The Orbi RBK852 is a router for the future, getting you
ready for when all your devices are Wi-Fi 6 enabled
Setup is performed via the same Orbi
app that the original system uses, and is
straightforward enough, using a simple
wizard. This helps you configure your
internet connection, enter your preferred
network name and password, and attach
your satellite to the router via the
dedicated wireless connection.
At this point, there’s little to tell the old
Orbi system apart from the new, but the real
changes are in the wireless connection. The
RBK852 is built to be a lot faster than its
predecessor, both in raw speeds and the
number of streams available.
First, while the dedicated wireless backhaul
remains four streams, the RBK50 had a
maximum speed of 1,733Mbit/s, whereas the
new system has a 2,400Mbit/s backhaul (you
can use an Ethernet cable if you need more
range). Both the router and the satellite have
twice the number of streams, too, with the
RBK852 providing four 2.4GHz streams at
1.2Gbit/s and four 5GHz streams at 2.4Gbit/s.
That works out that each 2.4GHz stream is
30
300Mbit/s and
each 5GHz stream
is 600Mbit/s. So,
why the focus
on streams?
With Wi-Fi 6,
streams can be used d
more intelligently. Foor
example, if you had f devi
be given their own in ndividua z stream; a
faster 4x4 device connecting g could use all
four streams at once for faster throughputs.
This lets Wi-Fi 6 work better with multiple
devices, as bandwidth is better shared than
with Wi-Fi 5 systems. The effect is even
greater when used with the RBK852, as you
get 16 streams of data for connecting devices;
add an extra satellite (the three-pack costs
£970) and you’ve got 24 streams to play with.
That’s the good news; the bad news is that
to fully use all the features and stream
sharing of Wi-Fi 6 you need to have Wi-Fi 6
devices. The Orbi RBK852 is really a router
for the future, getting you ready for when
your computers, laptops, phones and other
devices are all Wi-Fi 6 enabled.
Technically, the RBK852 is not compatible
with the older Orbi system. We had an old
satellite plugged in via Ethernet and the new
system detected it, although we had some
problems with network stability.
OUT OF CONTROL
While the Orbi RBK852 is controlled via the
same app as the RBK50, there are some
noticeable omissions. There are no Disney
Circle parental controls, giving you web
filtering for your family. There’s also no
Netgear Armour service for protecting your
network against cyber threats. Netgear
promises that these features are in the
pipeline but, for now, the RBK50 does more.
That’s a real shame, especially given how
expensive the RBK852 is.
There’s also no support for BT IGMP,
which means that if you have TV channels
(such as BT Sport) delivered by a YouView
box, they won’t work with this router. The
older RBK50 and other Netgear routers
support this option.
the pp y guest
network and change the name and password
for your wireless network. If you want to
select the wireless channels, you have to
connect to the router using a web browser.
QoS settings are also very basic: you run a
speed test on your internet connection and
the Orbi system automatically prioritises
traffic. For most people, this will be enough,
but if you’re into games you might want a
system that gives you more control.
To test the system, we used a laptop with a
two-stream (2x2) Wi-Fi 6 card inside it, and
saw some of the fastest results we’ve seen
from a wireless network. Testing at close
range, we saw upload speeds of 588Mbit/s
and download speeds of 485Mbit/s; moving
to the first floor, speeds were still quick,
with upload speeds of 342Mbit/s and
download speeds of 309Mbit/s; on the
second floor, results were just as impressive
with upload speeds of 368Mbit/s and
download speeds of 310Mbit/s.
Given the speed of the system, there’s a
lot to love about the RBK852; as we say, this is
a mesh system that’s built for the future.
Today, sadly, it’s harder to justify, given the
high price and current lack of Wi-Fi 6 devices.
It’s also frustrating that some features that
exist on the old Orbi system haven’t been
migrated here. If you want the best in terms
of performance, this is it, but the older RBK50
still performs well and is a lot cheaper.
David Ludlow
SPECIFICATIONS
MODEM 2.5Gbit/s Ethernet • WI-FI STANDARD 802.11ax •
STATED SPEED 2x 2,400Mbit/s (5GHz), 1,200Mbit/s
(2.4GHz) • USB PORTS 0 • WALL MOUNTABLE No •
WARRANTY Two years RTB • DETAILS www.netgear.com •
PART CODE RBK852
5GHz 2m 537Mbit/s
5GHz 1st floor 326Mbit/s
5GHz 2nd floor 339Mbit/s
0 200 400 600
See page 88 for performance details
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
DOCUMENT SCANNER
FUJITSU fi-800R
★★★★★
£412 • From www.morecomputers.com
VERDICT
The fi-800R is a good, if specialised, compact document
scanner, but its powerful software can be obtuse
FUJITSU’S FI-800R IS a fast, compact
document scanner, aimed at front-of-house
use, or any business where desktop space is
at a premium. It’s focused on fast and reliable
document archival, but it also has a party
trick: quick passport scans.
The fi-800R is rated at 40 duplex pages
(80 images) per minute, a speed so rapid
that it seemed as though scanned pages
would shoot out of the front slot. In fact,
this is a second input for passports.
Regular documents are fed from the rear
tray, pass through a U-path, and arrive
almost back in the input. They’re separated
by a flap that extends only during scanning.
STREAM MACHINE
If a motorised flap seems showy, be grateful
for it. This scanner is very solid and little
bigger than a box of tissues, but its only
other remarkable feature is the kind of beige
plastic we thought had disappeared with
dial-up modems. At the left are ports for
power and USB, while on top there are
buttons for power, and to start and stop
scanning. Green status LED aside, that’s it.
The fi-800R comes with impressive
software focused on streamlining the task
of scanning documents of all types. There’s a
TWAIN driver, so you can use it with almost
any imaging software, but there’s also a
version of Fujitsu’s powerful PaperStream
Capture batch management program.
This supports seemingly unlimited scan
profiles that can call up exactly the right
settings for the job in hand, from a quick
⬆ The fi-800R’s software offers a wide range of options, but it could be easier to use
ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020
passport scan to producing a searchable
PDF from a double-sided document.
PaperStream presents scanned documents
in a batch editing window that lets you rotate,
delete and add pages, tweak their exposure,
or add further pages to create a bigger batch.
However, it’s rather complex to configure:
adding a new scan profile involves up to five
pages of settings. If you want to change
anything advanced in the scanner driver – the
blank page detection sensitivity, for example
– you’ll need to click the tiny Switch to Normal
dialog button in the Edit menu on the Source
page, the label for which only appears when
you hover the mouse over it.
STUCK FAST
For the most part, the fi-800R performs
brilliantly. It dispatched single-page, single-
sided scans up to 300 dots per inch (dpi) in
under six seconds, and needed just 22
seconds to create a 20-page searchable
PDF from a 10-page duplex scan at 300dpi.
We measured a peak speed of 78.5 images
per minute from a duplex, 150dpi scan of a
34-page document, although this was
significantly pushing the document feeder’s
stingy 20-30 page rating.
It wasn’t all plain sailing, however. There’s a
knack to gently pushing down the spine of a
passport to avoid a paper jam, and we had
repeated jams on our torture test comprising
tissue-thin magazine pages. It also failed to
skip the blank sides of our less-than-pristine
originals at any setting.
GOING MOBILE
This is a quality scanner, and it would help
make quick work of guest arrivals and form
archival at a hotel desk, travel hub or other
customer-facing business. However, it’s not
quite foolproof. If you don’t need to scan
passports, and you can live with slightly
slower speeds and a bigger footprint, we’d
recommend you save money and buy Canon’s
imageFormula DR-C230 (Shopper 360).
Simon Handby
SPECIFICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY Dual CIS sheet-fed scanner • MAXIMUM
OPTICAL SCAN RESOLUTION (OUTPUT BIT DEPTH) 600dpi
• DIMENSIONS 83x296x105mm • WEIGHT 2.0kg •
(24-bit)
MAXIMUM PAPER SIZE A4/legal • WARRANTY One year
advanced exchange • DETAILS www.fujitsu.co.uk •
PART CODE PA03795-B001
150dpi A4 scan 6s
300dpi A4 scan 6s
6x4in photo
@ 600dpi 9s
0 5 10 15
See page 88 for performance details
31
 ALL-IN-ONE LIQUID CPU COOLER
NZXT Kraken X53
★★★★★
£120 • From www.overclockers.co.uk
VERDICT
Simple to install yet powerful and customisable, the Kraken X53 is a brilliantly complete cooler
AS ENTERTAINING AS we found the Kraken
Z73 (Shopper 387) and its GIF-slinging onboard
display, £250 is hardly a sensible amount to
pay for an all-in-one watercooler, even one
with the Z73’s superlative cooling. Hopefully
the new X-3 series, represented here by the
240mm Kraken X53, can match that level of
performance for a more accessible outlay.
The entire series is positioned below the
Z-3 range, while building on the previous X-2
range with new hardware and design features.
There’s no screen, but you do get a new pump
and the integrated lighting has been upgraded
from all-white to addressable RGB. The top of
the pump unit can be rotated, so the light-up
NZXT logo can be correctly oriented if your
motherboard is mounted at an unusual angle.
THROWING SHADES
As is the norm for NZXT coolers, setup is
simple. Pre-applied thermal paste takes the
guesswork out of adding your own, and the
radiator’s fan mounting holes have their own
vibration-dampening gaskets. It’s especially
easy if you’re mounting to an Intel socket, as
the pump mounting bracket is installed out of
the box. AMD’s AM4 socket is also supported,
and doesn’t require a fundamentally different
building process, but you’ll have to remove the
Intel bracket and fit the AMD one instead.
The more complex lighting makes for a few
more cables than the X-2 model we tested, the
280mm Kraken X62 (Shopper 348), but not to
an unreasonable degree. You’ll just need a
spare SATA power connector and a spare USB
motherboard header to customise colours and
effects. There’s another 4-pin connector for
NZXT’s HUE lighting system, but if you haven’t
already bought into this, it doesn’t feel the
Kraken X53 is much worse for going without:
you just won’t be able to sync its lighting with
other components in HUE’s ecosystem.
32
As with the Kraken Z73, the Kraken X53
can be customised with NZXT’s free CAM
software. You can’t display GIFs, but both the
NZXT logo and the surrounding light ring can
be configured individually, and there’s a
veritable wealth of options. Not counting the
simple default showing a solid colour, both
lighting zones have no fewer than 24 different
effects to choose from, often with sub-
settings for brightness and cycle speed. These
include some that dynamically change the
colouring according to the volume level of
music, video or game sound, or visually
represent GPU or CPU temperature.
The latter don’t show specific numbers like
the Kraken Z73, so it’s less useful as an offbeat
hardware monitor, but they do demonstrate
how creative NZXT has been. Much more
understated lighting options are available too,
of course – it’s even possible to re-create the
X-2 series’ signature spinning white effect.
SPLIT PERSONALITY
CAM also presents a choice of Silent and
Performance profiles, as well as the ability to
create your own. With the Kraken Z73, the
Performance profile was more effective, but
not to the point where its higher fan noise
made it preferable to the Silent profile. With
the Kraken X53, the performance difference is
even narrower, as is the noise difference.
In the silent profile, our Intel Core i7-4770K
– running at its stock 3.5GHz – idled between
29° and 36°C, rising to 46-51°C under load and
peaking at 52°C. A little surprisingly, the
highest readings in all three conditions weren’t
any lower under the performance profile: the
lowest idle temperature got down to 26°C, and
the lowest load temperature to 45°C, but
otherwise things were largely the same.
Overclocking the CPU to 3.9GHz mixed
things up slightly, with the exception of idle
temperatures in the Silent profile, which once
again spanned the 28-38°C range. Silent mode
load temperatures rose a touch, to 48-55°C,
and the chip briefly peaked at 56°C.
Back on the Performance profile, idle
temperatures were kept down to 27-37°C, and
load temperatures were very slightly lower
than in Silent mode, at 47-54°C. The highest
peak, however, remained at 56°C.
There are a few conclusions to draw from
these results. First, the Performance profile is
only a tiny bit cooler than the Silent profile,
but unlike with the Z73 there’s barely any
difference in noise output, so you might as
well cut out that extra one or two degrees.
COLD LOGIC
More importantly, the Kraken X53 is just as
effective a cooler as we were hoping for, and
that’s no small feat considering how well the
Z73 and X62 perform. The Z73 is generally
better, but only by 2-3°C, and considering it
has both a larger 360mm radiator and an extra
fan – not to mention it costing more than
twice as much – that still reflects well on the
X53. In turn, the Silverstone Tunda TD02-RGB
is much cheaper and only runs a teeny bit
hotter, but it’s not nearly as quiet or
customisable as the Kraken X53.
In other words, this is our new top pick of
the all-in-ones. It’s not as advanced as
anything in the Z-3 series, but it’s superbly
effective and an awful lot cheaper.
James Archer
SPECIFICATIONS
• •
TECHNOLOGY Closed loop FANS 3x 120mm SOCKET
Intel LGA2066/2011-3/2011/1151/1150/1155/1156/1366,
AMD AM4/TR4 (TR4 requires separate bracket) •
RADIATOR DIMENSIONS (NO FAN) 123x275x30mm •
•
WARRANTY Six years RTB DETAILS www.nzxt.com •
PART CODE RL-KRX53-01
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
50in VA TV
SAMSUNG
UE50RU7470UXXU
★★★★★
£500 • From www.currys.co.uk
VERDICT
Its HDR support isn’t great, but there are plenty
of other reasons to buy this affordable 4K TV
AN AWFUL LOT of budget TVs these days
carry the HDR label, but it’s fair to say that
none of them deliver the eye-popping
spectacle of pricier sets. Trickle-down
technology has done its bit to steadily
improve HDR performance for some budget
TVs, however, so when the UE50RU7470UXXU
– the 50in model of Samsung’s new, HDR10+
supporting RU7470 series – landed in our labs,
we were hopeful it might be able to serve up a
little high-dynamic magic on the cheap.
Its VA-type LED edge-lit LCD panel is fairly
typical of TVs in this price range and, being 4K
UHD, it has a resolution of 3,840x2,160. So far,
so ordinary, and there’s little remarkable about
the design, either. The display is framed with
standard-sized bezels that have the same
steel-grey colour as the rest of the chassis,
and it stands upon a classic Y-shaped central
stand. The built-in cable management at the
rear of the TV is welcome, as this keeps
cables neatly tidy once you’ve plugged
devices into the UE50RU7470UXXU’s three
HDMI 2.0a connectors.
FAIR PLAY
Samsung has added Auto Low Latency Mode
support to each of the three HDMI ports,
which means the UE50RU7470UXXU U U wil will kick
ck
into gaming mode when it deteccts a signal
from a compatible console, whicch helps keep
input lag to a minimum by tonin ng down the
TV’s video processing. At only 15 5ms, the
TV’s input time is as low as any competitor
in this price range, making it an ideal
choice for competitive gamers. The T only
disappointment is that the 60Hzz panel
rules out support for variable refresh rate
or Game Motion Plus.
The UE50RU7470UXXU’s spe eakers
aren’t bad at all; there’s even a touch of
refinement to the sound here. Dialogue
D image at the absolute most.
on films and television shows co omes
through loud and clear so you won’t
w from narrow viewing angles – a common
have to rely on subtitles, but don’t
expect room-shaking explosionss from
the latest blockbusters. As ever, we’d
recommend budgeting a little exxtra
for an affordable soundbar.
The VA panel’s semi-reflectiv ve gloss
coating is less than ideal – a matttt finish
would have been preferable – bu ut
this screen has its strengths,
too. By budget TV standards,
the UE50RU7470UXXU’s VA
ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020
panel has a high level of contrast, achieving
extremely dark greys that get closer to true
black than its IPS rivals. Image quality is pretty
great across the board, too: colours are
generally pretty natural-looking, human skin
tones look impressively realistic, and overall
colour accuracy isn’t far off the mark.
Further inspection reveals that the panel’s
colour uniformity is also pretty high, apart
from mild dark tinting at the extreme outer
edges when displaying certain shades.
Some shades also cause low-level Dirty
Screen Effect, where a solid colour may not
look entirely even when displayed across a
large portion of the screen.
LOOKING U
UP
Even so, the S Samsung UHD Processor
does a fine jo ob of upscaling 1080p content.
It looks fantaastically clean, with minimal
junk pixellatio on and barely noticeable
ringing aroun nd edges.
The video processing isn’t all-powerful,
mind you. Ov verscan, the feature that
sometimes cu uts off the borders of
images to hellp them fit the screen,
cannot be turrned off for non-4K content.
Thankfully, yo ou’ll only lose 5% of the
Sadly, the UE50RU7470UXXU suffers
issue with VA A screens. In dark scenes, the
left and right of the screen glow more
brightly than the centre of the panel even
when sitting a at the ‘perfect’ central
position, and the effect worsens noticeably
as you shift to o either side. The cost-saving
use of LED ed dge lighting rather than local
dimming can also produce some
jaarring brightness fluctuations
n transitions from dark to light
in
scenes, and vice versa.
HDR performance isn’tt up to much, either.
In its favour, the UE50RU7470UXXU manages
to cover a respectable 92% of the DCI-P3
colour gamut, but its backlight simply isn’t
potent enough to deliver truly great HDR
playback. We measured a maximum
brightness of 260cd/m2, and this simply isn’t
bright enough to do HDR justice.
When playing content mastered to 1,000
or 4,000 nits – as most movies and high-
budget shows are – Samsung’s algorithms do
their best to retain all the brightest HDR
details by dialling down the overall brightness,
but the result is that HDR content is robbed
of its power and punch. As the TV already has
a low peak brightness to begin with, the final
result is an image that is far too dark.
BEST FOR LESS
Why, then, does the UE50RU7470UXXU
score highly? While it’s true that this TV joins
a list of budget sets that fail to deliver a
worthwhile HDR performance, it also runs
rings around these similarly cheap TVs in
almost every other regard. Its superb
upscaling, fantastic colour accuracy and
ultra-low input lag mean that you may not
miss HDR at all. This feature aside, it really is
a superb all-rounder for the money.
Vincent Teoh
SPECIFICATIONS
• NATIVE RESOLUTION 3,840x2,160 •
SCREEN SIZE 50in
VIDEO INPUTS HDMI • TUNER Freesat HD, TV Plus •
DIMENSIONS 736x1,125x347mm • WARRANTY One year
RTB • DETAILS www.samsung.com/uk • PART CODE
UE50RU7470UXXU
CONNECTION PORTS
HDMI x3 USB2 x2 S/PDIF
33
 SMART LIGHTING CONTROL BOX
PHILIPS Hue Play
HDMI Sync Box
★★★★★
£230 • www.meethue.com
VERDICT
This gadget adds a new immersive layer to films,
games and TV programmes, but it will cost you
PHILIPS HAS ESTABLISHED Hue as the
world’s leading smart lighting system; the one
with the best line-up of bulbs, lights and
accessories, and the strongest range of
automation, lifestyle and entertainment
features. On that last count, however, Hue
had one persistent weakness.
The system has long featured the ability to
sync coloured lights in the room to video on
your TV, replicating the experience of its
Ambilight TVs. Sadly, this only worked when
streaming video from a connected PC or
laptop, meaning you couldn’t use the sources
that would actually work best with lighting:
Blu-ray players, games consoles, streaming
sticks and set-top-boxes.
The Hue Play HDMI Sync Box is Philips’
attempt to fix this. Hook it up to your TV, plug
in your sources and it transforms the content
of the HDMI signal into a stream of instructions
for your Hue lighting so that the colours sync
up with what you’re seeing on the screen.
HEAVY LIGHT
The box itself costs £230, so it isn’t cheap, and
you’ll also need a minimum of two Hue Play
Smart Light Bars (£62 each or £110 for two) or
two Hue Bloom lamps (£60 each) to have
much impact. What’s more, if you haven’t
already bought into the Hue ecosystem, you’ll
need a further £45 to £65 for either a Hue
Bridge V2 or a Hue starter kit. Note that
third-party bulbs aren’t supported either.
For some, £300-£400 won’t seem like
much outlay to enhance their viewing and
gaming experience. That’s peanuts compared
to the cost of an OLED TV or 7.1 surround
system. For others, it’s going to be half the
cost of their new 4K HDR TV and more than
they’ll have spent on a soundbar, both of
which
hi h are more important
i t t to
t the
th home
h cinema
i testing – you’ve already got a Hue lighting
experience than some ambient lighting.
34
The plain black box couldn’t be much
simpler, with the front blank except for a
single power/control button, and the rear
dominated by five HDMI 2.0b ports. Four of
these are used to connect your source
devices, and as the spec covers 4K video
at 60fps with HDR and HDCP 2.2 copy
protection, you’re good for anything from
streaming devices to 4K Blu-ray players to
the Xbox One X. The final HDMI port is for
connecting to your TV.
The setup process involves downloading
Philips’ Hue Sync app – an extra on top of the
It’s great to see Philips making its technology work with
the sources we actually use for TV, films and gaming
normal Hue app – and then waiting while it
uses a temporary Bluetooth connection to
find and connect the Sync Box over Wi-Fi.
Your phone needs to be connected to the
same network as your Hue Bridge hub, and
from there it’s just a question of pairing the
app with the box, getting it connected to the
network and pairing the box with your Hue
hub. The app takes you through step by step,
so getting it up and running is relatively easy.
The other thing you’ll need to do is set up
an Entertainment Zone within your TV room.
This time, you work within the Hue app and
add up to a maximum of 10 colour-capable
lights to the zone by moving the icons of
different lights and bulbs around a virtual TV
screen to reflect their position in the room.
Again, it’s a simple process, and there’s a
helpful video tutorial within the Sync app to
help you get through it.
KEEP HANDY
With no real controls onn the box itself, the
Sync app plays a crucial role, both switching
between your HDMI inputs and turning the
sync function on an nd off. You can also
adjust the brightness levels
manua ally, or take your pick
from vvarious presets for
musicc, video and games,
whichh tune the lighting
effectts and intensity to
match h the activity.
The app is easy to use and
offers just e
enough customisation
without overwhelming you with options.
However, switching HDMI sources feels
unnecessarily slow and clunky, causing a
four- or five-second pause every time, and
you need to have your smartphone close to
hand whether you’re using Sync or not.
To balance this, there are comprehensive
options to configure automatic switching over
HDMI-CEC, so you can set the sync box to
switch automatically when it detects a signal
from a specific source or sources. This is hit
and miss in practice – unsurprising, given the
mess many manufacturers make of HDMI-CEC
– and we found that it works best if you only
select one device for auto-switch priority.
You can also rename the four HDMI inputs to
make it easier to track your sources.
NARROW SPECTRUM
There’s one limitation that may well kill the
HDMI Sync Box for some users: lack of support
for Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Standard
HDR10 works, but if you have a new TV that
supports Dolby Vision, you’ll probably want
that overactive lighting. Similarly, Hue Sync is
of no use whatsoever if you want to watch
Netflix or Amazon Prime Video from your
TV’s built-in apps, as there’s no way to route
the signal through the Hue box.
Limitations such as this, and the added
faff when switching inputs, ultimately make it
hard to feel like the experience is worth the
investment. That’s even if – as we did when
setup ready to go.
It’s great to see Philips making its
technology work with the sources we
actually use for TV, films and gaming, and the
effects are frequently stupendous. We just
wish the price of entry was a little lower.
Stuart Andrews
SPECIFICATIONS
PORTS 4x HDMI, 1x Micro USB •WIRELESS 802.11n
•
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth MAX VIDEO SUPPORT 4K 60Hz•
DIMENSIONS 23x182x99mm • WARRANTY Two years
RTB • DETAILS www.meethue.com •PART CODE
8718699704803
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
 WIRED SMART SPEAKER
HARMAN KARDON
Citation One MKII
★★★★★
RECOMMENDED £200 • From www.harmankardon.co.uk
VERDICT
A quality Google Assistant-based smart speaker,
albeit one that might prove too bassy for some
THIS REVAMP OF last year’s Citation One
– Harman Kardon’s first Google Assistant
smart speaker – makes it even smarter. The
MKII addition may offer some additional
colour options, but the big change is that it
now supports Apple AirPlay.
SAME GAME
Outwardly, the design hasn’t changed at all.
The Citation One MKII still has the look and
feel of a premium speaker, largely thanks to
the woollen fabric that wraps around most
of the exterior, and while its 188mm height
makes it slightly taller than the Apple
HomePod (Shopper 364), it’s not too
imposing a sight in your living room. It’s
reasonably heavy, at 2kg, but since it’s a
wired speaker with no battery, you won’t be
moving it around much anyway.
A clutch of touch-sensitive buttons sit on
the speaker’s top panel. These can be used to
change the volume, mute the mic, turn
Bluetooth on or off, play and pause audio, and
activate the Google Assistant. It’s worth
noting that a single press of either volume
button won’t do the trick; you have to hold
down your finger, which we found mildly
annoying. Still, it’s not a massive problem, as
you can simply use voice controls instead.
A small LED on the back of the speaker
indicates Wi-Fi status, which will please those
who position their speaker by the bed, as it
will prove less intrusive with the lights off.
Four small LEEDs are hidden und der the fab
briic
at the top of the speaker, which activate
when Google e Assistant is
engaged or th he touch-
sensitive butt
ttons are
tt
pressed. The power
connector is tucked away
on the bottom m of the
speaker with a little gap
for the wire to pass
through, so itt sits flat on
any surface, although
there are alsoo wall-mount
and floor-stand
accessories available.
You’ll need
d the
Google Home e app to get
set up, but dooing so is
very simple, thanks to a
step-by-step guide
provided in thhe box; even
first-timers won’t have
36
any trouble. If you’re already familliar
with Google Assistant then you’ll have
it up and running, connected to yo our
music service of choice and pump ping
out tunes in no time.
Its voice command options faccilitate
all the usual music controls – playing,
pausing and skipping tracks, and changi
volume – and allow you to controll your s
home appliances, access information from
your calendar and find information n online.
As per usual, Google Assistant proves
better than Alexa for answering any search-
style queries you might have, although Alexa
is still far more widely supported by smart
home kit. Be wary about buying the Citation
One MKII if you want your smart speaker
to double as a controller for your lights or
smart heating systems.
During testing, the speaker’s two far-field
microphones picked up commands
consistently at a variety of distances. Even
at maximum volume, it’s not necessary to
raise your voice too much to be heard, and
having Google Home’s ‘Lower volume when
listening’ option switched on meant the
Assistant heard us clearly once we had
initiated a voice command.
IN DEEP
Harman Kardon’s audio prowess is
immediately evident with the Citation One
MKII: it’s a great-sounding speaker. Its 20mm
tweetter andd 89mm wooffer are pow wered by a
total of 40W of amplification and put out a
serious amount of noise
when you startt to crank
up the volume e. The
speaker has th he ability to
fill a room with h sound so
effectively tha at it often
feels as if you’re listening
to something a lot beefier
in size and po ower.
e crisp and
Vocals are
well defined, full of rich
body, while th he
presentation of both
mids and hig ghs is hard to
fault. Bass is a weakness,
however: the ere’s just a
little too mucch of it.
This might be fun with
musical genrres that
ve on thumping
s
the mix a tad too much. It becomes even more
evident at higher volumes, where the speaker
noticeably vibrates, although the general
clarity remains uncompromised.
Sadly, there is no way to adjust the EQ
levels in the Google Home app settings, so
you’re stuck with how it sounds out of the
box. It’s a real shame you can’t tinker with
the Citation One MKII’s sound settings, as
that would improve an already impressive
listening experience. It can’t tune itself to fit
its physical surroundings, either, something
the HomePod has always done.
HITTING THE MARK
With the Citation One MKII, Harman Kardon
has produced a good-looking speaker than
delivers great sound. It’s unashamedly heavy
on the bass, which we suspect will attract
some users while deterring others.
The addition of smart speaker functions
makes it a great option if you’re looking to
smarten up your audio at home, particularly if
Google Assistant is already embedded in your
ecosystem. It performs extremely well as a
standalone speaker but can also be used in
conjunction with other members of the
Citation family, which will be appealing to
those craving multiroom control and a more
complete home entertainment experience.
It’s not a speaker for those whose
allegiances already lie with Alexa or Siri, but
for anyone else seeking voice control and
excellent audio quality, the Harman Kardon
Citation One is a strong choice.
Andy White
SPECIFICATIONS
DRIVERS 2 • RMS POWER OUTPUT 40W • DOCK
CONNECTOR None • WIRELESS Bluetooth, 802.11ac Wi-Fi
• DIMENSIONS 188x140x140mm • WEIGHT 2kg •
WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.harmankardon.
co.uk • PART CODE HKCITAONEMKIIGRYEU
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
GAMING HEADSET

COOLER MAST
TER
R MH630
★★★★★
£55 • From www.amazon.co.uk

VERDICT
The MH630 doesn’t need perfectly balanced
audio when it’s got such a great micc and
appealing price

THE MH630 IS the entry-level model in

Cooler Master’s new headset range. As such,
there are few of the more premium features
seen on the pricier MH650 and MH6 670
models, such as virtual surround sou und, RGB
lighting or wireless capability; instea ad, the
MH630 focuses on simple sound qu uality and
microphone performance.
It’s not purely basic, however. Insside each
cup is a sizable 50mm neodymium driver, d and
both the microphone and 3.5mm cab ble are
detachable, making the MH630 easie er to fit in
the included carrying pouch. The earrcups’
ability to rotate flat also helps with this,
t
although they can’t fully fold inward ds as well.
Still, the lower price is also clearly
y reflected
in the build. Construction largely and d clearly
favours plain plastic, and the paddin ng – both
on the headband and on the cups – is made
out of a highly synthetic-feeling fabrric. A
leatherette finish, like you get on the e MH670,
would have felt much nicer, and the padding
covers can’t be removed and replace ed either.
Fortunately, there’s enough adjustment
stment
to get a comfy enough fit, and we never felt
worn down by wearing the MH630 even after
a few hours. The headband also has a strong
metal strip running through it, so it’s not
entirely plastic.
CABLE SERVICE
There are also built-in controls on the left
earcup: a volume wheel and a microphone
mute button. These come at the expense of
inline controls, but that’s fine by us: an inline
remote can be easier to use, as you can see
what you’re doing, but they also weigh
down the cable and can make the headset
seem heavier if it’s not sitting in your lap or
clipped to your clothes.
Speaking of the cable, it’s a simple
3.5-to-3.5mm affair, although a mic and
headphone splitter is included in box as well.
This allows for a much greater degree of
flexibility than, say, a USB connection: besides
the usual PCs and laptops, using the single
3.5mm connector lets you hook up to consoles
and handheld devices as well (as long as the
latter actually has a 3.5mm port, of course).
We mainly tested it through the more
conventional method of good old PC gaming,
and for the most part it sounds very decent.
Bass and sub-bass are tightly controlled, and
while that doesn’t mean the same impactful
low-end thump of, say, the HyperX Cloud
series, it also ensures that the higher
frequencies aren’t overwhelmed in moments
of intense action. That’s particularly important,
as the midss are a touch recessed
recessed.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
There’s a surprisingly strong positional effect,
on both the vertical and horizontal planes.
This is great for shooters and horror games,
where you’ll want to listen for where nearby
footsteps and other sound effects are coming
from; it might not be the digital 7.1 surround
sound of the MH650, but it’s good to see
that paying a little less doesn’t have to mean
losing this 3D effect.
The best part, from a gaming perspective,
is the microphone. It’s easily adjustable and
picks up speech almost as crisply and cleanly
as a respectable desktop microphone, like the
Blue Yeti series, and even though there’s no
foam pop filter, we had no problems with
air-induced distortion.
Be careful if you’re using a mechanical
keyboard, however, as the microphone can
and will pick up the sound of you clacking the
keys, even if it’s a relatively quiet switch like
Cherry’s MX Red. If you have the volume loud
enough, the MH630’s mic can even pick up
the sound from its own headphones. If you’re
playing games with friends, most of this will
be drowned out by their own playback, but
it’s still not ideal.
Even with these shortcomings, however, we
happily used the MH630 for numerous gaming
sessions without complaints from teammates
about the mic picking up excess sound.
We’d be less contentt with using the MH630
as music headphones, however. Again, bass
performance is fine and the highs come
through clean, but the absence of a
commanding mid-range is unfortunate news
for certain genres. Rock tracks, or anything
with lots of distorted guitars and crashing
cymbals, just don’t sound as rich or as detailed
as songs that more closely benefit from the
more present lows and highs.
Then again, for £55 this headset could
sound a lot worse. There’s a nice wide
soundstage and effective instrument
separation, so it’s not as though complex
tracks are a muddled mess.
HEAD START
The MH630 makes a few compromises, both
to its design and its audio performance, but
remember that it’s not just the most
affordable of Cooler Master’s three new
models: it’s also quite aggressively priced for
a gaming headset more generally. With that
in mind, its comfort and microphone clarity
are all the more impressive, and even if
sound quality could be improved, it’s definitely
good enough for competitive games.
James Archer
SPECIFICATIONS
HEADPHONES SUBTYPE Over-ear • PLUG TYPE 3.5mm •
WEIGHT 304g •CABLE LENGTH 1.5m • WARRANTY
Two years RTB • DETAILS www.coolermaster.com •
PART CODE 884102066801

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 37

 WIRED ON-EAR HEADPHONES
GRADO SR80e
★★★★★
£84 • From www.amazon.co.uk
VERDICT
As long as you keep them at home, these dynamic and
detailed-sounding headphones are a joy to listen to
HERE’S SOMETHING OF an anomaly in
today’s headphones market: not only are
the Grado SR80e hand-built in Brooklyn,
New York, but they’re proudly non-techy.
There’s no Bluetooth connectivity, no in-line
microphone or active noise-cancelling and,
thanks to their open-backed design, they’re
hopelessly impractical for use on the
commute or in the office.
For all those flaws, however, the Grado
SR80e offer a peerless listening experience at
their price and represent unbeatable value,
providing you know what you’re getting.
HOUSE BOUND
The SR80e are the latest iteration in a line of
headphones, following on from the SR80i and
the legendary SR80 before them. Compared to
their predecessors, the SR80e have a new
driver (although Grado hasn’t specified its
size) and a new cable, and use a new plastic
that damps resonant distortion in the driver
housing. The SR80e have an impedance of 32
ohms, which means you’ll have no problems
driving them with a smartphone or laptop.
Naturally, however, they’ll sound better when
powered by a dedicated headphone amp.
Sadly, the SR80e come with no carry case
and the design is non-collapsible, further
making them best suited to home listening
sessions rather than life on the road. They
come with a 3.5-to-6.5mm adaptor for
professional use, but otherwise e have no
additional accessories in the boox.
Grado’s Prestige series has been
around for more than 25 yearss, and
that’s immediately evident in the
design of the SR80e. Intended to sit
on your ears rather than over them,
t sound as good
they simply consist of two chu unky
plastic earcups joined via meta al rods
to a simple vinyl headband.
ds
Instead of the plush earpad
found on many over-ear headp phones,
the SR80e use rather coarse,
lightweight foam. These are
deceptively comfortable for the
most part, but after an hour orr
two of listening, we usually
found our ears growing a
little warm. That’s not
altogether surprising or
otherwise unusual for on-ear
headphones, but still worth
thinking about if you’re
looking for something that
can handle all-day listening.
38
While the pared-down, retro lo ook
is pretty trendy, the flipside is thatt
the headphones don’t feel robust or
especially practical. The cord, for
instance, is a chunky non-detacha able
wire that attaches directly to each h
earcup and, although the earcups
can swivel through the full 360°,
there’s no way to fold these
headphones for packing away.
BLAST RADIUS
The fact there’s no wireless
connectivity or microphone isn’t
a deal-breaker for this particular
style of headphones, but what
ought to be top of your list of
considerations before buying them m is
their open-backed design. While this plays a
significant role in how good they sound,
crucially it means they leak a signiificant
amount of sound, even at modera ate volumes, some open-backed over-ear headphones, but
and block out very little ambient noise. there’s an energy and sense of space you
That rules them out for a greatt number simpply
y won’t find on most closed-back
of scenarios where you might opt to listen models, even at lower volumes.
to headphones, from aeroplane flights to In fact, the only criticism you can level
working in a shared office, and even walking at these headphones is the prominence of
down the street. In fact, unless you intend to those mid and treble frequencies. Although it
listen to them in a quiet room on your own, makes for a captivating listen, it’s a sound
you’re best looking elsewhere. Closed-back signature that can be fatiguing with some
alternatives such as the Audio-Technica types of music at times. The SR80e certainly
ATH-M40x or ATH-M50X are much more don’t make for relaxed listening, but then
practical for general
gene listening. they’re not supposed to.
Having saiid that, listening in a quiet
room is exacttly the reason you should buy HEAD OF THE CLASS
the Grado SR R80e, because they deliver There’s no denying the SR80e’s sonic
emphatically in this regard. It’s not an capabilities; the question is, should you buy
exaggeration to say these headphones a pair? If you’re looking for a set of
d as models that cost three headphones for your daily commute or
or four times tthe price. for entertainment on long flights, then the
In particulaar, the SR80e offer a sparkling answer is an emphatic no. There’s not enough
level of detail through the mid-range and sound isolation and too much leakage.
treble freque encies – a common trait of Nonetheless, these are not everyday
Grado headp phones – but their open- headphones and, if you listen to music
backed desig gn also enables them to through your headphones mainly at home,
deliver a sound that’s as energetic then they’re absolutely worth considering.
and lively as it is compelling. There’s simply nothing else – speakers or
To our ears, the headphones headphones – that can deliver the same level
ssound excellent with all of audio excellence for so little money.
manner of musical genres, Edward Munn
whether that’s rock,
electronic or classical, SPECIFICATIONS
and they deliver a healthy
dose of controlled bass HEADPHONES SUBTYPE On-ear • PLUG TYPE 3.5mm •
to o supplement those
WEIGHT 231g •CABLE LENGTH 1.7m • WARRANTY
One year RTB • DETAILS www.gradolabs.com •
proominent upper registers. PART CODE SR80e
The ssound isn’t as expansive as
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
MODULAR ACTION CAMERA
INSTA360 One R
★★★★★
£440 • From www.amazon.co.uk
VERDICT
An ingenious modular frame lets the One R
play many roles, but its most conventional
action camera function lets it down
IT MAY LOOK like just another GoPro clone,
but the Insta360 One R is actually multiple
cameras in one. Its modular design lets it act
as either a 360° camera or, by swapping in a
different mod, a 4K, wide-angle action cam.
You can even add a 1in sensor for even
better image quality, though this is a separate
purchase on top of the outlay for this
dual-mod bundle. Still, £440 isn’t expensive at
all when you’re getting two very distinct
cameras in one, so the price could easily be
worth paying if the One R delivers on its
promise of maximum flexibility without the
need to carry several different cameras.
HOT SWAP
The core module houses the brains of the
operation, a 1.3in colour touchscreen, the
device’s power and shutter button, plus a USB
Type-C port and microSD card slot covered by
a latched flap. Camera modules can be
attached to this either forwards or backwards,
giving you the option to use the display
normally or as a selfie screen for vlogging.
The battery clips to the bottom of these two
modules, holding everything together.
Attach the 4K camera module and you
have a traditional action cam, capable of
shooting 4K video at up to 60fps and up to
200fps in Full HD. The dual-sensor 360
module, meanwhile, can record 360° footage
at up to 5.7K at 30fps, and you can choose to
crop and reframe the footage after you’ve
captured it and export it as a 1080p 30fps
video. There are even a couple of battery mod
options, allowing you to choose between a
ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020
higher capacity or a smaller unit that helps the
wh hing fit into a trad
holle th ditionall mounting cage.
It’s all very clever, and fairly rugged, too:
the One R is rated as being IPX8 water-
resistant, meaning you can submerge it in
water up to 10 metres deep without the
need to put it in a case. However, there are
issues with the design as well. The 1.3in
The smartness of the design and quality of the 360 mod’s
video capture isn’t matched by the action cam component
touchscreen is a little too small to use
comfortably, and annoyingly, pressing the
record button doesn’t always immediately
record: if you press it while in a menu, you
have to back out of it first.
The One R’s mobile app, by contrast, is
impressively usable. It seems to drain the
handset’s battery quite quickly, but being
able to edit video clips in place on the
camera – without needing to download it to
your phone – is great.
The multiview feature for 360° footage is
also very cool: it enables you to quickly
assemble two points of view from the same
section of footage, with both split-screen and
picture-in-picture options available.
ALL SEEING, ALL DANCING
A for
As f imimage quality, 360° video looks very
goodd indeed. The One R’s ‘FlowState’
electronic stabilisation works well
e the design and quality of the 360 mod’s
even in the most demanding of
situations, with footage appearing
usable and smooth in a range of
lighting conditions.
We prefer the colour rendering
of the GoPro Max (Shopper 384)
– even with the One R’s Color Plus
mode enabled it just doesn’t seem as
m Jonathan Bray
naturrally punchy – but it’s still no slouch
in this regard, and you can always shoot in
Log and grade the footage yourself if you
want a different look.
We e will say that the in-camera stitching
isn’t as good as it is on the GoPro Max for
close-up p features. Used judiciously, this won’t
be much of an issue in day-to-day shooting
because e scenery further than a metre or so
away is stitched smoothly, but the difference
is cllearlly th
here for clloser stuff
ff. Overalll,
ff
however, the results from the 360 mod are
pretty amazing for a camera this cheap.
The 4K mod, unfortunately, is a letdown.
While it offers no shortage of features and
modes, including slow-motion and timelapse,
4K footage is plagued by visual noise and
other artefacts. Insta360 recommended
turning off Auto action mode to improve this
and it worked up to a point, but we still saw
shimmering artefacts to the stabilisation that
were absent from 360° footage.
Most of these issues can be improved
upon by dropping down to 1080p. This sorts
out the stabilisation problems and eradicates
much of the noise, but if you can make do
with the lower resolution, you might as well
just stick with the 360 module. On top of all
this, there’s also some poorly implemented
wind noise suppression that turns audio into
a swirly, squelchy mess.
WOUNDED IN ACTION
It’s possible that some or even all of these
problems could be fixed with firmware
updates, but for now, the One R doesn’t fulfil
its considerable potential. The smartness of
video capture isn’t close to being matched by
the action cam component, while seems miles
off being able to compete with the exquisitely
clean and stable footage of a GoPro Hero 8
Black (Shopper 385). As such, the One R is a
good idea, but only about three-quarters of
the way to being a good buy.
SPECIFICATIONS
SENSOR Not stated • SENSOR PIXELS 12 megapixels
•
(action cam mod), 2x 18 megapixels (360 mod) MAX
RECORDING RESOLUTION 4K (60fps) • AV CONNECTIONS
None • DIMENSIONS 47x72x32mm (action cam mod),
47x72x43mm (360 mod) • WEIGHT 121g (action cam mod),
131g (360 mod)• WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS
www.insta360.com • PART CODE One R Twin Edition
39
 ANDROID 9.0 SMARTPHONE

MOTOROLA Moto E6 Plus

★★★★★
£100 • From www.amazon.co.uk

VERDICT
There are better smartphones than the Moto
E6 Plus, but they all cost a fair bit more

MOTOROLA ALREADY MAKES one of the 822 in the single-core however, switching to a
best budget smartphones, the Moto G7 Power test and 3,648 in the dual-lens array. The main
(Shopper 376), but now it has a couple of new multicore test are a clear camera is a 13-megapixel
models for those who want to spend even less: step up from the Moto f/2.0 affair, and it’s
the Moto E6 Plus and Moto E6 Play (opposite). E5 Plus, and although the supported by a
The slightly pricier Moto E6 Plus doesn’t Moto G7 Power remains 2-megapixel depth sensor
really stand out on looks, although that well in front (as you’d for bokeh effects.
doesn’t mean it can’t pass for a more expect, given the price This arrangement
premium handset. The screen bezel may be difference), this phone punches well above its
a little thicker than most flagships, but it’s competes well with other weight. Outdoors, the
still thin enough to necessitate a little low-cost models such as main camera can pick out
half-notch for the front-facing camera. the Vodafone Smart X9 plenty of colour and
(Shopper 377) and Xiaomi detail even in heavily
OPEN WIDE Redmi 7A (Shopper 383). overcast conditions, and
Flip it over and you’ll find a shiny and It’s also much more while it doesn’t escape
unapologetically plastic backplate. The powerful than the Moto the common pitfalls of
dual-camera array is neatly contained in the E6 Play, which is only shooting in low light
top left-hand corner, and a small circular £10 less but scored less indoors, it’s not too bad
Motorola logo doubles up as a fingerprint than half of the Moto E6 in this regard. The worst
reader in the middle. At the bottom is a Plus’ result in the that happens is post-
decidedly old-school MicroUSB port for multitasking test. processing aggressively
charging – no USB Type-C here – but you It’s a similar story softening the edges of
do get a headphone jack at the top, and the when it comes to objects; throughout
rear cover is removable, so you can swap graphics processing. In the rest of the image,
out the battery yourself. the GFXBench Manhattan there’s a lot less visual
This removable back also means there’s 3 benchmark, the Moto noise than we were
no SIM or microSD tray – you have to open E6 Plus averaged 16fps in worried about seeing.
up the phone to put them in. Still, there is the onscreen test and 10fps in the offscreen The front-facing camera is an 8-megapixel,
room for both a nano-SIM and a microSD test. This ranks it significantly ahead of the f/2.0 unit, and is pretty decent too. Shooting
card of up to 512GB in size. Moto E6 Play, and within touching distance of and recording options are simplistic, but
The 6.1in screen is an IPS panel with a the Moto G7 Power. At a glance, it seems to pictures are fine for selfies, even letting you
resolution of 1,560x720. That’s lower than be well ahead of the Vodafone Smart X9, but blur the background for arty shots.
the ideal 1080p, but this is a good screen resolution is important here: while the Redmi
nonetheless: peak brightness hits a 7A and Moto E6 Plus have 720p screens, the THE PLUS SIDE
particularly high 511cd/m2, and contrast is an Vodafone handset has a 1080p panel, and While the Moto G7 Power remains a better
equally respectable hence the numbers are smartphone overall, if you absolutely can’t
1,463:1. The sRGB gamut level when the tests are spend more than £100, then it’s hard to find
coverage of 84% makes done offscreen. too much fault with the Moto E6 Plus. It’s
for acceptable vibrancy good-looking, long-lasting and performs well
as well, even if it’s not KEEN EYED enough for the price.
particularly high in itself. Sadly, in one key metric, Should you spend more if you can afford
Internally, the Moto the Moto E6 Plus has to? Absolutely. But if you can’t, the Motorola
E6 Plus is powered by the gone backwards on last Moto E6 Plus won’t let you down.
MediaTek Helio P22 year’s model. While the Alan Martin
octa-core processor, with E5 Plus lasted 23h 2m in
four cores running at our battery test, the E6
SPECIFICATIONS
1.5GHz and four at 2GHz. Plus conked out at
This is backed by 2GB of 15h 3m. That’s still not
PROCESSOR Octa-core 2GHz MediaTek Helio P22 • SCREEN
RAM and 32GB of a terrible result, but it’s
SIZE 6.1in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 1,560x720 • REAR
CAMERAS 13 megapixels, 2 megapixels • STORAGE 32GB •
internal storage. a sizable regression, WIRELESS DATA 4G • NFC No • DIMENSIONS
This is a departure owing to the use of a 156x73x8.6mm • • OPERATING SYSTEM
WEIGHT 150g

from the Snapdragon 3,000mAh battery Android 9.0 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.
motorola.co.uk • PART CODE PAGA0000GB
chips of previous budget instead of the older
Moto smartphones, but phone’s 5,000mAh unit.
Battery life 15h 3m
the Moto E6 Plus keeps The Moto E6 Plus gets
0% -50 Reference +50 +100
pace regardless. Its a handy upgrade in the See page 88 for performance details
Geekbench 4 scores of camera department,

40 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

ANDROID 9.0 SMARTPHONE

MOTOROLA Moto E6 Play

★★★★★
£90 • From www.motorola.co.uk

VERDICT
With slow performance, a rubbish camera and a much better
phone looming over it, the Moto E6 Play should be ignored

IF THE MOTO E6 Plus (opposite) is the pricier Moto E6 Plus, not it’s apparent just how
souped-up instalment in Motorola’s latest to mention similarly cheap soft things can get:
budget range, the Moto E6 Play is the handsets such as Xiaomi’s details such as brickwork
‘standard’ version, if only by default. Redmi 7A (Shopper 383). appear overly smoothed.
This is £10 less than the Motor E6 Plus, Even the dreadful Alcatel As with all phones,
and at first the design differences are 1X is faster. the real challenge is
noticeable but not terribly drastic. The Moto Graphical performance low-light photography,
E6 Play has fuller top and bottom bezels, so is even worse, with the and here the Moto E6
there’s no notch, although this does mean a Moto E6 Play averaging a Play struggles to
smaller display size of 5.5in diagonally. On the lowly 5fps in GFXBench’s mitigate blurry
back, a discrete single camera and flash sit Manhattan onscreen test, smoothness. We took
in the top left, while a circular fingerprint as well as just 2fps in the several photos to try to
reader with Motorola’s ‘M’ logo sits slightly onscreen test. Even basic correct this, and every
indented near the top. 2D games will struggle to time the results weren’t
The back cover is a shiny black plastic, run consistently. great. It narrowly beats
though curiously it can’t be removed like the Completing the the Alcatel 1X, but that’s
one on the Moto E6 Plus. That’s a pity: while hat-trick of disappointing hardly an endorsement.
most phones don’t have it, it’s a definite benchmarks, the Moto E6 Video capture is
advantage of the E6 Plus, as it lets you Play only made it to a dire generally poor as well. It
change the battery at will without getting 10h 9m in our looped can record up to 1080p
professionals involved. video test before running – a higher resolution
Luckily, you can still add a microSD card out of battery. That’s five than the phone’s own
– up to 256GB – and there’s dual SIM support hours less than the Moto screen – but only at
and a headphone jack as well. E6 Plus, despite both 30fps, and footage
phones having the same appears soft, blurry and
A DARK FUTURE 3,000mAh battery. lacking in detail anyway. Even with electronic
As far as screens go, the 1,440x720 IPS panel image stabilisation (EIS) enabled – which is
doesn’t provide much to shout about. While CLEAN SLATE bizarrely switched off by default – our
contrast is good at 1,444:1, its sRGB gamut Besides elements of the design and display, recorded clips were distinctly jumpy.
coverage of 82% is lower than that of the the only positive here is that the Moto E6 Play The front-facing selfie camera is also
Moto E6 Plus, as is peak brightness: 369cd/m2 at least sticks with Motorola’s tradition of substandard. If there’s any kind of light source
is underwhelming for a smartphone. keeping Android as clean as possible. This is behind you, things just wash out to a point of
It’s still adequate enough to be used basically a clean install of Android 9.0, and it’s unusability. Even without, things are both
outside of direct sunlight, but you can get a all the better for it. Although given how slow it blurry and lacking in detail.
much better display for not much extra money. is, we can only shudder at the thought of it
It’s performance where things really start weighed down with bloatware and an intensive SLOW BURN
to fall apart. Like the Android overlay. There’s no compelling reason to put up with
Moto E6 Plus, the E6 The rear camera on these issues when the Moto E6 Plus is only
Play makes do with 2GB the Moto E6 Play is a £10 more, yet is a better smartphone in just
of RAM, but the weaker 13-megapixel unit with about every way. The Moto E6 Play is
MediaTek MT6739 an aperture of f/2.2. underpowered, has a weak camera and loses
makes it nowhere near That means it’s slightly five hours of battery life on its slightly more
as pleasant to use. weaker than the E6 expensive sibling, so try to stretch to the
This phone is slow and Plus’s 13-megapixel latter even if your budget is very tight.
laggy right out of the camera, which not only Alan Martin
box: the keyboard takes has an aperture of f/2.0
a second to pop up, and but is also accompanied SPECIFICATIONS
letters trail on the by a 2-megapixel
screen at a clear lag depth sensor.
PROCESSOR Quad-core 1.5GHz MediaTek MT6739 • SCREEN
• SCREEN RESOLUTION 1,440x720 • REAR
SIZE 5.5in
after you tap them. It’s adequate in CAMERA 13 megapixels • STORAGE 32GB • WIRELESS DATA
Geekbench 4 practice, but no better. 4G • NFC No • DIMENSIONS 147x71x8.3mm • WEIGHT 140g
confirms the Moto E6 In well-lit outdoor • OPERATING SYSTEM Android 9.0 • WARRANTY One year
RTB • DETAILS www.motorola.co.uk • PART CODE XT2029
Play’s inferiority: its conditions, pictures are
scores of 605 in the fine, with a decent
Battery life 10h 9m
single-core and 1,570 in amount of detail even
0% -50 Reference +50 +100
the multicore test put it on an overcast day. See page 88 for performance details
well behind the barely Zoom in, however, and

41
 ANDROID 9.0 SMARTPHONE

FAIRPHONE 3
★★★★★
£378 • From shop.fairphone.com

VERDICT
The Fairphone 3 is a noble project, but in pure
hardware terms it charges more fo or less

IT’S AN OPEN secret that smartph hones are

environmentally costly. Both the materials
they use and the waste of producin ng them
amounts to an ecological nightmare e, one that
only gets worse with two-year upgrrade cycles
and components you can’t replace without
voiding the warranty.
The Fairphone 3 takes a differennt approach,
aiming to put sustainability and hum mans first.
The former by designing its handse ets to be
repairable by users, with componen nts that can
be reused to reduce e-waste; the latttter by
tt
sourcing conflict-free (and ideally reecycled)
minerals, and by focusing on good working
conditions in its factories. Fairphone openly
admits that this is a work in progress, but it’s
already light years ahead of its commpetitors.

GONE GREEN
Admirable as this approach is, if you’re
thinking that the result won’t be cuutting-edge
technology, then you’re correct. The Fairphone
3’s specs are distinctly middle of the road:
namely, the Qualcomm Snapdragon
and 4GB of RAM. That’s the exact s
specification as the Moto G7 Power
376) but, at £378, this is a lot more expensive.
The Fairphone 3 also has a somewhat
dated look from the front. It has the kind of
bezels that haven’t been seen on a
smartphone for quite some time, especially
The Fairphone 3 demonstrates a company willing to walk
the walk on ease of repair, as well as talk the talk
at the top and bottom of the 18:9 screen. It
comes with a thick rubberised bumper around
the outsides to protect from drop damage,
but this can be easily removed if you like.
Flip it over and it looks a lot more
distinctive, and largely in a good way. It’s a
transparent but slightly opaque plastic case,
so you can see exactly what makes it tick. The
word ‘Fairphone’ is embossed in all caps, and
the slogan ‘change is in your hands’ is visible,
printed on the battery underneath.
There’s also a good mix of hardware
features. It uses USB Type-C charging, has a
3.5mm headphone jack, supports NFC, has
two SIM-card slots and a microSD card slot
supporting cards of up to 400GB in size.
By far the most distinctive trait, however, is
the Fairphone 3’s repairability. Most phones
are designed to be replaced rather than fixed,
largely fallen out of favour with manufacturers,
the Moto E6 Plus (page 40) notwithstanding.
That isn’t great for consumers, but it’s far
worse for the planet. ‘Reduce, reuse and
recycle’ are the three ‘R’s of sustainability, and
the smartphone industry is lousy at each of
them. In tackling this pernicious problem,
Fairphone has not only made the Fairphone 3
repairable, it includes a screwdriver in the box
and detailed instructions on its website.
HAVE I GOT SCREWS FOR YOU
Take off the plastic back and remove the
battery, and you’re presented with 13 tiny
screws to pick out. These magnetically stick to
the screwdriver, but they’re still pretty fiddly.
Once removed, you can simply pop out the
screen by pushing it through where the
battery compartment used to be; with a little
extra fingernail to get it out, you’re home free.
This first step is necessary for all future
repairs, and once you’re in, Fairphone has
instructions and tutorial videos on how to
replace four modules in addition to the screen
, c s ava a e rom
the official website’ss spare parts shop. It’ss
important to state that while this makes it a
modular phone, this isn’t about upgrades: all
of the components in the shop are just
replacements for the existing hardware,
should it fail.
Prices vary wildly. A new screen costs £77,
which feels fair enough, but the asking price of
£21 for a replacement back cover – itself a
flimsy plastic thing – raises an eyebrow. A new
battery costs £26, a camera module £43, a top
module £26, and the bottom and speaker
modules go for £17 each. The total cost of all
these spares is £227, which is around the same
price as a fully assembled Moto G8 Plus.
However, affordability isn’t the real point.
It’s absolutely brilliant that Fairphone has
made the Fairphone 3 as fixable as it is, and
demonstrates a company willing to walk the
walk on ease of repair, as well as talk the talk.
BRIGHT SPOTS
The Fairphone 3’s 5.65in IPS screen has a
resolution of 2,160x1,080, which is more than
enough for a screen of this size. Less
positively, thick bezels at the top and tail of it
give it a certain retro feel, and colour
performance doesn’t do it many favours
either: 95.3% coverage of the sRGB gamut is
good, but colours are reproduced inaccurately,
so everything looks oversaturated.

42 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

 However, brightness is high, with a measured
peak of 503cd/m2, and contrast is a very
respectable 1,649:1. All things considered, however,
it’s a pretty middling screen. It does the job, but
it’s easily beaten by those found on cheaper
handsets, and you’d hope for better at this price,
even if it can be easily replaced should it break.

FEEBLE EXCUSE
Day-to-day performance is reasonable, but
unspectacular – the result of using a lower-end
CPU, even if the 4GB of RAM is plenty. The
Fairphone 3’s Geekbench 4 scores put it behind
much cheaper handsets, such as the £299 Google
Pixel 3a (Shopper 378): it scored 1,274 in the
single-core test and 4,858 in the multitasking
test, to the Pixel 3a’s 1,619 and 5,146.
It doesn’t frustrate out of the box by any
means – no doubt aided by the bloatware-free
installation of Android 9.0 – but counter-
intuitively for a phone that values sustainability,
it will be creaking sooner than Google’s handset.
The difference is even starker with games. The
Fairphone 3 managed only 10fps in both the
onscreen and offscreen portions of GFXBench
Manhattan, meaning the Pixel 3a can pump out
nearly three times the frame rate. The Moto G7
Power – which, remember, has the same SoC –
also produced 20fps in the onscreen test, though
this is largely down to its lower
In terms of battery ,

s grainy and the

CAUGHT SNAPPING
The Fairphone 3 has a single 12-m megapixel rear
camera with an aperture of f/1.8. This may sound
pretty weak in an age where triple- and even
quadruple-camera arrays are increasingly
commonplace, but this isn’t necessarily a
disadvantage: the Pixel 3a also uses a single
sensor, and takes some of the best photos
around. Not only that, but both phones happen
to use the same Sony IMX363 camera sensor.
At a glance, the Fairphone 3 does well with
outdoor shots, even if some of our test shots
came out a little underexposed. Sadly, put up
against the Pixel 3a, it’s not even close: Google’s
phone captures much finer detail, probably due
to its specialised processing software.
In tricky low-light conditions the Fairphone 3
again appears to cope, but it just can’t compete
with the Pixel 3a, with lots of visual noise
creeping in around the edges of objects.
The Pixel 3a has some of this – almost all
smartphone cameras struggle in darkness –
but nowhere near as much.
The front-facing camera uses an 8-megapixel
sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. The results are
slightly lacking in detail, but good enough for
lighthearted selfies. If vanity is your main
concern, then chances are you’ll be looking at a
more stylish-looking handset anyway.
There’s also no sugar-coating the fact that the
Fairphone’s video recording is poor. It looks good
on paper, offering support for 720p, 1080p or 4K
video capture at 30fps (with 60fps for 1080p,
amera struggles to maintain focus while panning.
Both 720p and 1080p footage should be
stabilised – there’s a toggle to enable stabilisation
– but the video bounces all over the place. Colour
accuracy is poor, and footage can turn out murky.
CONSCIOUS DECISION
In fairness to Fairphone, this smartphone doesn’t
try to be the fastest one ever, or to have the best
camera; the focus is primarily on minimising its
own environmental impact, and employing
better working conditions for the people making
it. On these grounds, the Fairphone 3 has better
credentials than anything.
These values might be enough for prospective
buyers to ignore anything else we say here and go
for the Fairphone 3 on ethical grounds. That’s fair
enough as the Fairphone 3 is, relatively speaking,
a very ethical product, but as a smartphone per
se, its repairability is the only thing it does better
than similarly priced alternatives.
Alan Martin
SPECIFICATIONS
PROCESSOR Octa-core 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 •
SCREEN SIZE 5.65in• SCREEN RESOLUTION 2,160x1,080 • REAR
CAMERA 12 megapixels • STORAGE 64GB • WIRELESS DATA 4G
• NFC Yes • DIMENSIONS 158x72x9.9mm • WEIGHT 189g •
OPERATING SYSTEM Android 9.0 • WARRANTY Two years RTB
• DETAILS www.fairphone.com • PART CODE Fairphone
Battery life 14h 20m
0% -50 Reference +50 +100
See page 88 for performance details

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020

 ANDROID 9.0 SMARTPHONE

SONY Xperia 5
★★★★★
£700 • From www.amazon.co.uk

VERDICT
The Xperia 5 reproduces the Xperia 1’s features for
a lower price, and for the most part it succeeds

SONY’S ‘COMPACT’ SMARTPHONES such a large screen is there’s plenty of fine

used to offer flagship-grade features, more the phone’s stamina. detail in images captured
palatable prices and dinkier sizes. However, Thankfully, in dropping in bright environments,
following the launch of the Xperia 1 (Shopper the resolution down to and in some instances, it
380), it looked like Sony had ditched these FHD+ and slightly significantly outperforms
smaller handsets in favour of pricier big- reducing the screen size, the OnePlus 7T Pro’s
screened behemoths. Sony has managed to (Shopper 384) somewhat
The Xperia 5, thankfully, partially squeeze out an extra soft-looking images.
resembles the Compact models of old; sure, 38% of use on a single Colours don’t look
it isn’t much smaller than Sony’s top-shelf charge according to our muted, even in gloomy
handsets, but the Xperia 5 is cheaper while in-house battery weather, and aren’t
offering similar functionality. rundown test, finally oversaturated and
The 6.1in screen, for instance, is another reaching an admirable candy-coloured, either.
HDR OLED display that benefits from Sony’s 17h 55m before needing We didn’t spot much
Bravia X1 enhancement tech; this gives a to recharge. evidence of visual noise,
colour and brightness boost to SDR content. Another shared even in low-light
The resolution doesn’t match the Xperia 1’s feature with the Xperia 1 environments, with the
4K, but 2,520x1,080 is still nice and sharp. is the triple-lens camera Xperia 5’s cameras doing
What’s more, in its standard profile it can array, which is also a mighty fine job at
cover 99.1% of the SRGB colour gamut, not to arranged vertically in the brightening up the scene
mention 95.4% of the wider DCI-P3 gamut, so centre of the back panel. as the light dims.
it’s wonderfully vivid. Contrast is a perfect This incorporates a In fact, the only
Infinity:1 too, although peak brightness could collection of three issue with the camera is
be better at 345cd/m2. 12-megapixel camera that object definition
That’s measured using a non-HDR white, sensors: one is a regular isn’t particularly crisp.
but even when HDR content is playing, lens with an f/1.6 Some of the building
brightness still seems lower than on many aperture, the one below outlines in our test
other HDR-enabled smartphones. it is a 2x telephoto zoom sensor, and the shots didn’t look particularly well defined,
final one is a wide-angle sensor. and we spotted a few issues with the video
STRONG, SILENT TYPE Triple-camera arrangements aren’t new, of stabilisation. As you slowly pan across the
There’s plenty of power under the bonnet – course, but what’s particularly special about scene, the Xperia 5’s footage looked a bit too
at least as much as current generation the Xperia 5 is the co-development with juddery, which is unfortunate, as the image
hardware permits. The Xperia 5 is fitted with Sony’s Alpha camera team. The rather quality is actually very good.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 mobile chipset, effective eye-autofocus returns, allowing
which is clocked at 2.84GHz and works with you to keep your subject in focus without A DIFFERENT ANGLE
6GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable too much effort on your part, and there’s With an (almost) identical feature list as its
storage. That’s exactly the same setup as also the 10fps burst shooting mode, as well bigger brother, it’s certainly a smart move on
the Xperia 1. as more advanced Sony’s part to bring the price of the Xperia 5
Performance is thus noise reduction. down a peg or two. You might be seeing
identical as well. The double, but considering you can get a similar
Xperia 5’s Geekbench 4 DIRECTOR’S CUT sort of experience as the Xperia 1 for just
scores – 3,450 in the Sony’s CineAlta video- a little bit less, then the Xperia 5 is a fine
single-core and 11,490 in editing app also returns, choice for anyone looking to upgrade.
the multicore test– don’t which enables you to edit Nathan Spendelow
deviate from the Xperia your footage on the fly
1’s in any meaningful way, and apply cinema-grade
SPECIFICATIONS
and the Adreno 640 is colour profiles to your
just as capable of playing videos. Like the Xperia 1,
PROCESSOR Octa-core 2.84GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 •
high-fidelity games. With you can record in 4K, but
SCREEN SIZE 6.1in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 2,520x1,080 •
•
REAR CAMERAS 13 megapixels,13 megapixels, 13 megapixels
59fps in the GFXBench you’re restricted to 30fps STORAGE 128GB • WIRELESS DATA 4G • NFC Yes •
Manhattan onscreen test and 24fps frame rates. DIMENSIONS 156x73x8.6mm • WEIGHT 164g • OPERATING

and 101fps in the It’s obvious that the SYSTEM Android 9.0 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS
www.sonymobile.com • PART CODE 1320-4897
offscreen test, nothing on Xperia 5 is practically
the Play Store should give bloated with features, but
Battery life 17h 55m
this phone trouble. how does the camera
0% -50 Reference +50 +100
Usually, the biggest perform? The short See page 88 for performance details
cause for concern with answer is very well:

44 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

CCL Paladin
CCL Paladin Gaming PC
• AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 3.6GHz (4.4GHz Turbo Boost)
• 16GB 3200MHz DDR4 RGB RAM
• AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 8GB
• 1TB Seagate FireCuda 520 PCIe Gen4 SSD
• 2TB Seagate BarraCuda Hard Drive
• Genuine Windows 10 Home

From £1,599.99 inc VAT

Configure yours at:

www.cclonline.com/paladin

01274 471 210 pcsales@cclonline.com Price Match

On all ccl built systems

CCL Computers Ltd, Inmoor Road, Tong, Bradford, BD11 2PS - Images are for illustration purposes and may include optional extras. Prices correct at time of going to publishing (12/02/2020).
 ANDROID 9.0 SMARTPHONE

XIAOMI Redmi Note 8T

★★★★★
£170 • From www.amazon.co.uk

VERDICT
There’s no need to ask what the catch is with this
excellent budget smartphone; there isn’t one

GIVEN XIAOMI MANAGED to make the £99 the Nokia 5.1 and We’d say that the
Redmi 7A (Shopper 383) look like a high-end Moto G7 Power Pixel 3a’s single-lens
handset, it should be no surprise that the (Shopper 376); it even camera beats the Note
Redmi Note 8T – which is more expensive, but trades blows with the 8T’s main sensor for
still within budget territory – also appears much more expensive general photo duties,
much more premium than it actually is. Google Pixel 3a but even so, the latter
It’s quite hefty in the hand, weighing in at (Shopper 378), which is worthy of praise as
200g, but then it is packing 6.3in of screen, scored slightly higher well. It too can pick up
which does a good job of minimising the bezel on single-core power fine details, even when
all the way around. The sides are curved but is a little less zoomed in and with
around the edges, contrasting with the flat effective at sub-optimal outdoor
back, where you’ll find not just a fingerprint multitasking. lighting, and is about
reader, but a four-lens camera array. That said, the on equal terms with
It’s not the most practical of designs, Pixel 3a pulls ahead the more expensive
as the camera sensors jut outwards and significantly on Moto G8 Plus on
prevent the Note 8T from sitting completely gaming performance; overall image quality.
flat, but it looks nice enough. Expandable the Note 8T averaged In tricky indoor
microSD storage, NFC and a headphone jack 17fps in the GFXBench low-light conditions,
are included too, although there aren’t any Manhattan onscreen things are markedly
genuinely luxury extras such as wireless test, and 19fps in the offscreen test. Again, worse, albeit far from disastrous. While colour
charging or waterproofing. these results beat the Nokia 5.1, but you reproduction is pretty good, the Note 8T has
won’t get much higher frames-per-second a tendency to blur the edges of objects, but
HEAVY HITTER than Motorola’s cheap phones. this is nothing the Moto G8 Plus doesn’t do
The 6.3in screen is an IPS panel with a Still, in day-to-day use, the Note 8T is as well. If anything, Motorola’s phone also
resolution of 2,340x1,080, plenty sharp perfectly capable. That’s even despite the introduces a touch more visual noise.
enough for the price. It’s a good performer sheer amount of bloatware included via
too, covering 95.7% of the sRGB gamut Xiaomi’s MIUI skin: be prepared to delete BETTER RED
without oversaturation, and hitting a high a lot of pre-installed apps if you want a As for video, the Redmi Note 8T is capable of
contrast ratio of 1,571:1. We also measured a cleaner Android experience. recording 720p, 1080p and 4K footage at 30fps,
peak brightness of 482cd/m2, enough to deal In better news, the Note 8T lasted for with the option to increase that to 60fps for
with the glare of direct sunlight. a healthy 14h 53m in our battery test. the 1080p setting. For a phone of this price,
In terms of internals, the Redmi Note 8T is Although this doesn’t put it anywhere near the footage is pretty good – maybe slightly
a mid-ranger to its core, which is pretty the Moto G7 Power on endurance, it’s a lacking in detail, but with electronic image
impressive given its sub-£200 price. In our respectable result, and one that, yet again, stabilisation at 1080p/30fps video is certainly
test model, 4GB of RAM backed up the gives the Pixel 3a a run for its money. usable, which is the main thing. Many budget
2GHz Qualcomm handsets fall at this hurdle outright.
Snapdragon 665 HOT QUAD And that kind of sums up the Redmi Note
processor; 3GB versions Another pleasant 8T. It’s no flagship beater, but it’s far better
are also available. surprise is the camera. than it has any right to be with plenty of
That Snapdragon is the It’s not every day you see change from £200. It has the same grunt as
same chipset we’ve a four-lens arrangement the Moto G8 Plus, narrowly beats it on
recently seen in the on a sub-£200 camera performance and sells for £60 less.
Motorola Moto G8 Plus smartphone, but here What’s not to like?
(Shopper 385), which you get a 48-megapixel Alan Martin
sells for £60 more. main sensor, an
Performance was 8-megapixel ultrawide
SPECIFICATIONS
subsequently almost lens, a 2-megapixel
identical, with the Note depth sensor for
PROCESSOR Octa-core 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 •
8T’s Geekbench 4 scores bokeh-effect shots and a
SCREEN SIZE 6.3in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 2,340x1,080 •
REAR CAMERAS 48 megapixels, 8 megapixels, 2 megapixels, 2
(1,507 in the single-core 2-megapixel macro lens • STORAGE 64GB • WIRELESS DATA 4G • NFC
megapixels
test and 5,600 in the for extreme close-ups. Yes• DIMENSIONS 161x75x8.6mm• WEIGHT 200g •
multitasking test) This final lens is very OPERATING SYSTEM Android 9.0 • WARRANTY One year
RTB • DETAILS www.mi.com • PART CODE Redmi Note 8T
jostling with those of good indeed; you can
the Motorola handset. capture loads of detail,
Battery life 14h 53m
They’re also notably and macro lenses are still
0% -50 Reference +50 +100
much higher than those quite rare features to See page 88 for performance details
of such budget rivals as find on any handset.

46 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

FITNESS WATCH
GARMIN Vivomove 3
★★★★★
£196 • From www.amazon.co.uk
VERDICT
A fine hybrid smartwatch, but the new
features aren’t entirely worth the extra cost
THERE ARE PLENTY of people who like the
idea of a smartwatch, but don’t like what it
often means in practice: bulky watch faces
with bright screens and batteries that need
charging several times per week.
These are the people at whom the Garmin
Vivomove 3 is aimed: it’s a watch with actual
moving hands protected by glass, but there’s
also a small OLED screen under there, which
flashes to life with notifications when called
upon. The display itself takes up less than
half of the watch face’s surface area,
granting certain smart capabilities with
much slower battery drain.
The preceding Vivomove HR (Shopper 377)
had the same concept, of course, but the
Vivomove 3 focuses more than ever on
If you mainly just want a watch that only occasionally
needs to be smart, this could be just the thing
fitness and exercise. ‘Connected GPS’ allows
the watch to piggyback off your phone’s GPS
for more accurate run tracking, and there are
other new features such as respiration rate
tracking and Body Battery, which tells you
how ‘charged’ for exercise you are, so you
don’t overwork yourself.
SQUEEZING JUICE
All these smarts are well hidden, as the
display is practically invisible until you activate
it by either firmly double-tapping it or sharply
raising your wrist. However, we also wish
there was a less animated way of waking it;
ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020
a single button on the
side, for examplee,
wouldn’t have messed
with the Vivomo ove 3’s
sleek design thaat much.
able, however,
It’s comforta
and you can rep place the
20mm bundled silicone
straps with induustry-standard
quick release pinns to make it as
dressy or casual as you like.
With normal use of the screen, the
Vivomove 3 lasts for about fiv
better than a smmartwatch,
it to the week mark. Howe
watch mode – wh hich bles the screen and
h disab
simply keeps the hands ticking – will add
another seven days, so if you mainly just want
a watch that only occasionally needs to be
smart, this could be just the thing.
Swiping through the screen reveals a
number of specialised widgets, from simple
step and stair counters to music controls,
your current heart rate, calendar events, and
even hydration and menstrual tracking tools.
THAT SQUINTING FEELING
These are a mixed bag in terms of usefulness.
The Body Battery feature is a clever way of
showing complex information in a simple
way – if the number is high, do some exercise;
if it isn’tt, then rest – and instant heart-rate
feedbacck is as handy as it’s ever been for
regulating your exercise. Notifications, on the
other ha and, don’t work that well: the tiny
132x64 pixel OLED screen doesn’t have
enough room to show anywhere near a full
message e, and although you can scroll
through h, it’s only by a few words at a time.
Equa ally, while the music controls pick up
on whattever you’re listening to at the time, if
you press play without any apps running,
Garmin bizarrely boots up Google Play Music,
which iss useless if you’re not an active
subscrib ber. What’s more, if you’re in the
middle of a run, the music controls pop up
over the e top of useful tracking metrics you
might acctually want to consult.
Conn nected GPS is also less convenient
than hav ving a built-in sensor, as you need
to keep your smarttphone on you wh hen
running, but at least performance is good.
It recorded a 5km run as 4.93km, which is
accurate enough. Even the more dedicated
GPS running watches seldom get distances
absolutely correct.
All the same, serious runners shouldn’t
really consider the Vivomove 3 as their
race-day watch of choice. Not only is it fiddly
to start a workout, but once again the tiny
screen doesn’t present much data to go
off, especially when the music controls get in
the way. We prefer to have three different
metrics on the screen at once, but you may
have different priorities, especially if you’re
someone who favours post-workout analysis
to on-the-go readings.
OVERLY FAMILIAR
It remains true that, for the most part, the
Garmin Vivomove 3 is a great hybrid
smartwatch, but then so was its predecessor,
the 2018 Vivomove HR, and it’s not really
clear why this is worth £50 more. There are
extra fitness features, but with these, it’s
encroaching on territory where having a
dedicated running watch is just a more
sensible solution.
All the same, we’d be happy to forgive any
minor misgivings about the watch given its
good looks if it weren’t for the existence of
the Vivomove HR. Available for around £150
now, that’s what we’d recommend if you’re
dead set on a hybrid watch.
Alan Martin
SPECIFICATIONS
PEDOMETER Yes • HEART-RATE MONITOR Yes • DISPLAY
•
SIZE 0.8in RESOLUTION 132x64 • OS SUPPORT Android,
iOS • BATTERY LIFE Five days • WARRANTY One year RTB
• DETAILS www.garmin.com • PART CODE 010-02239-01
47
 Choosing a... PC system
01 A basic PC costing around £350 will
be able to run everyday office,
multimedia and education software and will
easily cope with surfing the internet. It might
even be able to run some modern games.
Many PCs can be sold either with or
without a monitor. If you don’t like the
display the manufacturer is offering, you
can always use your current one, or buy
another one separately.
03 All modern PCs come with at least
a dual-core processor and are
capable of most tasks. Anyone who
peripherals attach to these ports. Most new
PCs come with USB3 or the latest USB3.1
ports, which provide faster data transfers
regularly undertakes demanding tasks when used with supported devices than the
such as video editing and encoding older USB2 standard.
should consider a hexa-core or even
an octa-core processor.
06 Most new PCs now come with
Windows 10 pre-installed. Don’t be
04 There are plenty of good reasons to
upgrade the PC’s memory or hard
disk. If you’ll use your PC for gaming, video
too easily swayed by the inclusion of other
software, though, as it may be that you’ll
never use it.

02 If you want to play games, you’ll

have to upgrade the graphics card.
Budget cards such as the Nvidia GeForce GTX
1050 will cope well with many 3D games, but
to play the latest 3D games smoothly (and
enjoy the best-quality graphics) it’s worth
upgrading to a more powerful card such as
the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070.
editing or other demanding tasks, you’ll
need at least 8GB of RAM and a large hard
disk; 1TB should suffice. Many new PCs have
an SSD, which speeds up the time it takes for
your PC to boot and for programs to load.
05 Having plenty of USB ports is
always useful, as most computer
07 While most PCs come in cases of
a similar size, some have more
compact mini tower or mini PC cases.
These smaller PCs will fit under your TV
or on your desk more easily, but bear in
mind that they’re significantly harder to
upgrade than full-size machines.

PCs
RASPBERRY Y PI ACER Chromebox CXI3
4 Model B ★★★★★
★★★★★ £458 • www.lambda-tek.com
£34 • thepihut.com
An absolutely tiny Chrome OS
A fasterr processor, system, the Chromebox CXI3 is
quicker networking compact enough to attach to
and dual
al HDMI outputs the
t back of a monitor. Even better, it has more
make the Pi 4 a much better
etter desktop computer power than most Chromeboxes, thanks to its
than previous Pi models,, and it hasn’t lost any appeal as a cheap Core i5 processor, and is loaded with useful
hobbyist board, either. 4K video implementation could be better ports in spite of its minimal size. It’s cheap, too,
– we had issues getting smooth playback in Raspbian – but that’s although we’d recommend investing in a better mouse and keyboard
the only noteworthy concern. than the bundled peripherals.

PROCESSOR 1.5GHz quad-core Broadcom BCM2711 • RAM 1GB • USB PORTS 1x USB Type-C PROCESSOR Quad-core 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-82500U • RAM 8GB • FRONT USB PORTS 2x USB3 •
(power), 2x USB2, 2x USB3 • STORAGE MicroSD card slot • DISPLAY None • OPERATING REAR USB PORTS 3x USB3, 1x USB Type-C • TOTAL STORAGE 64GB SSD • DISPLAY None •
SYSTEM Raspbian • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.raspberypi.org • PART CODE Pi 4 OPERATING SYSTEM Chrome OS • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.acer.com •
Model B • FULL REVIEW Sep 2019 PART CODE DT.ZOSEK.001 • FULL REVIEW Aug 2019

CCL Paladin PALICOMP AMD Abyss

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£1,555 • www.cclonline.com £700 • www.palicomp.co.uk
The Paladin is stuffed At this price, you’d
with AMD’s latest seriously struggle to find
technology, including the a more comprehensively
excellent octa-core Ryzen 7 3700X CPU and a capable desktop system than Palicomp’s
4K-capable Radeon RX 5700 XT graphics card. AMD Abyss. It can multitask with
Storage is another highlight: the SSD isn’t a serious applications just as well as it
PCI-E 4.0 model, which the motherboard is can run games, and with its large, fast
compatible with, but it’s still very fast and NVMe SSD, it won’t be slowed down
offers an enormous 1TB of space by itself. by storage. There’s a lot of room for
future upgrades, too.
PROCESSOR Octa-core 3.6GHz AMD Ryzen 7 3700X • RAM 16GB • FRONT USB PORTS 2x USB2,
2x USB3 • REAR USB PORTS 2x USB2, 2x USB3, 2x USB3.1, 1x USB Type-C • TOTAL STORAGE 1TB PROCESSOR Hexa-core 3.6GHz AMD Ryzen 5 2600X • RAM 8GB • FRONT USB PORTS 2x USB2,
SSD, 2TB hard disk • GRAPHICS CARD 8GB AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT • OPERATING SYSTEM 1x USB3 • REAR USB PORTS 2x USB2, 2x USB3, 2x USB3.1, 1x USB Type-C • TOTAL STORAGE
Windows 10 Home • WARRANTY Three years collect and return • DETAILS www.cclonline.com • 512GB SSD, 1TB hard disk • GRAPHICS CARD 8GB AMD Radeon RX570 Armor 8GB OC •
PART CODE GAME-PBME 0202 0304 0100 0200 0200 0000 0000 0200 01 • FULL REVIEW OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 10 Home • WARRANTY Three years RTB • DETAILS
Nov 2019 www.palicomp.co.uk • PART CODE RYZ6 • FULL REVIEW Apr 2019

48 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

Choosing a... Laptop
01 A basic laptop costing around £300
will run everyday office, multimedia
and education software, but it won’t be
suitable for 3D gaming or processor-intensive
tasks such as video editing. Many laptops at
this price have a 15.6in screen and weigh over
2kg, so they’re best used around the house
and for occasional journeys.
portability, buy one that has a 13.3in or 14in
screen. In general, the smaller and lighter the
laptop, the more expensive it is, especially if
it has plenty of processing power.
04 Battery life is extremely important
for a laptop, particularly if you’ll be
carrying it around. We’d expect all but the
biggest and heaviest to last for at least
want better performance, you should
look for an Intel Core i5 or Core i7
model instead. We recommend a
minimum of 4GB of RAM, although 8GB
is better for multitasking.
06 Most budget and mid-range laptops
use a mechanical hard disk for
storage. You’ll want at least 500GB, but

02 If you want to play modern games,

you’ll need a laptop with a dedicated
graphics chip such as the Nvidia GeForce GTX
1060M. Good gaming laptops tend to have
large 15.6 or 17in screens and weigh around
3kg, so they’re best suited to use at home.
five hours on a single charge, but for an
ultraportable that you carry everywhere,
eight hours and above is more desirable.
1TB or more is better. Solid-state drives
(SSDs) have faster performance, making
your computer quicker to boot and more
responsive. They have lower capacities,
05 Laptops use mobile versions of
processors to conserve power,
though. You’ll need at least 128GB.

03 If you want a laptop that you can

take everywhere, look for a model
that weighs less than 2kg. For the best
and these lag behind desktop chips
when it comes to performance. For a
budget Windows laptop, an Intel Core i3
07 Convertibles and 2-in-1 laptops can
change from laptop mode to tablet
mode. We’ve listed our favourite models later
processor will do the job, but if you on in this guide in the Tablets section.

LAPTOPS
DELL XPS 13 2-in-1
1 (2019) MICROSOFT Surface Laptop 3
★★★★★
NEW
13.5in
£1,319 • www.dell.com ENTRY ★★★★★
£1,549 • www.microsoft.com
There have been no
compromises in this Great design, highh
latest convertible performance,
version of the XPS 13. You’re still wonderful display,,
getting excellent build quality, a fast comfortable keyboard – there’s
Intel 10th-gen CPU and a responsive almost nothing that the 13.5in
touchscreen, one that’s been slightly version of Microsoft’s latest laptop gets wrong. It comes with a
heightened to a more work-friendly better selection of CPUs than the 15in variant, and you can now
16:10 aspect ratio. choose between the fabric cover or a clean metal finish, too.

PROCESSOR Quad-core 1.3GHz Intel Core i7-1065G7 • RAM

AM 8GB • DIMENSIONS 296x207x13mm •
LUTION 1,920x1,200 • GRAPHICS
WEIGHT 1.33kg • SCREEN SIZE 13.4in • SCREEN RESOLUTION
ADAPTOR Intel Iris Plus Graphics • TOTAL STORAGE 256GB
6GB SSD • OPERATING SYSTEM
Windows 10 Home • PARTS AND LABOUR WARRANTY Y One year RTB • DETAILS www.dell.com
www d ll
PART CODE cn73014 • FULL REVIEW Apr 2020
PROCESSOR Quad-core 1.3GHz Intel Core i7-1065G7 • RAM 16GB • DIMENSIONS
308x223x14.5mm • WEIGHT 1.3kg • SCREEN SIZE 13.5in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 2,256x1,504 •
TOTAL STORAGE 256GB SSD • OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 10 Home • PARTS AND LABOUR
T
• WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.microsoft.com • PART CODE VEF-00064 •
FULL REVIEW Mar 2020

DELL Latitude 3300 ASUS ROG Strix

ix Scar III
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£629 • www.dell.com £2,649 • www.scan.co.uk
Dell’s The ROG Strix ix Scar III
affordable compromisess nothing
and well-builtlt in its pursuit of
Latitude 3300 is made for top-quality portable gaming.
students, but the fact that it While this means a high price,e,
has strong specs for the price e it also means a 240Hz display,y,
can be appreciated by anyone e an incredibly powerful Core i99
looking for a general-purpose e laptop. The quad-core CPU keeps processor and Nvidia’s high-end
end
performance up, and this particular
ticular model has a superior 256GB SSD RTX 2070 GPU. Despite not being a true thin-and-light
to the even cheaper versions’ eMMC drives. gaming laptop, it’s not too heavy
eavy and unwieldy, either.

PROCESSOR Quad-core 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-8250U • RAM 8GB • DIMENSIONS 330x231x22.9mm
• WEIGHT 1.56kg • SCREEN SIZE 13.3in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 1,920x1,080 • GRAPHICS
ADAPTOR Intel UHD Graphics 620 • TOTAL STORAGE 256GB SSD • OPERATING SYSTEM
Windows 10 Pro • PARTS AND LABOUR WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.dell.com •
PART CODE n013l330013emea • FULL REVIEW Jan 2020
PROCESSOR Octa-core 2.3GHz Intel Core i9-9980H • RAM 32GB • DIMENSIONS 360x275x24.9mm
• WEIGHT 2.57kg • SCREEN SIZE 15.6in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 1,920x1,080 • GRAPHICS
ADAPTOR 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 • TOTAL STORAGE 1TB SSD • OPERATING SYSTEM
Windows 10 Home • PARTS AND LABOUR WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.asus.com
• PART CODE G531GW-AZ055R • FULL REVIEW Oct 2019

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 49

 Choosing an... Internal hard disk
01 A basic 1TB internal hard disk should
cost around £40. This will be fast
enough for general use and will provide
enough storage for most users.
Make sure the hard disk you choose has
the appropriate interface type for your PC.
Most hard disks and solid-state drives
(SSDs) use the SATA3 interface, which
enables faster speeds than the older SATA2.
Pretty much every motherboard released in
recent years will have multiple SATA3 ports,
allowing you to connect several storage
drives at once.
02 SSDs can make the most of SATA3’s
high bandwidth for fast file transfers.
They use flash memory similar to that found
in USB flash drives, and although they tend
STORAGE
WD Blue SN550 1TB
★★★★★
£106 • www.amzn.to/38DWqne
There are
faster SSDs,
but the Blue
SN550 isn’t slow, either. It’s therefore
a good bet for when you want as much
solid-state capacity for as little money as possible.
CAPACITY 1TB • PRICE PER GIGABYTE £0.11p • INTERFACE M2/NVMe • WARRANTY Five years
RTB • DETAILS www.westerndigital.com • PART CODE WDS100T2B0C • FULL REVIEW Apr 2020
ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB
★★★★★
£142 • www.ebuyer.com
The Adata XPG
SX8200 Pro
is outrageously
good value for the performance it delivers. It’s as fast as or faster
than top-tier SSDs from Samsung and WD, but costs far less
across all its capacity options.
CAPACITY 1TB • COST PER GIGABYTE £0.14p • INTERFACE M.2/NVMe • WARRANTY Five years
RTB • DETAILS www.xpg.com • PART CODE ASX8200PNP-1TT • FULL REVIEW Apr 2019
SAMSUNG Portable SSD X5 1TB
★★★★★
£344 • www.scan.co.uk
For when you
absolutely need to
shift files as quicklyy
as possible, there’s the X5. Its use off
the Thunderbolt 3 interface makes itt
the fastest external SSD ever.
CAPACITY 1TB • COST PER GIGABYTE £0.34p • INTERFACE Thunderbolt 3 •
WARRANTY Three years RTB • DETAILS www.samsung.com/uk •
PART CODE MU-PB1T0B/WW • FULL REVIEW Dec 2018
50
to provide less capacity than mechanical
hard disks, they’re significantly faster. More
expensive SSDs use the NVMe standard,
duplicate your data for better protection.
RAID arrays require hard disks of the same
size. In theory, they can be from different
which is even faster than SATA3, but require manufacturers, but it’s better to buy identical
an M.2 slot on the motherboard. disks if you can.
03 Buy a hard disk that provides more
capacity than you think you need, as
your storage requirements are likely to grow.
05 A hard disk’s spindle speed
determines how quickly it can
transfer data. A spindle speed of 7,200rpm
A 2TB disk strikes the best balance between is common in desktop drives and is fast
capacity and low cost per gigabyte. enough for most purposes. Desktop hard
disks with 5,400rpm spindle speeds are
04 If you want more disk space or you
want to protect your data against
quite slow but use less power and generate
less heat and noise.
disk failure, think about buying several hard
disks to create a RAID array. These use
multiple hard disks to create one large
To strike the best balance between
speed and storage capacity, use an SSD as
your system disk and store your files on a
logical disk with better performance, or to larger mechanical disk.
PNY Pro Elite 1TB
★★★★★
NEW £175 • www.argos.co.uk
ENTRY
A tiny,
very nimble
portable SSD
that’s both faster and cheaper than
Samsung’s similar T5 drive. Just make sure to
connect via a USB3.1 port to get the best performance.
CAPACITY 1TB • PRICE PER GIGABYTE £0.17p • INTERFACE USB3.1 • WARRANTY Three years
RTB • DETAILS www.pny.eu • PART CODE PSD0CS2060S-1TB-RB • FULL REVIEW Feb 2020
ADATA SD600Q 480GB
★★★★★
£68 • www.alternate.co.uk
Put aside your fears
ears
about external
SSDs being too
expensive compared to hard diskss
– this 480GB drive is excellent value,
lue,
and decently quick.
CAPACITY 480GB • COST PER GIGABYTE £0.14p • INTERFACE USB3 • CLAIMED READ 440MB/s
• CLAIMED WRITE 430MB/s • WARRANTY Three years RTB • DETAILS www.adata.com •
PART CODE ASD600Q-480GU31-CBL • FULL REVIEW Aug 2019
KINGSTON A2000 1TB
★★★★★
£160 • www.box.co.uk
The A2000’s
maximum
speeds don’t
look all that hot, but this SSD performs exceptionally well in
the kinds of non-sequential transfer tasks you’re more likely to
actually undertake in your day-to-day computing.
CAPACITY 1TB • COST PER GIGABYTE £0.16p • INTERFACE M.2/NVMe • CLAIMED READ
2,200MB/s • CLAIMED WRITE 2,000MB/s • WARRANTY Five years RTB • DETAILS
www.kingston.com • PART CODE SA2000M8/1000G • FULL REVIEW Dec 2019
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
Choosing an... AMD motherboard
01 As with Intel motherboards, you’ll
need to make sure you match an AMD
processor with a compatible motherboard.
motherboard’s PCI-E x16 slots. This also has
the benefit of providing a greater range of
video outputs to choose from.
slots. PCI-E x1 and x4 cards also work in
PCI-E x16 slots. If you need a lot of storage, a
motherboard with plenty of SATA2 and
This is relatively simple for AMD hardware, SATA3 ports is essential. SATA2 is fine for
as most of its recent chips use the same
AM4 socket, and the most recent second-
generation Ryzen processors are backwards-
03 Normal tower cases can accommodate
ATX motherboards, which provide the
most expansion slots. A microATX
optical drives and hard disks, but to make
the most of an SSD, you need SATA3.

compatible with first-generation chipsets,

such as the X370 and B350.
motherboard will let you build your PC in a
smaller case, but if you opt for a microATX
board, make sure it has all the features you
05 All motherboards have built-in audio
chipsets, but some support only 5.1
surround sound rather than 7.1. If you’re

02 Budget APU and a minority of Ryzen

processors have integrated graphics,
so to make use of this, ensure that your
motherboard comes with video outputs such
as DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort. For Ryzen
chips that lack integrated graphics, or if
you want more graphics power, install a
dedicated graphics card into one of your
need built in, as there won’t be much room
for expansion cards.
04 If you want to install lots of
expansion cards, look for a
motherboard that offers plenty of PCI and
PCI-E x1 slots. Some motherboards also
have PCI-E x4 slots and extra PCI-E x16
connecting to older surround-sound
amplifiers that don’t have HDMI, look for
an optical or coaxial S/PDIF output.
All motherboards have Ethernet ports and
most have the faster Gigabit version. You
may also find it useful to buy a board with
built-in Wi-Fi so you don’t have to use up a
USB port or PCI slot with an adaptor.

COMPONENTS
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X AMD Radeon RX 5700
0
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£450 • www.ebuyer.com £290 • shop.amd.com
Forget the Intel Core AMD’s 7nm GPU is cheaper er
i9-9900K – this 12-core than the GeForce RTX 2060 0
monster of a CPU performs far better and the RTX 2060 Super, yet is
for similar money. There is a drawback, in that it’s not very just as comfortable with gaming at 1080p and 1440p. This price
i onlyly
overclocking-friendly, but that’s partly because it’s so fast to begin seems to apply for the reference design rather than partner versions,
with. Pair it with some good RAM, and you’re already most of the but the blower-style cooler is the only real downside.
way to a capable home workstation.
GPU AMD Radeon RX 5700 • MEMORY 8GB GDDR6 • GRAPHICS CARD LENGTH 268mm •
SOCKET AM4 • CORES 12 • FREQUENCY 3.8GHz • INTEGRATED GRAPHICS None • WARRANTY Two WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.amd.com • PART CODE Radeon RX 5700 •
years RTB • DETAILS www.amd.com • PART CODE 100-100000023BOX • FULL REVIEW Nov 2019 FULL REVIEW Oct 2019

AMD Ryzen 7 3700X THERMALTAKE View 37

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£266 • www.amzn.to/2nFtHMC £120 • www.scan.co.uk
This octa-core chip has all A spacious, feature-rich chassis
the single-core strength of the for both ATX- and EATX-based
Ryzen 9 3900X, with mutlitasking builds, the View 37 comes with a
power that still puts it well beyond its Intel rivals. Low pricing and gull-wing side window that’s perfect for showing
power efficiency are additional highlights: the Ryzen 7 3700X only off your handiwork.
draws up to 65W, a tiny amount for this many cores.
CASE TYPE Mid-tower • MOTHERBOARD TYPE ATX, EATX, microATX, Mini-ITX • SUPPLIED
SOCKET AM4 • CORES 8 • FREQUENCY 3.6GHz • INTEGRATED GRAPHICS None • FANS 2x 140mm • MAX DRIVE BAYS 7x 3.5in, 11x 2.5in • DIMENSIONS 525x261x538mm •
WARRANTY Two years RTB • DETAILS www.amd.com • PART CODE 100-100000071BOX • WEIGHT 11.8kg • WARRANTY Three years RTB • DETAILS www.thermaltake.com •
FULL REVIEW Dec 2019 PART CODE CA-1J7-00M1WN-00 • FULL REVIEW Dec 2018

ASUS ROG Strix Flare MSI MPG Z390 Gaming

g Edge
g AC
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£97 • www.game.co.uk £140 • www.scan.co.uk
Besides being a From built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi
comfortable and and Bluetooth to high-end audio
dio
responsive gaming keyboard, connectivity, the MPG Z370 Gaming Edge
thanks to its reliable Cherry MX Red switches, the ROG Strix Flare AC is stuffed with features. Add in a good price, easy overclocking and
is loaded with useful features and extras: there’s a set of dedicated a well-designed BIOS, and it’s perfect for premium Intel-based builds.
media controls and a USB2 pass-through port, among others.
PROCESSOR SOCKET LGA1151 • DIMENSIONS 305x244mm • CHIPSET Intel Z390 • MEMORY
KEYBOARD SHAPE Full size • NUMBER PAD Yes • CONNECTION 1x USB2 • MEDIA KEYS Pause/ SLOTS 4 • PCI-E x16 SLOTS 3 • PCI-E x1 SLOTS 3 • PCI SLOTS 0 • USB PORTS 2x USB2, 2x USB3,
play, mute, skip, volume • USB PORTS 2x USB2 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www. 1x USB3.1, 1x USB Type-C • VIDEO OUTPUTS 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort • WARRANTY One year RTB
asus.com/uk • PART CODE 90MP000MO-BOEA00 • FULL REVIEW Oct 2019 • DETAILS www.msi.com • PART CODE MPG Z390 Gaming Edge AC • FULL REVIEW Apr 2019

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 51

 Choosing a... Custom PC spec
01 Building your own PC is often cheaper
than buying a pre-made system, and
gives full control over the components. You
don’t need any special computer knowledge:
just a few spare hours, a screwdriver and
your choice of parts. Even things such as
liquid-cooling systems can be found in
user-friendly, easy-to-install packages, and
for the most part it’s as simple as inserting
each component into a particular slot.
additional components you’ll want to install.
For systems with a lot of expansion cards
(such as graphics cards, sound cards or Wi-Fi
cards), it’s best to go with ATX motherboards
and larger. For simpler builds, microATX or
Mini-ITX boards could well provide all the
connectivity you need. Keep in mind, too,
that if you want to try overclocking, only
certain Intel chipsets will support it, such as
Z370 and Z390. AMD is more relaxed,
enabling overclocking on all its Ryzen-
06 Every PC requires RAM and a PSU.
Performance doesn’t vary much
between specific models, but generally you
should aim for 8GB of RAM for a basic build
and 16GB for higher-end systems, and at least
a 550W, Bronze-certified PSU. It’s better to
buy a higher-wattage PSU than you strictly
need, as it will allow you to add more
components in the future. Also, check which
RAM is compatible with your motherboard
before buying, although for all current

02 Arguably the most important

component is the CPU. These days
compatible chipsets, except A320 and A300. models it’s probably going to be DDR4.

you can get a quad-core chip even on a tight

budget, which should provide more than
enough brainpower for simple tasks such as
web browsing, but hexa-core and octa-core
chips are better for tougher jobs such as
media editing, gaming and content creation.
The CPU will also determine which
motherboards you can choose from.
Intel CPUs will only work with boards that
use an Intel chipset, like Z390, Z370 and
B360, while AMD processors need AMD
chipsets, such as X470 and B450.
04 While CPU integrated graphics will
suffice for everyday browsing, a
dedicated graphics card is essential for
high-quality gaming. These can be installed in
a PCI-E x16 slot on your motherboard, and
have the bonus of adding more display
outputs to use – just make sure the card
will fit inside your chosen case.
05 On the subject of cases, personal
taste will factor highly here: nobody
wants an ugly PC. That said, picking a chassis
with adequate space for components is vital.
07 Our recommended storage setup
comprises both an SSD and a larger
mechanical hard disk. By installing Windows
(and a few choice applications) on the SSD,
you can ensure fast booting and loading
times, while the HDD is a cost-effective way
of storing lots of files. Alternatively, you
could buy a hard disk, and then install an
Intel Optane Memory module to accelerate
its write speeds to SSD levels, although since
SSDs are barely more expensive than Optane
drives, this is perhaps better for situations
when you want to upgrade from an existing

03 When choosing a motherboard, think

about both the size of the PC’s
chassis (smaller cases won’t fit larger ATX or
EATX boards, for instance) and how many
As already mentioned, an ATX motherboard
likely won’t fit in a mini-tower case, and if
you want to install a lot of hard disks, you’ll
hard disk, rather than when you’re building a
whole new system. In the latter case, an SSD/
HDD combo is better all round. See page 58
need a case with sufficient drive bays. for our recommended storage drives.

BUDGET PCs
AMD Athlon 3000G ASROCK Fatal1ty AB350
350
★★★★★ Gaming-ITX/ac
£44 • www.scan.co.uk ★★★★★
All eyes have been on
Ryzen recently, but the
£99 • www.cclonline.com
Athlon 3000G is a nifty 50 makes
Tiny it may be, but the AB350 k th the
little dual-core chip: it has integrated most of what space it has available. Multiple display
graphics, ideal for basic builds, and unlike most outputs, a rear-mounted M.2 port and onboard Wi-Fi
budget CPUs, it’s unlocked for overclocking. It’s not tremendously mean it almost has the specs of a respectable ATX model.
fast, relatively speaking, but for this little cash, it’s a terrific deal.
PROCESSOR SOCKET AM4 • DIMENSIONS 170x170mm • CHIPSET AMD B350 • MEMORY
SOCKET AM4 • CORES 2 • FREQUENCY 3.5GHz • INTEGRATED GRAPHICS AMD Radeon RX SLOTS 2 • PCI-E X16 SLOTS 1 • PCI-E X1 SLOTS 0 • PCI SLOTS 0 • USB PORTS 2x USB2, 2x USB3,
Vega 3 • WARRANTY Two years RTB • DETAILS www.amd.com • PART CODE YD3000C6FHBOX • 1x USB Type-C • VIDEO OUTPUTS 2x HDMI • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.asrock.
FULL REVIEW Mar 2020 com • PART CODE 90-MXB5P0-A0UAYZ • FULL REVIEW Jul 2018

SILVERSTONE ASUS ROG Strix RX 570 OC

Precision Series PS15 ★★★★★
★★★★★
£120 • www.ebuyer.com
£40 • www.scan.co.uk Although this is
an older GPU, it’s
As long as you work within its limit as cheaper than a
a microATX chassis, the PS15 is a lot of the more recent ‘budget’
great fit for budget builds. Despite costing a pittance, cards and, crucially, more powerful,
it’s well designed and can take a multitude of fans and radiators, so too. It therefore comes highly
all-in-one watercooling is a possibility for future upgrades. recommended if you want to take a step up from
integrated graphics without having to spend much.
CASE TYPE Mini tower • MOTHERBOARD TYPE MicroATX, Mini-ITX • SUPPLIED FANS 1x 120mm
• MAXIMUM DRIVE BAYS 1x 3.5in, 3x 2.5in • DIMENSIONS 381x192x351mm • WEIGHT 3.5kg • GPU AMD Radeon RX 570 • MEMORY 4GB GDDR5 • GRAPHICS CARD LENGTH 240mm •
WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.silverstonetk.com • PART CODE SST-PS15B-G • WARRANTY Two years repair and replace • DETAILS www.asus.com •
FULL REVIEW Aug 2019 PART CODE ROG-STRIX-RX570-O4G-GAMING • FULL REVIEW Jan 2020

52 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

 MID-RANGE PCs
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X ASROCK B450 Pro4
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£141 • www.amzn.to/2JvaEyC £76 • www.scan.co.uk
AMD’s second generation Buying an affordable
of Ryzen processors gets motherboard doesn’t mean an
off to an auspicious start having to settle for basic features or
features,
with the mighty Ryzen 7 2700X. It’s faster even a smaller form factor. The B450 Pro4 is an ATX board with dual
than Intel’s equivalent Core i7-8700K at stock M.2 slots, USB Type-C connectivity and overclocking compatibility, so
speeds, despite being cheaper, and temperatures stay nice and it’s a good match for all-rounder, AMD-based desktops.
low even when overclocking.
PROCESSOR SOCKET AM4 • DIMENSIONS 305x224mm • CHIPSET AMD B450 • MEMORY SLOTS
SOCKET AM4 • CORES 8 • FREQUENCY 3.7GHz • INTEGRATED GRAPHICS None • 4 • PCI-E x16 SLOTS 2 • PCI-E x1 SLOTS 4 • PCI SLOTS 0 • USB PORTS 2x USB2, 4x USB3, 1x
WARRANTY Two years RTB • DETAILS www.amd.com • PART CODE YD270XBGAFBOX • USB3.1, 1x USB Type-C • VIDEO OUTPUTS 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 1x VGA • WARRANTY One year
FULL REVIEW Aug 2018 RTB • DETAILS www.asrock.com • PART CODE 90-MXB8B0-A0UAYZ • FULL REVIEW Mar 2020

700
AMD Radeon RX 5700 COOLER MASTER MasterBox K500
★★★★★
★★★★★
£290 • shop.amd.com £75 • www.scan.co.uk
Great looks, a full set of
AMD’s 7nm GPU is pre-installed fans, high build
cheaper than both thehe quality and a spacious interior:
GeForce RTX 2060 and d the MasterBox K500 is a commendable
the RTX 2060 Super, yet is just as comfortable
omfortable all-rounder. It’s not the best on storage capacity,
with gaming at 1080p and 1440p. This low price onlyl seems to but you can still add at least a couple of SSDs
apply for the reference design rather than partner versions, but the and hard disks each.
blower-style cooler is the only real downside.
CASE TYPE Mid-tower • MOTHERBOARD TYPE ATX, microATX,
Mini-ITX • SUPPLIED FANS 3x 120mm • MAX DRIVE BAYS 3x 3.5in,
GPU AMD Radeon RX 5700 • MEMORY 8GB GDDR6 • GRAPHICS CARD LENGTH 268mm • 2x 2.5in • DIMENSIONS 260xx190x280mm • WEIGHT 6.2kg •
WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.amd.com/uk • PART CODE Radeon RX 5700 • WARRANTY Two years RTB • DETAILS www.coolermaster.com •
FULL REVIEW Oct 2019 PART CODE MCB-K500D-KGNN-S00 • FULL REVIEW Jan 2019

PREMIUM PCs
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X ASUS ROG Strix Flare
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£450 • www.ebuyer.com £97 • www.game.co.uk
Forget the Intel Core Besides being a
i9-9900K – this 12-core comfortable and
monster of a CPU performs far responsive gaming
better for similar money. There is a drawback, in that it’s keyboard, largely thanks to its always-reliable Cherry MX
not very overclocking-friendly, but that’s partly because it’s so fast to Red switches, the ROG Strix Flare is loaded with useful features and
begin with. Pair it with some good RAM, and you’re already most of cool extras: there’s a set of dedicated media controls and a USB2
the way to a capable home workstation. pass-through port, among others.

SOCKET AM4 • CORES 12 • FREQUENCY 3.8GHz • INTEGRATED GRAPHICS None • KEYBOARD SHAPE Full size • NUMBER PAD Yes • CONNECTION 2xUSB2 • MEDIA KEYS Pause/
WARRANTY Two years RTB • DETAILS www.amd.com • PART CODE 100-100000023BOX • play, mute, skip, volume • USB PORTS 2x USB2 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.asus.
FULL REVIEW Nov 2019 com/uk • PART CODE 90MP000MO-BOEA00 • FULL REVIEW Oct 2 2019

THERMALTAKE View 37 AMD Radeon RX

X 5700 XT
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£120 • www.scan.co.uk £329 • shop.amd.com
A spacious, feature-rich The standard
chassis for both ATX- and RX 5700 is
EATX-based builds, the View better value forr
37 comes with a gull-wing side window that’s lower resolutions, but if you
perfect for showing off your handiwork. want to play at 4K without thee
expense of Nvidia’s top RTX graphics
raphics
CASE TYPE Mid-tower • MOTHERBOARD TYPE ATX, EATX,
cards, the RX 5700 XT’s higher core count and
microATX, Mini-ITX • SUPPLIED FANS 2x 140mm • MAXIMUM clock speeds make it a great choice.
DRIVE BAYS 7x 3.5in, 11x 2.5in • DIMENSIONS 525x261x538mm •
WEIGHT 11.8kg • WARRANTY Three years RTB • DETAILS www. GPU AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT • MEMORY 8GB GDDR6 • GRAPHICS CARD LENGTH 272mm •
thermaltake.com • PART CODE CA-1J7-00M1WN-00 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.amd.com/uk • PART CODE Radeon RX 5700 XT •
FULL REVIEW Dec 2018 FULL REVIEW Oct 2019

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 53

 Choosing a... Display
01 A basic 24in LCD monitor costs
around £100. It will be fine for typical
Windows work but is likely to have poor
Many DVI and all HDMI connections
support HDCP, which lets you watch
protected video content, such as Blu-ray
cable or either HDMI or DisplayPort to use a
monitor at these resolutions.

viewing angles, so you’ll need to sit straight

on for the best picture quality. Its colour
accuracy may not be very good, either.
movies. DisplayPort is becoming more
popular, but you’ll need a graphics card with
a DisplayPort output (mini or full-size) to
04 If you want better picture quality,
look for a monitor with a high
contrast ratio. The higher the ratio, the
use this input on your monitor. whiter the whites and the blacker the blacks.

02 A VGA input lets you use the monitor

with any PC, but the quality may not
be as good as it is over DVI or HDMI. Both
are digital connections and require a
compatible graphics card but they avoid the
need for digital-to-analogue or analogue-to-
digital conversions, which can reduce image
quality. A digital connection achieves the
best picture automatically, so you won’t have
to adjust clock or phase settings as you do
with analogue connections.
03 A larger monitor will be easier on the
eye and may have a higher resolution.
Most monitors have a resolution of at least
1,920x1,080 (1080p), which provides lots of
room for working with multiple windows at
the same time. For even higher resolutions,
you’ll need a larger display. Some 27in and
30in screens have 2,560x1,600 or even 4K
resolutions. You’ll need a graphics card with
a dual-link DVI output and a dual-link DVI
You’ll also be able to see more fine detail in
images with high contrast levels. Viewing
angles are important, as wider angles mean
you don’t have to sit directly in front of the
monitor to get the best picture. Wider
viewing angles also allow more people to
view the screen at the same time.
Fast response times reduce ghosting,
but don’t be dazzled by the numbers. A
response time of 25ms or quicker is fine
for all applications.

DISPLAYS
LG 34GK950F LENOVO
★★★★★
£1,000 • www.overclockers.co.uk ThinkVision M14
★★★★★
LG’s curved £205 • www.ebuyer.com
ultrawide monitor
is as versatile as it With the ThinkVision M14, portable USB Type-C
is vibrant. HDR is supported (if only to the DisplayHDR 400 standard), monitors finally reach maturity. It’s razor-thin, has an
colours are accurate, and both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync can adjustable hinge instead of a fixed angle, and its IPS
smooth out games. panel is leagues ahead of the competition.
SCREEN SIZE 34in • RESOLUTION 3,440x1,440 • REFRESH RATE 144Hz • SCREEN TECHNOLOGY SCREEN SIZE 14in • RESOLUTION 1,920x1,080 • SCREEN TECHNOLOGY IPS • VIDEO INPUTS
IPS • VIDEO INPUTS HDMI, DisplayPort • WARRANTY Three years collect and return • DETAILS USB Type-C • WARRANTY Three years RTB • DETAILS www.lenovo.com • PART CODE
www.lg.com • FULL REVIEW Jun 2019 D18140FX0 • FULL REVIEW Mar 2020

EIZO ColorEdge CG279X AOC CQ32G1

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£1,692 • www.wexphotovideo.com £310 • www.ballicom.co.uk
This professional-quality AOC has a habit of
monitor benefits from making great-value,
automatic calibration, large-screened VA monitors,ors,
y
ensuring practically perfect colour accuracy and the CQ32G1 is another to add to the list.
st A 144Hz gaming display
and wide coverage of the sRGB, DCI-P and Adobe RGB gamuts. first and foremost, it’s as fast and good-looking as it needs to be, and
It’s a worthwhile investment for editing photos and videos. supports both AMD FreeSync and, unofficially, Nvidia G-Sync.
SCREEN SIZE 27in • RESOLUTION 2,560x1,440 • SCREEN TECHNOLOGY IPS • REFRESH RATE SCREEN SIZE 31.5in • RESOLUTION 2,560x1,440 • SCREEN TECHNOLOGY VA • REFRESH RATE
60Hz • VIDEO INPUTS VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, USB Type-C • WARRANTY Five years RTB • 144Hz • VIDEO INPUTS HDMI, DisplayPort • WARRANTY One year repair and replace • DETAILS
DETAILS www.eizoglobal.cpm • FULL REVIEW Jun 2019 eu.aoc.com • FULL REVIEW Nov 2019

ACER Nitro VG270UP IIYAMA ProLite XUB2792UHSU

92UHSU
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£350 • uk-store.acer.com £380 • www.scan.co.uk
A great all-round gaming If you don’t need all the bells
monitor without the premium and whistles of a curved
price. Both FreeSync and ultrawide, the ProLite
G-Sync are supported, and the IPS panel combines a 144Hz refresh XUB2792UHSU nails the basics at a very
rate with vibrant colours, high accuracy and the kind of attractive price. 4K sharpness, high brightness and
responsiveness you’d normally only get from a TN panel. full sRGB colour gamut coverage add up to a superb monitor.
SCREEN SIZE 27in • RESOLUTION 2,560x1,440 • SCREEN TECHNOLOGY IPS • REFRESH RATE SCREEN SIZE 27in • RESOLUTION 3,840x2,160 • SCREEN TECHNOLOGY IPS • REFRESH RATE
144Hz • VIDEO INPUTS HDMI, DisplayPort • WARRANTY Two years RTB • DETAILS www.acer. 60Hz • VIDEO INPUTS DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI • WARRANTY Three years onsite • DETAILS
com • FULL REVIEW Dec 2019 www.iiyama.com • FULL REVIEW Nov 2019

54 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

Choosing an... Inkjet printer
01 You should be able to buy a decent
inkjet printer for less than £40.
High-quality printing is possible on such a
03 If photos are your priority, speed is
less important. Choose a printer that
reproduces subtle tones well. You can’t
sided) printing or A3 capabilities are now
much more affordable.

printer, but it will be slow. The actual print

speed of an inkjet can be half the quoted
(maximum) speed for text documents,
and even slower when printing graphics.
Budget inkjet printers such as these are
designed only for light use and can be
expensive to run.
determine this by looking at the
specifications – only hands-on testing will
do, so remember to check our reviews
05
before you buy.
Borderless printing (up to the edge of
the paper) should also be possible. Pay
particular attention to running costs:
photos use three times as much ink as
Pricier photo printers let you print
from memory cards plugged straight
into the printer, so you don’t need to use a
PC. An LCD preview screen offers greater
control for this method of printing. Many
inkjet printers now have a PictBridge USB
port, which you can use to print images
directly from most digital cameras.

02 For £80 to £90 you can buy a more

capable printer that’s either faster and
regular colour documents.

06 If you’re really serious about

better built or better at reproducing photos.
If documents are your priority, you’ll want a
high minimum speed and low print costs.
04
Look for inkjets that can handle all your
office media, such as envelopes and labels.
Heavy-duty office inkjets can cost
up to £1,000 and their build quality
is improving. They use large individual ink
tanks, which can cut running costs.
Printers with automatic duplex (double-
photography, consider buying an
inkjet that can produce borderless prints
up to A3 size. The best devices can print
photos that look nearly as good as those
from professional labs.

PRINTERS & SCANNERS

EPSON WorkForce NEW
ENTRY
EPSON EcoTank ET-M3180
★★★★★
WF-110W £396 • www.printerland.co.uk
★★★★★
£189 • www.amzn.to/38A3dyz If you need to pump out
black-and-white documents, the
Low speeds and high running ET-M3180 is a great alternative
costs are usually a ruinous combination, but the to a bulky laser MFP. This ADF-equipped printer
WF-110W makes up for its shortcomings with a and scanner is impressively fast and, like the rest of the EcoTank
nicely portable design and high print quality. range, has incredibly low per-page running costs.
TECHNOLOGY Piezo inkjet • MAXIMUM PRINT RESOLUTION 5,760x1,440dpi • DIMENSIONS TECHNOLOGY Piezo inkjet • MAXIMUM PRINT RESOLUTION 2,400x1,200dpi • DIMENSIONS
61x309x159mm • WEIGHT 1.6kg • MAXIMUM PAPER SIZE A4/legal • WARRANTY One year RTB • 375x347x346mm • WEIGHT 7.2kg • MAXIMUM PAPER SIZE A4/legal • WARRANTY Three years
DETAILS www.epson.co.uk • PART CODE C11CH25401DA • FULL REVIEW Apr 2020 onsite • DETAILS www.epson.co.uk • PART CODE C11CG93402BY
02BY • FULL REVIEW Nov 2019

EPSON Expression Photo XP-8600 CANON Pixma TS205

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£100 • www.amzn.to/2WNU54e £30 • www.ebuyer.com
The Expression Photo It has a basic feature set
XP-8600 focuses on and isn’t very fast, but
creative use, and does the Pixma TS205’s print
a great job of it, too. At this kind of quality makes it a bargain. Replacement ink k
price, nothing else comes close on the quality of printed photos. cartridges are the biggest expense, but
that’s fine if you’re only printing at home occasionally.
ccasionally.
TECHNOLOGY Piezo inkjet • MAXIMUM PRINT RESOLUTION 5,760x1,440dpi • SCANNER
RESOLUTION 1,200x4,800dpi • DIMENSIONS 142x349x340mm • WEIGHT 6.7kg • MAXIMUM TECHNOLOGY Thermal inkjet • MAXIMUM PRINT RESOLUTION 4,800x1,200dpi • DIMENSIONS
PAPER SIZE A4/legal • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.epson.co.uk • PART CODE 131x426x255mm • WEIGHT 2.5kg • MAXIMUM PAPER SIZE A4/legal • WARRANTY One year RTB
C11CH47401 • FULL REVIEW Jan 2020 • DETAILS www.canon.co.uk • PART CODE 2319C008 • FULL REVIEW Sep 2019

CANON imageFormula EPSON EcoTank ET-7750

DR-C230 ★★★★★
£549 • www.wexphotovideo.com
★★★★★
£275 • www.ebuyer.com Like all EcoTank MFPs, the
This sheet-fed document scanner er ET-7750 offsets its high
is perfect for getting through stacks
k off d
documents price with low running
without having to manually scan each page. It’s costs, and this specific model delivers sharp,
pleasantly fast and pairs with Canon’s powerful CaptureOnTouch Pro solid colours that suit photo printing well.
software, which does a fine job of processing your scans.
TECHNOLOGY Piezo inkjet • MAXIMUM PRINT RESOLUTION 5,760x1,440 •
TECHNOLOGY Dual CIS sheet-fed scanner • SCANNER RESOLUTION 600x600dpi • DIMENSIONS SCANNER RESOLUTION 1,200x2,400dpi • DIMENSIONS 168x526x415mm • WEIGHT 10.5kg •
231x291x530mm • WEIGHT 2.8kg • MAXIMUM PAPER SIZE A4/legal • WARRANTY One year RTB MAXIMUM PAPER SIZE A3 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.epson.co.uk •
• DETAILS www.canon.co.uk • PART CODE 2646C003 • FULL REVIEW Feb 2018 PART CODE C11CG16401CE • FULL REVIEW Sep 2018

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 55

 Choosing a... Wireless router
01 Wireless routers each use a number
of Wi-Fi standards, so you shouldn’t
have any trouble connecting your computer
or phone wirelessly if you get an 802.11n or
802.11ac router. Nearly all routers support
802.11n, so even a cheap model should
provide decent performance.
You can expect a transfer speed of around
40Mbit/s at a distance of 10m from any
modern 802.11n router. The very latest
routers use the 802.11ac standard, which
provides tremendously fast transfer
speeds. Some devices still don’t support
the 802.11ac standard, so check the
specifications before you buy.
a wireless router that has a built-in ADSL
modem. This will cost more than the
equivalent cable router, but it allows you
to connect your router directly to your
broadband connection without having to
use a separate modem.
03 Most 802.11n wireless routers use
the 2.4GHz frequency band. This has
good range but it can be prone to
interference if it’s positioned close to a lot
of other 2.4GHz devices, such as other
routers and baby monitors. If you have
trouble getting a consistent signal or you
want faster speeds for video streaming, for
example, it’s worth buying a dual-band
Alternatively, a high-gain antenna can
boost signals and improve ranges and
throughputs to the entire house. You can
also add a high-gain antenna to a PC’s
network adaptor. If wired network speeds
are a priority, you should look for a router
with a Gigabit Ethernet connection.
04 Many routers come with built-in USB
ports that let you connect a USB drive
and use the router as a network storage
device. If you want to share a USB printer
over your network, look for a wireless router
that has a USB print server.
Finally, if you’re interested in making voice
calls over the internet, buy a router with

02 If you subscribe to an ADSL

broadband service, you should buy
router that can use both the 2.4GHz and
5GHz bands.
built-in VoIP support (and phone sockets)
because this can save you money.

NETWORKS
BT Complete TP-LINK Archer C5400
400
★★★★★
Wi-Fi £254 • www.amzn.to/2woYJMV
★★★★★
£5 per month • www.bt.com Although this isn’t
There are the fastest £200-plus
better-featured
ed
d router, it’s still speedy,
l bl b
mesh systems available, h Complete
but the l Wi-Fi is and comes with an impressive array of
decently quick on both the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands, and is well features, from parental controls and
worth it for BT Plus customers in particular. filters to BT YouView support and smart home integration.
WI-FI STANDARD 802.11ac • STATED SPEED 1,733Mbit/s (5GHz), 385Mbit/s (2.4GHz) • MODEM Gigabit Ethernet • WI-FI STANDARD 802.11ac • STATED SPEED 2x 2,167Mbit/s (5GHz),
USB PORTS 1 • WALL MOUNTABLE No • WARRANTY Under rental contract
c • 2x 1,000MBit/s (2.4GHz) • USB PORTS 1x USB2, 1x USB3 • WALL MOUNTABLE Yes •
PART CODE BT Complete Wi-Fi • FULL REVIEW Mar 2019 WARRANTY One year RTB • PART CODE C5400 • FULL REVIEW May 2018

YUBICO YubiKey 5 NFC wk AX8

NETGEAR Nighthawk
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£37 • www.yubico.com £280 • www.scan.co.uk
Like the YubiKey 4 If you want to get
before it, this USB stick in early on Wi-Fi
conveniently stores all the cryptographic
raphic 6/802.11ax, this is a
data you need to add two-factor authentication to a PC or good router to do it with. It’s no more
laptop; and this time, there’s NFC, allowing you to use it with difficult to set up than an 802.11ac
mobile devices via a single tap. model, but successfuly delivers the newer
ewer standard’s higherr spe
speeds.
eds.
eds
d
USB TYPE Type-A • OS SUPPORT Windows 10, macOS, iOS 11 and later, Android • MODEM Gigabit Ethernet • WI-FI STANDARD 802.11ax
ax • STATED SPEED 4,800Mbit/s (5GHz),
WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.yubico.com • PART CODE YubiKey 5 NFC • 1,200Mbit/s (2.4GHz) • USB PORTS 2 • WALL MOUNTABLE Yes • WARRANTY Two years RTB •
FULL REVIEW Apr 2019 DETAILS www.netgear.com • PART CODE RAX80 • FULL REVIEW Jan 2020

D-LINK DIR-1960 NETGEAR Orbi Outdoor RBS50Y

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£104 • uk.insight.com £250 • www.amzn.to/2MZg5YB
The DIR-1960 is a simple This weatherproof Wi-Fi extender
yet speedy router that cann is a perfect addition to mesh
optionally be turned into a systems that can’t quite cover a
mesh system (provided you buy the additional onal garden. It has similar internal specfications to the
satellites, of course). Either way, you can also take brilliant Orbi RBK50, meaning high speeds and
advantage of built-in Alexa and Google Assistant controls. reliable connections.
MODEM Gigabit Ethernet • WI-FI STANDARD 802.11ac • STATED SPEED 1,300Mbit/s (5GHz), WI-FI STANDARD 802.11ac • STATED SPEED 1x 866Mbit/s (5GHz) 1x 1,733Mbit/s (5GHz),
600Mbit/s (2.4GHz) • USB PORTS 1x USB2 • WALL MOUNTABLE Yes • WARRANTY Two years 1x 400Mbit/s (2.4GHz) • USB PORTS 0 • WALL MOUNTABLE Yes • WARRANTY Two years RTB •
RTB • DETAILS wwww.d-link.com • PART CODE DIR-1960 • FULL REVIEW Nov 2019 DETAILS www.netgear.co.uk • PART CODE RBS50Y • FULL REVIEW Jul 2019

56 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

Choosing a... Smart thermostat
01 A smart thermostat can save you a
lot of money by intelligently
controlling your heating.
02 Want smart hot water control?
If you want to remotely set
schedules and disable hot water while
This option is more expensive to install but
will provide you with greater savings.

Most smart heating devices are designed

to be used with hot water central heating
systems, with the boiler directly controlled
by the system. These typically require a relay
to be wired into your boiler, with a wireless
thermostat giving you direct control.
Smartphone apps then tie into the system to
give you remote control. While it’s possible
to fit controls yourself, you may want to pay
an experienced plumber to do the job: expect
to pay around £150 for a typical installation.
If you have electric heating, there are
very few choices, and the big names (Nest,
Honeywell and so on) do not directly
support these systems.
you’re away, choose your smart system
carefully, as many don’t have this option.
Hot water control usually requires a second
04 Do you use a smart personal
assistant? Make sure that your smart
thermostat supports the one that you use.
relay to be wired into the boiler. Amazon Alexa, powered by the Echo and
Echo Dot, is the best-supported system;
03 What kind of heating system do
you want? There are two main
choices: a central system and one with
Apple’s HomeKit, powered by Siri, isn’t so
well supported; Google Assistant, built into
Google Home, is just gaining traction and
individual radiator controls. The former supports Nest only.
replaces your existing thermostat, and
lets you set one temperature for your
entire house. The latter requires each
radiator valve to be replaced with a
05 If you want your smart heating
system to do more, look for IFTTT
support. With this handy system, you can set
smart valve so that each room and automatic rules, such as turning the heating
radiator can have its own individual control. off if the outside temperature rises.

SMART HOME
AMAZON Echo Dot with Clock NEST Cam IQ Outdoor
door
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£60 • www.amzn.to/2LLc9aG £329 • www.johnlewis.com
This is literally ‘just’ an sive
While this is an expensive
Echo Dot 3rd Generation ld Nest
replacement for the old
with an added LCD clock, Cam Outdoor, its image
ge quality
but considering it’s no more expensive ognition
is without equal. Facial and sound recognition
and offers the same combination of capable speaker and versatile have also been improved, and it’s now much
smart home controller, that’s absolutely nothing to complain about. era from its mount
harder for thieves to remove the camera mount.
DRIVERS 1 • RMS POWER OUTPUT Not stated • WEIGHT 300g • NETWORKING Bluetooth, VIDEO RESOLUTION 4K sensor, 1080p recording • CLOUD STORAGE Yes (subscription required) •
802.11n • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.amazon.co.uk • PART CODE Echo Dot with NETWORKING 802.11ac • WARRANTY One year RTB • PART CODE Nest Cam IQ Outdoor •
Clock • FULL REVIEW Feb 2020 FULL REVIEW Jul 2018

TADO Smart Thermostat NEOS Smartcam

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£99 • www.amzn.to/2ZxwIfZ £20 • shop.neos.co.uk
A flexible and stylish-looking mendous
The Smartcam is a tremendous
smart heating system, the Tado bargain of an indoor security
curity
Smart Thermostat distinguishes camera. In many ways, it’s not all
itself with a clever geolocation feature that turns on your that advanced – footage is only shot at up to
heating when you enter a room and switches it off, saving 15fps, for instance – but the 1080p resolution,
olution,
money, when you leave. night-vision mode and free cloud storage ge make
mak
ake
ke
for a nifty little package.
REMOTE THERMOSTAT Yes • HOT WATER SUPPORT Yes • INDIVIDUAL RADIATOR CONTROL
Yes • VOICE ASSISTANT SUPPORT Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri • APPS iOS, Android and web • VIDEO RESOLUTION 1080p • CLOUD STORAGE Yes (free)
ee) • NETWORKING 802.11n
802 11n •
FULL REVIEW Jan 2018 WARRANTY One year RTB • PART CODE NS-CAM-02 • FULL REVIEW Jun 2019

GOOGLE Nest Hub Max RING Indoor Cam NEW

ENTRY
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£219 • store.google.com £49 • www.amzn.to/2P1RbGj
Besides the addition of a The Indoor Cam doesn’t just
camera – which can be capture very high-quality footage
age
turned off – this is mainly
y for the money. With its Modes
just a larger Google Home Hub. Luckily, feature, you can easily activate the camera whenn
that also means it’s a fantastic smart you leave home and deactivate it when you return.
urn.
display, with a higher resolution and better-sounding speaker. It’s a smart blend of security and privacy.
DRIVERS 3 • RMS POWER OUTPUT Not stated • DOCK CONNECTOR None • WIRELESS 802.11ac
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 • DIMENSIONS 183x250x101mm • WEIGHT 1.3kg • WARRANTY One year VIDEO RESOLUTION 1080p • CLOUD STORAGE Yes • NETWORKING NG 802.11n • WARRANTY
Y One
RTB • PART CODE Nest Hub Max • FULL REVIEW Jan 2020 year RTB • PART CODE Ring Indoor Cam • FULL REVIEW Apr 2020
0

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 57

 Choosing a... Smartphone
01 A smartphone’s operating system
(OS) dictates its basic features and
which third-party software you can install.
and watch Full HD videos. Don’t worry too
much about built-in media players or Office
document editors; you can always install apps
a variety of custom onscreen keyboards so
you can find one that suits you.

There are three main contenders: Apple’s

iOS, which is found on the iPhone, Google’s
Android, which is used by various handset
manufacturers, and Windows Phone, which
has few options, especially since Microsoft
has discontinued support for its OS.
Apple iOS and Google Android both have
thousands of apps available.
to replace these with better versions later.
The image quality of smartphone
cameras has improved tremendously in
recent years, and resolutions have
increased to as high as 20 megapixels.
03 Very few modern smartphones have
a physical keyboard for entering text;
they almost exclusively use touchscreens
04 Be careful when choosing a contract.
Look for one that includes a large data
allowance if you want to use the internet
regularly or you’ve set your phone to
synchronise your contacts, calendar and
email through online services.
Built-in Wi-Fi can help you avoid high data
charges by connecting to the internet
through wireless hotspots when you’re out,

02 All smartphones have colour screens,

but their resolutions vary. Basic models
have 1,280x720 pixels, but text can be
indistinct. Look for a display that has at least
1,920x1,080 pixels so it’s easier to read text
now. Physical keyboards can aid heavy
emailing, but today’s touchscreen
keyboards work just as well.
Android smartphones and iPhones
running iOS 9 or above allow you to install
or your router when you’re at home. Android
and iPhone handsets can operate as wireless
hotspots, letting you connect your laptop to
the web over your mobile data connection.
There may be an extra charge for this.

SMARTPHONES
MOTOROLA Moto G7 Power SAMSUNG Galaxy S10+
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£160 SIM-free; £14-per-month contract • £699 SIM-free; £49 up front plus £42-per-month
www.carphonewarehouse.com •
contract www.amzn.to/2E8ImVE (SIM-free);
There’s no shortage of Moto G7 variants www.carphonewarehouse.com (contract)
to choose from, but the Moto G7 Power The dazzling 3K display dominates a
is easily the best value. It focuses on sleek, luxurious-feeling design, while the
battery life and is thus one of the longest-lasting Exynos 9820 processor delivers some of
smartphones ever - and its performance, display and rear the fastest raw performance on any Android handset, ever.
camera are all rather good for the price, too.
PROCESSOR Octa-core 2.7GHz Samsung Exynos 9820 • SCREEN SIZE 6.4in • SCREEN
PROCESSOR Octa-core 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 • SCREEN SIZE 6.2in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 3,040x1,440 • REAR CAMERAS 12 mgeapixels, 12 megapixels, 16 megapixels •
RESOLUTION 1,520x720 • REAR CAMERA 12 megapixels • STORAGE 32GB • WIRELESS DATA 4G • NFC STORAGE 128GB • WIRELESS DATA 4G • NFC Yes • DIMENSIONS 158x74x7.8mm • WEIGHT 175g •
No • DIMENSIONS 159x76x9.3mm • WEIGHT 193g • OPERATING SYSTEM Android 9.0 • WARRANTY OPERATING SYSTEM Android 9.0 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS wwww.samsung.com •
One year RTB • DETAILS www.motorola.co.uk • PART CODE PAE90019GB • FULL REVIEW Jun 2019 PART CODE SM-G975FZKDBTU • FULL REVIEW Jul 2019

VODAFONE Smart V10 GOOGLE Pixel 3a

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£105 SIM-free; £20-per-month contract • £299 SIM-free; £15-per-month contract •
www.vodafone.co.uk www.carphonewarehouse.com
Vodafone’s budget handset will surprise The Pixel 3a is a welcome return to
you: for something that barely costs more mid-range smartphones on Google’s
than £100 to buy outright, it’s rather part. It’s essentially a cheaper version of
speedy and has a main camera than can compete with the flagship Pixel 3, which means a bit less horsepower
mid-rangers. The slim-bezel look is very welcome, too. but the same clean, stock Android and superb camera.
PROCESSOR Quad-core 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 429 • SCREEN SIZE 5.9in • SCREEN PROCESSOR Quad-core 2.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 • SCREEN SIZE 5.5in •
RESOLUTION 1,560x720 • REAR CAMERAS 13 megapixels, 5 megapixels • STORAGE 32GB • SCREEN RESOLUTION 2,160x1,080 • REAR CAMERA 12.2 megapixels • STORAGE 64GB •
WIRELESS DATA 4G • NFC No • DIMENSIONS 151x70x8.2mm • WEIGHT 145g • OPERATING WIRELESS DATA 4G • NFC Yes • DIMENSIONS 146x68x7.9mm • WEIGHT 148g • OPERATING
SYSTEM Android 9.0 • WARRANTY Two years RTB • DETAILS www.www.vodafone.co.uk • SYSTEM Android 9.0 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS store.google.com • PART CODE
PART CODE Smart V10 • FULL REVIEW Oct 2019 Pixel 3 • FULL REVIEW Aug 2019

SAMSUNG Galaxy Note 10+ APPLE iPhone 11

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£745 SIM-free; £57-per-month contract • £729 SIM-free; £9 up front plus £49-per-month
www.carphonewarehouse.com (SIM-free); •
contract www.apple.com/uk (SIM-free);
www.tescomobile.com (contract) www.carphonewarehouse.com (contract)
From its cameras to its display, everything The standard iPhone 11 is a slick
about the Note 10+ drips with ultra- and powerful smartphone. It has
premium quality. It’s quite possibly the the same class-leading A13 Bionic
best Android phone on the market, albeit at a steep cost. chip as the iPhone 11 Pro, while costing hundreds of pounds less.
PROCESSOR Octa-core 2.4GHz Samsung Exynos 9825 • SCREEN SIZE 6.8in • SCREEN PROCESSOR Hexa-core 2.65GHz Apple A13 Bionic • SCREEN SIZE 6.1in • SCREEN RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION 3,040x1,440 • REAR CAMERAS 12 megapixels, 16 megapixels, 12 megapixels • 1,792x828 • REAR CAMERAS 12 megapixels, 12 megapixels • STORAGE 64GB • WIRELESS DATA 4G
STORAGE 256GB • WIRELESS DATA 4G • NFC Yes • DIMENSIONS 162x77x7.9mm • WEIGHT 196g • NFC Yes • DIMENSIONS 151x76x8.3mm • WEIGHT 194g • OPERATING SYSTEM iOS 13 •
• OPERATING SYSTEM Android 9.0 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.samsung.com/ WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.apple.com/uk • PART CODE iPhone 11 • FULL REVIEW
uk • PART CODE SM-N975FZSDBTU • FULL REVIEW Dec 2019 Mar 2020

58 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

Choosing a... Tablet
01 All tablets rely on an operating system
(OS) to run apps. You have three main
choices: Apple’s iOS, which runs on the iPad;
Android, which Google licenses to various
manufacturers; and Windows 10, which has
become common in hybrid tablets and
convertibles. If you own an Apple or Google
smartphone, you can download your apps,
music and so on to a tablet that runs the
same OS, so it makes sense to stick with a
compatible device.
starting to see tablets that have even higher
screen resolutions. Some are as high as
2,560x1,600 or even 4K. Entry-level tablets
04 Tablets rarely include a SIM card
slot. This means you’ll have to rely
on Wi-Fi to get online, although some
typically use TN panels, which don’t have tablets let you access the internet through
particularly good viewing angles. The viewing your smartphone. If you want mobile access
angles of IPS panels are much better. to the internet, look for 3G- and 4G-ready
devices. These almost always cost more
03 If you want to listen to music, watch
films and play games, make sure your
tablet has plenty of storage. Many tablets
than Wi-Fi-only models, but they’re great
if you use your tablet while commuting
or travelling.
come with 8GB or 16GB of internal storage,

02 It’s important to pick a tablet that has

a good-quality, high-resolution screen.
Many budget tablets have 1,280x800-
resolution displays, but better tablets have
Full HD 1,920x1,080 panels, and we’re
although some budget models have less.
You’ll typically pay more for a higher storage
capacity. Many tablets also have microSD
slots that let you add extra storage, although
you won’t find one on an iPad. This is a cheap
way of boosting storage capacity.
05 Your choice of tablet determines the
apps you can use on it. You may find
that some of the apps you want are available
on iOS but not Android, and vice versa.
Windows 10, meanwhile, runs traditional
desktop applications.

TABLETS
AMAZON Kindle Oasis (2019)
019) APPLE iPad 10.2in
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£230 • amzn.to/2mp6ldb £349 • www.apple.com/uk
With the addition of a blue light After the previous iPad pivoted to
filter, the latest Kindle Oasis is as an education focus, the latest
good an e-reader as you can get. model changes course again,
Besides being easier on the eyes when reading at aiming to become a more affordable 2-in-1 than the iPad Pro range. It
night, it has the physical page-turn buttons that cheaper Kindles lack, works, too: the enlarged screen, Smart Connector for keyboards and
and the screen can auto-rotate according to how you’re holding it. high performance make for a relatively affordable laptop alternative.
PROCESSOR Not stated • SCREEN SIZE 7in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 300ppi • REAR CAMERA PROCESSOR Quad-core Apple A10 Fusion • SCREEN SIZE 10.2in • SCREEN RESOLUTION
None • STORAGE 8GB • WIRELESS DATA Wi-Fi, Bluetooth • DIMENSIONS 159x141x8.4mm • 2,160x1,620 • REAR CAMERA 8 megapixels • STORAGE 32GB • WIRELESS DATA 4G (cellular model)
WEIGHT 188g • OPERATING SYSTEM Kindle OS • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www. • DIMENSIONS 215x174x7.5mm • WEIGHT 483g • OPERATING SYSTEM iPadOS • WARRANTY One
amazon.co.uk • PART CODE Kindle Oasis (2019) • FULL REVIEW Nov 2019 year RTB • DETAILS www.apple.com/uk • PART CODE iPad (2019) • FULL REVIEW Feb 2020

APPLE iPad Pro 10.5in MICROSOFT Surface Go

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£529 • www.apple.com/uk £509 • www.microsoft.com
While it’s still stuck with a If you’ve been craving a
mobile OS, rather than the tablet with the flexibility
productivity-friendly macOS, of a Surface Pro, without
there’s no arguing with the latest iPad Pro’s raw the usual expense, the Surface Go is a
power. An A10X Fusion chip makes it much faster than the 9.7in perfect fit. It’s smaller and uses a less powerful
werful Intel Pentium CPU,
CPU
model in both multitasking and single-threaded applications. but it’s still a much more work-ready 2-in-1 than any Android slate.

PROCESSOR Hexa-core 2.36GHz Apple A10X Fusion • SCREEN SIZE 10 .5in • SCREEN RESOLUTION PROCESSOR Dual-core 1.6GHz Intel Pentium 4415Y • SCREEN SIZE 10in • SCREEN RESOLUTION
2,224x1,668 • REAR CAMERA 12 megapixels • STORAGE 64/256/512GB • WIRELESS DATA 4G (cellular 1,800x1,200 • REAR CAMERA 8 megapixels • STORAGE 128GB • WIRELESS DATA No •
version) • DIMENSIONS 251x174x6.1mm • WEIGHT 469g • OPERATING SYSTEM iOS 11 • WARRANTY DIMENSIONS 245x175x8.3mm • WEIGHT 522g • OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 10 S • WARRANTY
One year RTB • DETAILS www.apple.com/uk • PART CODE 9.7in iPad Pro • FULL REVIEW Oct 2017 One year RTB • DETAILS www.microsoft.com • PART CODE MCZ-00002 • FULL REVIEW Jan 2019

SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S6

6 AMAZON Kindle (2019)
9)
★★★★★ NEW ★★★★★
£619 • www.currys.co.uk ENTRY £70 • www.amzn.to/2x9nnhM
The Tab S6 is no simple slate. Some key upgrades make the e
Samsung’s DeX interface turns it into base Kindle a much more
a viable 2-in-1 laptop alternative, tempting prospect. There’s a
something that’s further enabled by its powerful new reading light on the front, plus Bluetooth
h
processor and glorious, high-resolution touchscreen. connectivity and the ability to download and
listen to Audible audiobooks.
PROCESSOR Quad-core 2.84GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 • SCREEN SIZE 10.5in • SCREEN
RESOLUTION 2,560x1,440 • REAR CAMERAS 15 megapixels, 3 megapixels • STORAGE 128GB • PROCESSOR Not stated • SCREEN SIZE 6in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 256ppi • REAR CAMERA
WIRELESS DATA No • DIMENSIONS 245x160x5.7mm • WEIGHT 420g • OPERATING SYSTEM None • STORAGE 4GB • WIRELESS DATA Wi-Fi only • DIMENSIONS 160x113x8.7mm •
Android 9.0 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.samsung.com/uk • PART CODE WEIGHT 174g • OPERATING SYSTEM Kindle OS • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS
SM-T860NZAABTU • FULL REVIEW Apr 2020 www.amazon.co.uk • PART CODE Kindle (2019) • FULL REVIEW Aug 2019

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 59

 Choosing a... Soundbar
01 If you don’t have space in your home
cinema setup for a set of surround-
sound speakers, a soundbar is the next best
thing. Whether you opt for a soundbar
(which typically sits in front of your TV
stand) or a soundplate (which sits
underneath your TV), you’ll be getting
significantly better audio than the weedy
speakers today’s flatscreen TVs provide.
boxes to your TV and run all audio through a
single cable. Also look for phono inputs for
connecting older devices and 3.5mm audio
Most soundbars now include Bluetooth as
standard but, if your device supports it, it’s
worth looking for a mobile soundbar that
jacks for tablets or smartphones. includes aptX. This less-lossy codec is
capable of higher-quality streaming than
03 As with any speaker, the number of
speaker drivers inside a soundbar
should give a good indication of its audio
the standard A2DP profile.
AirPlay streaming is less common, but
iPhone owners should keep an eye out for it.
capabilities. Although this won’t tell you

02 If you want to cut down on cable

clutter, look for a soundbar with
multiple HDMI inputs and outputs as well as
Audio Return Channel (ARC). Not all
soundbars use HDMI, with many making do
with digital optical audio connections
instead. This means you’ll have to connect
Blu-ray players, games consoles and set-top
everything about sound quality, you should
still look out for separate mid-range drivers
and tweeters, as these should be able to
deliver a wider frequency range than
full-range drivers alone.
04 Bluetooth support is a must if you
want to listen to music from a
smartphone or tablet without wires.
05 For a little extra bass, be sure to
look for a soundbar with a separate
subwoofer. Many soundbars include a
wired sub, but for extra convenience you
should look for a model with a wireless
subwoofer instead. These can be placed
anywhere in a room near a power socket,
without having to run a cable back to the
soundbar itself.

HOME CINEMA
PHILIPS 55PUS6753/12
/ VIZIO SB362An-F6E
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£482 • www.amzn.to/2NJYgKc •
£149 www.amzn.to//
38pqxi0
This Philips set
doesn’t have This 36in soundbar is more of a basic option –
the best there’s no separate subwoofer, and certainly
implementation of HDR we’ve nothing like Dolby Atmos – but its core sound
seen on a TV, but otherwise, the quality and tone control make it a very respectable upgrade to
55PUS6753/12 is a fantastic 4K screen for a relatively low price. your TV’s speakers.
SCREEN SIZE 55in • NATIVE RESOLUTION 3,840x2,160 • VIDEO INPUTS 3x HDMI, 5x component • SPEAKERS 4 • RMS POWER OUTPUT Not stated • DIMENSIONS 914x132x53mm • WEIGHT 2.5kg
TUNER Freeview HD • DIMENSIONS 781x1,244x266mm • WARRANTY One year RTB • • DOCK CONNECTOR None • NETWORKING Bluetooth • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS
DETAILS www.philips.co.uk • PART CODE 55PUS6753/12 • FULL REVIEW Dec 2018 www.viziosoundbar.uk • PART CODE SB362An-F6E • FULL REVIEW Mar 2020

SONY POLK AUDIO Command

nd Bar
★★★★★
KD-55XF9005 £195 • www.amzn.to/33TdAv4
★★★★★
£799 • www.johnlewis.com This is a genius combination
of soundbar and smart
Direct-lit backlighting, excellent upscaling and speaker, and for a low price
beautifully smooth motion make the KD-55XF9005 a too. It’s great for films, TV and music, and
worthy alternative to high-end OLED TVs, even though you can use Alexa as a voice-activated remote control
control.
it only has a VA panel.
SPEAKERS 3 • RMS POWER OUTPUT 260W • DIMENSIONS 1,091x102x51mm (soundbar),
SCREEN SIZE 55in • NATIVE RESOLUTION 3,840x2,160 • VIDEO INPUTS 4x HDMI • 367x188x368mm (subwoofer) • WEIGHT 2.3kg (soundbar), 3.9kg (subwoofer) • DOCK
TUNER Freeview HD • DIMENSIONS 771x1,228x258mm • WARRANTY One year RTB • CONNECTOR None • NETWORKING 802.11ac Wi-Fi • WARRANTY Three years RTB •
DETAILS www.sony.co.uk • PART CODE KD-55XF9005 • FULL REVIEW Aug 2018 DETAILS en.polkaudio.com • PART CODE COMMANDUK • FULL REVIEW Oct 2019

03
3
PHILIPS 65OLED803 SONOS Beam
S
★★★★★ ★★★★★
★
£1,999 • www.currys.co.uk £370
£ • www.amzn.to/2RJpMef
ett
If you’ve got the budget The Beam could join
for an OLED TV, this is a a home cinema
great pick. The panel technology’s built-in setup on sound quality alone, but it’s loaded
strengths, such as perfect blacks and wide viewing angles, are with smart features, too. It can adjust sound output to the size
aided by Philips’ exemplary image processing engine, resulting in and layout of a room, for example, and form a multiroom system
truly wonderful picture quality. with other Sonos speakers.
SCREEN SIZE 65in • NATIVE RESOLUTION 3,840x2,160 • VIDEO INPUTS 4x HDMI, 1x Component SPEAKERS 5 • RMS POWER OUTPUT Not stated • DIMENSIONS 651x100x69mm • WEIGHT
• TUNER Freeview HD • DIMENSIONS 824x1,449x280mm • WARRANTY One year RTB • 2.8kg • DOCK CONNECTOR None • NETWORKING 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Ethernet • WARRANTY One
DETAILS www.philips.co.uk • PART CODE 65OLED803/12 • FULL REVIEW Apr 2019 year RTB • DETAILS www.sonos.com • PART CODE BEAM1UK1 • FULL REVIEW Apr 2019

60 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

Choosing a... Bluetooth speaker
01 Bluetooth speakers come in all shapes
and sizes, so you’ll need to decide
what you want to do with the speaker before
you buy. If you don’t plan to take your music
outdoors or around the house, look for a
wired speaker. These are typically cheaper
than speakers with built-in batteries.
If you do want a portable speaker,
however, pay particular attention to how
much it weighs. Ruggedised models should
be able to survive accidental drops, water
spills and unexpected rain showers.
02 Many of the cheapest Bluetooth
speakers use the lossy A2DP
Bluetooth protocol, which is prone to
compressing your music and discarding
detail compared with the original recording.
AUDIO
CREATIVE Outlier Air
★★★★★
£60 • uk.creative.com
A marvellouss
set of true
wireless
lively and dynamic sound
headphones, the Outlier Air combine a lively
with a comfy (if large) design
n and long battery life. Bluetooth aptX
support is worth the money in particular.
HEADPHONES SUBTYPE In-ear headset • PLUG TYPE None • WEIGHT 10g •
CABLE LENGTH N/A • WARRANTY Two years RTB • DETAILS uk.creative.com •
PART CODE Outlier Air • FULL REVIEW Jul 2019
IKEA Symfonisk
★★★★★
£99 • www.ikea.com
Ikea, with a little help from Sonos,
has produced two great-sounding
wired speakers. The cheaper
‘bookshelf’ model is slim and subtle, but it’s worth
paying extra for the ‘lamp’ model, which both
sounds fuller and doubles as a working lamp.
SPEAKERS 2 • RMS POWER OUTPUT Not stated • WEIGHT Not stated • NETWORKING Wi-Fi •
WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.ikea.com • PART CODE Symfonisk • FULL REVIEW
Nov 2019
UE Boom 3
★★★★★
£99 • www.johnlewis.com
This IP67-rated Bluetooth
speaker is a comprehensive
upgrade on the Boom 2: it’s
more durable, looks better, has longer wireless
range and sounds even better.
SPEAKERS 4 • RMS POWER OUTPUT Not stated • DOCK CONNECTOR
None • NETWORKING Bluetooth (SBC) • DIMENSIONS 184x73x73mm •
WEIGHT 608g • WARRANTY Two years RTB • DETAILS www.
ultimateears.com • PART CODE 984-001360 • FULL REVIEW Jan 2019
ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020
It’s hard to tell the difference when listening
to pocket-sized speakers, but if you’re
looking for a speaker to fill a room, an
Single-driver speakers with larger driver
cones can be just as capable of producing
fantastic audio, however.
aptX-compatible device is a better option.
This Bluetooth protocol retains more detail
than the A2DP profile, although you’ll need
to use it with a compatible smartphone in
04 Most Bluetooth speakers have at
least one auxiliary input for a wired
3.5mm audio jack, in case you want to
order to get the benefits. listen to music from a device that doesn’t
have Bluetooth.
03 As with any audio product, the
number and size of speaker drivers
can have a significant impact on the quality
There are other extra features to look out
for, though. Speakers with built-in batteries
may have a USB port for charging your
of sound you get from a Bluetooth speaker. smartphone, or a built-in microphone to turn
Typically, the presence of multiple drivers
enables the manufacturer to tune each one
for specific frequencies, directing high-end
it into a speakerphone when a paired
smartphone receives a call. Not all speakers
have physical controls; many rely on your
sounds towards a tweeter and sending the paired device’s controls for adjusting the
mid-range frequencies to the main driver. volume or muting playback.
SONY WH-1000XM3
★★★★★
£252 • www.amzn.to/2HHUG1J
Bose’s QuietComfort
headphones have at last
been toppled from the ANC
throne. The WH-1000XM3 headphones
don’t just sound outstanding, with very effective noise cancellation,
but they’re smartly designed and come with a host of extras.
HEADPHONES SUBTYPE Over-ear headset • PLUG TYPE 3.5mm jack plug (optional) •
WEIGHT 255g • CABLE LENGTH 1.2m • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.sony.co.uk •
PART CODE WH-1000XM3 • FULL REVIEW May 2019
SONOS Move
★★★★★
£359 • www.amzn.to/2LGv5Yc
Although this is much bigger and
less portable than most Bluetooth
speakers, it’s worth taking with you
when you can. It sounds absolutely superb, and
supports Trueplay, so can automatically adjust its
output to fit the acoustics of its surroundings.
SPEAKERS 2 • RMS POWER OUTPUT Not stated • DOCK CONNECTOR None • NETWORKING
802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth • DIMENSIONS 240x160126mm • WEIGHT 3kg • WARRANTY One year
RTB • DETAILS www.sonos.com • PART CODE MOVE1UK1BLK • FULL REVIEW Jan 2020
BOWERS & WILKINS 607
★★★★★
£399 • www.weybridge-audio.co.uk
Inspired by the classic
600 series, the wired
607s deliver an exciting
and enthusiastic sound profile that
reveals the tiniest details in every
recording.
SPEAKERS 4 • RMS POWER OUTPUT 125W • WEIGHT 4.7kg per speaker •
NETWORKING None • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.bowers-wilkins.eu •
PART CODE 607 • FULL REVIEW Jun 2019
61
 Choosing an... Action camera
01 Action cameras are typically much
smaller than a regular camcorder, as
they are designed to be mounted to a bike,
board or car, or worn on your person. As the
name suggests, they are designed primarily
for shooting action footage, but because of
their small size they are ideal for strapping
Keep an eye out for 4K/30, 4K/60,
1080p/60 and 720p/120 models for the
widest possible choice of resolutions
If you want to be able to see exactly
what you’re pointing the lens at, keep an
eye out for cameras with companion
and frame rates. smartphone apps, or wrist-mounted
viewfinders that also let you start and
03 Most action cameras rely on flash
memory for storing your video,
stop shooting remotely.

on to your pet’s collar or your children’s toys

for a different perspective.
letting you swap out memory cards on the
fly when you fill one up with clips. More
expensive devices can have integrated
05 Action cameras typically have a huge
range of accessories, with specific
mounts and harnesses for different activities

02 Even basic action cameras will shoot

Full HD video, and many will even
shoot 4K, but frame rate is arguably more
important than resolution when it comes to
action video. Higher frame rates will mean
smoother clips, and super-high frame rate
videos can be played in slow motion to
emphasise exciting shots.
flash memory as well as a card slot, but
it’s typically cheaper to buy the basic
version of a camera and pick up memory
and sports. If the camera itself isn’t water
resistant, a weatherproof case will protect it
from the elements, while a tripod mount will
cards separately. let you lock it firmly in place.
Spare batteries are essential for longer
04 Not all action cameras have LCD
displays; in fact, many don’t include a
sceen in order to extend battery life.
shoots, and some decent video-editing
software will help you to produce a more
polished result.

VIDEO
AMAZON Fire TV Stick 4K DJI Osmo Pocket
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£50 • www.amzn.to/2Y6q8wh £274 • www.amzn.to/3bOy3We
From set-top box to dangling dongle A cleverly made alternative to action
and now an ultra-compact stick, cameras, the DJI Osmo Pocket isn’t
Amazon’s 4K media streamer gets intended for extreme sports, but its
sleeker with every generation. It’s also been updated with a new mechancial stabilisation ensures smooth, great-looking
remote, which includes a microphone for Alexa voice commands. footage for life-logging videos.

VIDEO OUTPUTS HDMI 2.0 • NETWORKING 802.11ac Wi-Fi • DIMENSIONS 108x30x14mm • SENSOR 1/2.3in CMOS • SENSOR PIXELS 12 megapixels • MAXIMUM RECORDING RESOLUTION
STREAMING FORMATS UPnP, AirPlay, DLNA, Plex • INTERNET STREAMING SERVICES Amazon 4K (60fps) • AV CONNECTIONS USB Type-C • DIMENSIONS 122x37x38mm • WEIGHT 116g •
Video, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, My5 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.dji.com • PART CODE CP.ZM.00000097.01 •
www.amazon.co.uk • PART CODE Fire TV Stick 4K • FULL REVIEW May 2019 FULL REVIEW Apr 2019

DJI Osmo Action GOPRO Hero 8 Black

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£329 • www.argos.co.uk £323 • www.amzn.to/2NHTE8c
If you want most of the features of a GoPro action Instead of completely rewriting
camera at a lower price, consider the Osmo Action. the Hero 7 Black’s formula, the
It’s waterproof without a case, can shoot at 4K and Hero 8 Black focuses more on smaller improvements,
60fps with stablisation, and reaches the same high standard of video such as to its stabilisation and timelapse features. To GoPro’s credit,
quality as the Osmo Pocket, as they have the same sensor. this approach works: this is a truly brilliant action camera.

SENSOR 1/2.3in CMOS • SENSOR PIXELS 12 megapixels • MAX RECORDING RESOLUTION 4K SENSOR 1/2.3in CMOS • SENSOR PIXELS 12 megapixels • MAXIMUM RECORDING RESOLUTION
(60fps) • AV CONNECTIONS None • DIMENSIONS 42x66x35mm • WEIGHT 134g • 4K (60fps) • AV CONNECTIONS None • DIMENSIONS 49x66x28mm • WEIGHT 126g •
WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.dji.com/uk • PART CODE CP.OS.00000020.01 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.gopro.com • PART CODE CHDHX-801-RW •
FULL REVIEW Dec 2019 FULL REVIEW Mar 2020

APPLE TV 4K GOPRO Max

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£179 • www.apple.com/uk £447 • www.currys.co.uk
This big update adds 4K K content (including,
(including for the At last, a 360° camera that is all
first time, Amazon Video support). The best part is things to all users. The GoPro Max
that if there’s a 4K version of content you’ve manages to be both usable for beginners and
previously purchased in HD, Apple will upgrade it free of charge. sufficiently advanced for more experienced videographers, shooting
super-smooth footage with plenty of extra features to try.
VIDEO OUTPUTS HDMI 2.0a • NETWORKING 802.11ac Wi-Fi, 10/100/1,000 Ethernet •
DIMENSIONS 35x98x98mm • STREAMING FORMATS AirPlay, others via apps • SENSOR 2x 1/2.3in CMOS • SENSOR PIXELS 2x 16 megapixels • MAXIMUM RECORDING
INTERNET STREAMING SERVICES iTunes, Apple Music, Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, RESOLUTION 5.6K (30fps) • AV CONNECTIONS None • DIMENSIONS 64x69x40mm •
Now TV, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.apple.com/uk • WEIGHT 163g • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.gopro.com • PART CODE
PART CODE Apple TV 4K • FULL REVIEW Jan 2018 CHDHZ-201-RW • FULL REVIEW Feb 2020

62 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

Choosing a... Compact system camera
01 If you’re ready to step beyond the
basic controls of a compact camera,
or you want greater flexibility than an
ultra-zoom can offer, a compact system
camera (CSC) is the next logical upgrade.
With interchangeable lenses, manual controls
and stellar image quality, these cameras give
proper digital SLRs a run for their money.
Sony’s E-Mount has a slightly wider
range, but Micro Four Thirds offers the
widest variety. Both Panasonic and Olympus
budget. Most come with at least one kit
lens, but if you already have lenses for a
particular CSC mount, you can buy the body
cameras use this mount, and the lenses are on its own and save money.
interchangeable between manufacturers.
03 Micro Four Thirds cameras are
typically more compact than other
05 Once you’ve settled on a particular
mount, you should pay attention to a
camera’s features. Articulating screens and
types of CSC because the image sensor is integrated viewfinders will help you compose

02 There are three competing types of

CSC mount, and the one you buy
determines the number of compatible lenses
and accessories you have available.
Samsung’s NX-mount is arguably the most
limited in terms of lens selection, and the
company has confirmed that it’s shutting
down its European camera business, so it’s
best to avoid these altogether if possible.
physically smaller – with a 22mm diagonal,
it’s roughly 30% smaller than an APS-C
sensor. The APS-C sensors that Sony and
Samsung use in their CSCs are the same size
as those in traditional digital SLRs.
04 Like digital SLRs, CSCs come at a
wide range of prices. Available from
as little as £200, there’s a CSC to suit every
shots, while extra physical controls and a
hotshoe mount will give you flexibility for
manual shooting.
Touchscreens are great, but they’re no
replacement for physical dials when it comes
to changing shutter speed and aperture. An
integrated flash is much more convenient
than a detachable one, as you can never
forget to take it with you.

PHOTOGRAPHY
CANON EOS R FUJIFILM X-T3
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£2,749 • www.johnlewis.com £1,549 • www.amzn.to/2LGwj5K
This is Canon’s first mirrorless
A fantastically versatile
full-frame camera, but you
mirrorless camera, capable of
wouldn’t know it. Image quality iss
taking perfect stills as much as it is recording
among the very best, and the included kit lens does a fantastic job.
high-quality video. There are plenty of pro-level features, too.
You can also get it body-only and attach your own RF-mount lenses.
SENSOR RESOLUTION 30.3 megapixels • SENSOR SIZE 36x24mm • FOCAL LENGTH SENSOR RESOLUTION 26.1 megapixels • SENSOR SIZE 23.5x15.6mm (APS-C) • FOCAL LENGTH
MULTIPLIER 1x • VIEWFINDER Electronic (3.6 million dots) • LCD SCREEN 3.2in (2,100,000 dots) • MULTIPLIER 2.7x • VIEWFINDER Electronic (3.69 million dots) • LCD SCREEN 3in (1.04 million
VIEWFINDER MAGNIFICATION (35mm-EQUIVALENT, COVERAGE) 0.76x, 100% • dots) • VIEWFINDER MAGNIFICATION (35mm-EQUIVALENT, COVERAGE) 0.75x, 100% •
WEIGHT 580g • DIMENSIONS 98x136x84mm • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS WEIGHT 539g • DIMENSIONS 93x133x59mm • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS
www.canon.co.uk • FULL REVIEW Sep 2019 www.fujifilm.com • FULL REVIEW May 2019

NIKON Z6 POLAROID Originals OneStep 2

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£1,699 • www.johnlewis.com £91 • www.amzn.to/2DQhr05
If you can’t quite afford the The OneStep 2 brings
exemplary Z7, then the Z6 is back the simple joys of
the perfect alternative. It’s instant photography.
every bit the mirrorless all-rounder, and while it has a lower- Although the stock can get quite pricey,
resolution sensor than the Z7, this allows it to shoot at a faster rate. your shots will look just as they would on
a classic Polaroid – perfect for sharing or
SENSOR RESOLUTION 24.5 megapixels • SENSOR SIZE 35.9x23.9mm CMOS • VIEWFINDER
simply sticking to the fridge.
Electronic (3.69 million dots) • LCD SCREEN 3.2in (2 million dots) • VIEWFINDER MAGNIFICATION
(35MM-EQUIVALENT, COVERAGE) 0.8x, 100% • WEIGHT 1,175g • SIZE (HXWXD) 101x134x68mm PHOTO SIZE 3.1x3.1in • BATTERY LIFE 15-20 packets of film • PORTS 1x Micro USB •
• WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.europe-nikon.com • FULL REVIEW July 2019 WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.polaroidoriginals.com • FULL REVIEW Jan 2018

SONY A6400 SONY RX100 VII NEW

ENTRY
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£1,099 • www.amzn.to/2KO1PPj £1,019 • www.wexphotovideo.com
Sony’s tiny mirrorless camera We’ve never used a
doesn’t sacrifice quality in the nameme compact system camera
of portability. The 1,200-zone metering system helps that shoots as well as the
produce balanced photos, and the A6400 particularly excels at RX100 VII. Stills look superb, and video support is even better, with
speed-shooting, so it’s definitely worth a look for action photography. smooth footage and fast, silent autofocus.

SENSOR RESOLUTION 24.2 megapixels • SENSOR SIZE 23.5x15.6mm (APS-C) • FOCAL LENGTH SENSOR RESOLUTION 20.1 megapixels • SENSOR SIZE 13.2x9.8mm • FOCAL LENGTH
MULTIPLIER 1.5x • VIEWFINDER Electronic (2.36 million dots) • LCD SCREEN 3in (921,000 dots) • MULTIPLIER 2.7x • VIEWFINDER Electronic (2.4 million dots) • LCD SCREEN 3in (921,000 dots) •
LENS MOUNT E-mount • WEIGHT 403g • DIMENSIONS 67x120x60mm • WARRANTY One year WEIGHT 302g • DIMENSIONS 58x102x43mm • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.sony.
RTB • DETAILS www.sony.com • FULL REVIEW Oct 2019 com • FULL REVIEW Apr 2020

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 63

 Choosing a... Wearable
01 Wearable tech can include anything
from chest-strap heart-rate monitors
to augmented reality glasses, but the two
03 Fitness trackers are much more
dedicated to healthy pursuits.
Step counters, heart-rate monitors and
a single charge, so you can wear it to bed
and benefit from sleep tracking.

most common types are smartwatches and

fitness trackers. Both are designed to sit
unassumingly on your wrist, and are almost
always meant to be used in tandem with a
paired smartphone.
even sleep tracking are all common, and
the data collected is fed back to you so
you can see how your workout routine
or calorie intake is going.
Many smartwatches also contain
health-tracking features, but fitness-
05 Look out for waterproofing as well.
Wearables that don’t mind a few
lengths of the pool can be used for
swimming or just timekeeping, and at the
very least we expect a fitness tracker to be
able to deal with rain or sweat.

02 Smartwatches are typically more

complex and expensive, though
more closely resemble a traditional
wristwatch. You can use them to receive
and reply to text messages and emails,
quickly check maps and even play
games – like a smartphone, most
smartwatches allow you to install your
own choice of apps.
specific wearables tend to be cheaper,
smaller and lighter.
04 When it comes to battery life, it’s
important for any wearable to
last a full day, but if it’s a smartwatch
then you can get away with having to
charge it overnight. With fitness trackers,
it’s better if it lasts for several days off
06 Different smartwatches use
different operating systems, which
determine which apps you can install on
your device, as well as compatibility with
smartphones. Android Wear and Tizen
smartwatches will work with both Android
and iOS phones, but Apple’s watchOS will
only pair with an iOS handset.

WEARABLES
HONOR Band 5 APPLE Watch Series 5
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£30 • www.amzn.to/36nRxNz £399 • www.apple.com/uk
This is a perfect fitness band if The latest Apple Watch is, once
you’re just starting out on an again, not a major overhaul, but
exercise routine. It’s light, the always-on display is a nice
long-lasting between charges and accurate at little upgrade. The new compass also helps
measurements, a combination you won’t often with navigation, and the Health app redesign
see on something so cheap. helps display fitness stats more clearly.
PEDOMETER Yes • HEART-RATE MONITOR Yes • DISPLAY SIZE 0.95in • RESOLUTION 240x120 • PEDOMETER Yes • HEART-RATE MONITOR Yes • DISPLAY SIZE 1.78in • RESOLUTION 448x368 •
OS SUPPORT Android, iOS • BATTERY LIFE Two weeks • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS OS SUPPORT iOS • BATTERY LIFE 18 hours • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.apple.
www.hihonor.com • PART CODE KYG3649645453002TV • FULL REVIEW Feb 2020 com/uk • PART CODE Apple Watch Series 5 • FULL REVIEW Jan 2020

GARMIN Vivoactive 4 FITBIT Inspire HR

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£271 • www.amzn.to/36gfTbX £70 • www.johnlewis.com
One of the best fitness There’s no better sub-£100 0
watch series gets another fitness tracker for casual
great instalment. The users than this. The Inspire
e
ctic
Vivoactive 4 is well designed, tracks an eclectic HR’s simplicity and stylishness give it
mix of activities and introduces some unique e new immediate appeal, and you’ll stay for the
features, including animated guides to workouts. top-quality mobile app.
PEDOMETER Yes • HEART-RATE MONITOR Yes • DISPLAY SIZE 1.3in • RESOLUTION 260x260 • PEDOMETER Yes • HEART-RATE MONITOR Yes • DISPLAY SIZE 0.7in • RESOLUTION 128x72 •
OS SUPPORT Android, iOS • BATTERY LIFE Five days • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS OS SUPPORT Android, iOS • BATTERY LIFE Five days • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS
www.garmin.com • PART CODE 010-02174-02 • FULL REVIEW Mar 2020 www.fitbit.com • PART CODE FB505RGPK-EU • FULL REVIEW Jul 2019

GARMIN Fenix 5 Plus MOBVOI TicWatch E2

2
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£415 • www.amzn.to/2kUGgSY £146 • www.mobvoi.com
You’ll have to pay a pretty penny At this price, there’s simply
ply
for it, but the variety of features no better smartwatch/fitnessness
on the Fenix 5 Plus is without tracker hybrid than the
peer. One of the most exclusive is its support for TicWatch E2. Built-in GPS, IP67 waterproofing
ofing
full-colour maps, along with the ability to create routes and an upgraded battery are all on board, and it’s
straight from your wrist. more responsive than most Wear 2100 wearables.
earables.
PEDOMETER Yes • HEART-RATE MONITOR Yes • DISPLAY SIZE 1.2in • RESOLUTION 240x240 • PEDOMETER Yes • HEART-RATE MONITOR Yes • DISPLAY SIZE 1.4in • RESOLUTION 400x400 •
OS SUPPORT Android, iOS • BATTERY LIFE 18 hours • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS OS SUPPORT Android, iOS • BATTERY LIFE Two days • WARRANTY One year RTB •
www.garmin.com • PART CODE 010-01988-11 • FULL REVIEW Nov 2019 DETAILS www.mobvoi.com • PART CODE TicWatch E2 • FULL REVIEW Jun 2019

64 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

 SOFTWARE

Vid soft
ADOBE Premiere Pro CC 2019 KASPERSKY Internet Security

Sec ftwa
eo wa

so
uri re
-ed re
★★★★★ ★★★★★

ty
itin
• • www.amzn.to/3aOISqJ

g
£20 per month www.adobe.com £25

This strong update of Premiere Pro CC adds improved

Lumetri Color controls and neat integration with the
Premiere Rush mobile app, among other tweaks.
OS SUPPORT Windows 10 version 1703 and later, macOS 10.12 and later (10.13 required for
hardware acceleration) • MINIMUM CPU Intel 6th-gen and later, AMD equivalents •
MINIMUM GPU Integrated graphics • MINIMUM RAM 8GB • HARD DISK SPACE 8GB •
DETAILS www.adobe.com • PRODUCT CODE Premiere Pro CC • FULL REVIEW Jul 2019
Not only is this one of the most fortified security
suites on the market, it’s also one of the best
designed, and there are loads of extra features.
OS SUPPORT Windows 7/8.1/10, macOS 10.12 or later, Android, iOS • MINIMUM CPU 1GHz •
MINIMUM GPU None • MINIMUM RAM 1GB (32-bit), 2GB (64-bit) • HARD DISK SPACE 1.5GB •
DETAILS www.kaspsersky.co.uk • PRODUCT CODE Internet Security • FULL REVIEW Mar 2020

CYBERGHOST VPN

pri

p ri
NORDVPN

Vir e net

Vir e net
vat

vat
tua wo

tua wo
★★★★★

l rk

l rk
★★★★★
£9 per month • www.nordvpn.com £2.10 per month • www.cyberghostvpn.com
There are cheaper VPN services available, but In addition to safeguarding your privacy, CyberGhost
none has the flexibility and multi-level security VPN is particularly well suited to unblocking content
features of NordVPN. It’s become much faster on different streaming services. Connecting to new
than previous versions, too. servers could be a bit faster, but once you’re connected, everything is
nice and stable.
OS SUPPORT Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, DD-WRT router • DETAILS www.nordvpn.com • OS SUPPORT Windows, macOS, iOS, Android • DETAILS www.cyberghostvpn.com •
PRODUCT CODE NordVPN • FULL REVIEW Sep 2018 PRODUCT CODE CyberGhost VPN • FULL REVIEW Nov 2019

McAFEE Internet Security 2019 APPLE macOS 10.14 Mojave

Sec ftwa

OS ate
so
uri re

up
ty

d
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£16 • www.amzn.to/2X5sQBL Free • itunes.apple.com
Impressively, the 2019 version takes McAfee Internet Mojave’s small UI improvements and minor added
Security from an industry damp squib to one of the features would disappoint on their own, but together
most reliable security suites on the market. Malware they add up to a great update. It’s free, too, so
detection is vastly improved and performance is better, too. there’s no reason not to make the switch.
OS SUPPORT Windows 7/8/8.1/10, macOS 10.12 and later; Android 4.1 and later, iOS 10 and later • OS SUPPORT OS X Mountain Lion or later • MINIMUM CPU Not stated • MINIMUM GPU
MINIMUM CPU 1GHz • MINIMUM GPU DirectX 9 • MINIMUM RAM 1GB • HARD DISK SPACE Integrated graphics • MINIMUM RAM 2GB • HARD DISK SPACE 12.5GB • DETAILS www.apple.
500MB • DETAILS www.mcafee.com • FULL REVIEW Apr 2019 com • FULL REVIEW Jan 2019

GAMING
NINTENDO Switch Lite OCULUS Go
Ha es co
ga
nd ns
m

VR dset
he
he ol

★★★★★ ★★★★★ a
ld e

£169 • www.amzn.to/2Cig3Tx £190 • www.amzn.to/2uUJGKl

The Switch Lite No longer do you need
d
can’t be used a decked-out PC or
with a TV like the standard Switch, nor can you premium smartphone to enjoy VR
VR. The Oculus Go
detach its controllers, but with a lower price, more compact design crams all the hardware you need into the headset itself, making virtual
and all the same power, it’s still a great handheld console. reality entertainment as immediate and accesible as it’s ever been.
PROCESSOR Octa-core 1.9GHz Nvidia Tegra X1 • RAM 4GB LPDDRX4 • FRONT USB PORTS None DISPLAY LCD • RESOLUTION 2,560x1,440 • REFRESH RATE 72Hz • PROCESSOR Octa-core
• REAR USB PORTS 1x USB Type-C • STORAGE 32GB • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS 2.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 • RAM 3GB • WEIGHT 467g • DETAILS www.oculus.com/go •
www.nintendo.com • PART CODE Nintendo Switch Lite • FULL REVIEW Jan 2020 PART CODE Go 32GB • FULL REVIEW Sep 2018
VR nd g

NINTENDO SONY PS4 Slim

Ga nsol
he am
a

me e
co
ad es

★★★★★
set

Labo VR Kit
★★★★★ £229 • www.amzn.to/2rAk1VL
£70 • www.studio.co.uk Sony has made the PlayStation
This addition
ition 4 even better with a slimmer,
to the cardboard-based
ardboard-based Labo series turns your neater chassis and superior
Nintendo o Switch into a platform for a myriad of power efficiency. It’s as cheap as the PS4 has
inventive VR minigames. Kids in particular will enjoy constructing the ever been as well.
goggles and controllers themselves.
PROCESSOR Octa-core 1.6GHz AMD Jaguar • RAM 8GB GDDR5 • FRONT USB PORTS 2x USB2 •
AVAILABLE FORMATS Nintendo Switch • DISK SPACE Not stated • DETAILS labo.nintendo.com • REAR USB PORTS None • STORAGE 500GB/1TB/2TB • WARRANTY One year RTB •
PART CODE Nintendo Labo VR Kit • FULL REVIEW Aug 2019 DETAILS www.playstation.com • PART CODE B01GVQVQH2 • FULL REVIEW Jan 2017

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 65

 Free software guide
It’s easy to access your free software. Just go to www.shopperdownload.co.uk/387 and
register with the code from the card insert. Please be aware that you need to have
bought the ‘Free Software Edition’ and not the ‘£4.50 Edition’ to access the downloads
GETTING STARTED
The download instructions on the card
insert (opposite) show you how to
connect to the download site. Make
sure you type in the web address exactly
as shown. You’ll need your coupon code
the first time you log on to the site.
ANY PROBLEMS?
If you need help with any of the
software this month, please send an
email to support@creativemark.co.uk.
We check this inbox regularly. Please
include the issue number of the
magazine and your coupon code.
WHY DOWNLOADS?
In order to provide us with free
software, publishers now require us to
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and require online registration. You
need to use the unique code printed in
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issue. The unique code means we
stop the deals leaking online, so only
Shopper readers get the software.
NO CODE?
If you don’t have the card insert with the
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REGISTER YOUR SOFTWARE
BY 16th APRIL 2020
REQUIREMENTS Windows 10;
40MB hard disk space
WEBSITE www.abelssoft.net
NOTES Get your registration code within the
application
66
Paragon Hard Disk Manager
17 Limited Edition
HARD DISK MANAGER 17 is a entire hard disk. There are also
comprehensive suite of tools that tools to copy drives, fix boot
comes ready to handle all your problems, save drives to virtual disk
HDD management needs. formats, convert drives between
When you first load Hard Disk file systems (no formatting
Manager 17 you’ll notice the required), wipe disks to destroy
interface is split into sections. confidential data and more.
The first is Backup & Recovery. The Disk Wiper module does
Here you can back up and what it says on the tin. If you plan
restore either an entire drive or individual files to dispose of your computer or sell it on, then you’ll
and folders, and to just about any location. need to securely erase the contents. The Disk Wiper
With differential backup support, you can run a module enables you to wipe an entire partition or
schedule to get the latest versions of your files drive, internal or external, using government-
uploaded at the end of every day. approved secure wiping methods.
Within the Partition Manager module, you can Then there’s Drive Copy, another useful module if
create, format, merge, split, delete or undelete you want to migrate your data to another drive.
partitions. You can back up anything from emails to Paragon Hard Disk Manager 17 provides an
your documents folder, individual partitions or an array of reliable and effective hard disk tools, most
of which are powered by helpful wizards so they’re
REQUIREMENTS Windows 10; 300MB hard disk space extremely easy to use. If you need a solid all-in-one
WEBSITE www.paragon-software.com package, crammed with business-oriented extras,
NOTES Get your registration code at tinyurl.com/paragonregistration
then it’s definitely worth a try.
Abelssoft Win10PrivacyFix
INSTALL WINDOWS 10 and you’d think that the lost track of your changes and want to start all
operating system is locked down with maximum over again, you can use Win10PrivacyFix to
security turned on by default. Sadly, it isn’t. Apps are restore the Windows 10 privacy settings back to
configured to talk to each other, your data can be the original defaults.
shared online, and information about your PC, What can be switched on or off? There’s a huge
activity and application crashes is automatically number of options, including turning off tracking,
sent to Microsoft. preventing apps from gaining access to your
Fortunately, there are tools available to help microphone, or automatically recognising yourself
make Windows more (or other people) using
secure and private with your apps, with much
how it handles your data. more besides.
Abelssoft Win10PrivacyFix There’s also plenty of
is one such tool. advice on offer, and
When you first launch Win10PrivacyFix will
Win10PrivacyFix, you’ll see suggest whether an
some recommended option should be
automated options. From switched on or off.
here you can deactivate That’s helpful if you’re not
all communication to sure whether disabling a
Microsoft, apply data setting will simply protect
sharing and permissions your privacy or hobble a
rules to apps or, if you’ve much-used application.
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

REQUIREMENTS Windows 7, 8, 10;
10MB hard disk space
WEBSITE www.softorbits.com
NOTES Get your registration code within the
application during installation
SoftOrbits Sketch Drawer 7.1
NOT T ALL OF us are blessed with a
natuural talent for artistry. In fact, it
wou uldn’t be a stretch to say that most
peop ple are quite poor at drawing.
With the above in mind, you probably
havee favourite photos you wish you could
draww yourself. SoftOrbits Sketch Drawer
ws you to do the next best thing:
allow
prettend you did. By choosing a favourite
photto and then adding effects, you can
ke it look like a hand-drawn sketch.
First, you simply load the image you
ant to convert. You can either convert the
enttire image or select a particular area,
which is much faster. Once you’re happy
with the selection, start playing around with
the effect controls. The Edge Strength
effect will change the size of the pencil
you use to create your sketch, while the
Smudging effect will smooth out finer details to coloured-in sketch. If you want to protect your
make the design more stylistic and less realistic. You sketch, you can choose to add a text or logo
can also change the Stroke Length and Thickness. watermark, and if you fancy creating a number of
There are also a number of presets included, such sketches, you can move to the Batch mode and use
as the fantastic Pastel, which will completely change your preset. Once you’re happy with your efforts,
your photo and make it look like a finished and just export your finished design.

IObit Advanced SystemCare

e Ulti
timate 13
ADVANCED SYSTEMCARE
ULTIMATE is a do-everything PC
maintenance suite combined
with a dual security engine. This
feature-packed set of tools
includes everything you need to
maintain and protect your
computer in one package.
The big addition to this
version is antivirus protection,
both real-time and on demand.
This means the program is more
likely to complain of potential
conflicts on installation if you’re
already running some other
antivirus tool. However, you can
install in a compatibility mode,
which drops the real-time
protection to minimise the
chance of problems. Otherwise,
this works much like any other
antivirus tool. You can run quick
or full system scans, set up a
scheduled scan to run whenever
it’s convenient, and run in silent
mode to minimise notifications.
You can also take advantage of a
privacy cleaner, disk defragger
and other features to keep your
system secure.
Next up is the toolbox, which
comprises 25 separate tools. Here
you’ll find everything from
memory optimisation to dissk
scanning and process
management tools. You can n also
clean up the Registry, securely
delete files and much more..
The final section of the suite
is Turbo Boost, which can be
used to place your compute er in a
special mode in which syste em
resources are maximised to
ensure the best possible
performance. This is great iff you
want to switch between working
eds is
and playing games; all it nee
a click of the mouse.

REQUIREMENTS Windows 7, 8, 10;

150MB hard disk space
WEBSITE www.iobit.com
NOTES Get your registration code at
ascu13.disc.computershopper.co.uk.
Includes six months of updates

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 67


REQUIREMENTS Windows 7, 8, 10;
2GB hard disk space
WEBSITE www.kaspersky.co.uk
NOTES No need to activate. Includes three
months of free updates
REQUIREMENTS Windows 7, 8 or 10;
250MB hard disk space
WEBSITE www.oo-software.com
NOTES Get your registration code at
oodi14.disc.computershopper.co.uk
68
Kaspersky Internet
Security 2020
KASPERSKY INTERNET
SECURITY 2020 is a powerful
suite of malware-hunting,
anti-hacker web safety tools.
There’s antivirus, browsing
protection, a firewall, exploit
protection, a vulnerability
scanner, parental controls,
webcam and audio protection,
online transaction protection,
and even more tools designed
to keep both your privacy and
personal information safe.
These features have real value,
too. Independent testing labs
such as AV-Comparatives
typically rate Kaspersky as
offering some of the best
protection around; it’s
consistently been one of the
highest-scoring anti-malware
providers for several years now, and is quick to
update its protections when new threats arise.
The Software Updater checks for updates to
common applications (including Adobe Reader,
Flash, Java, Chrome and Firefox, among others),
and can optionally install them without you
having to see or do anything at all.
O&O DiskImage 14
Professional
ANYONE WHO’S EVER experienced the shock
of data loss, or had to spend hours recovering
their system, will know the importance of
backing up. Having a fall-back copy of both
Windows – including all your favourite apps
and painstakingly crafted settings – and your
irreplaceable documents, media and other files
is a no-brainer, but what’s the best way to go
about doing it?
The Secure Connection feature is a privacy-
oriented virtual private network, automatically
kicking in when you use Wi-Fi hotspots, internet
banking sites and other potentially sensitive services.
The Installation Assistance tool also looks out
for adware and other pests that can get silently
installed with certain free software, while the
Software Cleaner helps you decide what to remove.
O&O DiskImage Professional provides you with
all the tools you need for both backing up select files
and folders, and taking drive images of entire
partitions and drives. While’s it’s not a tool for
complete novices, it does provide some hints and
tips to guide you towards protecting your data, and
the latest version attempts to make things even
easier with a revamped Windows 10-style interface.
Backing up individual files and folders is a simple
case of browsing a file explorer
window for items to back up,
ticking the required folders and
files as you go. There are options
to run complete, incremental
or differential backups, or to
compress or encrypt your
archives, among other actions.
When it comes to managing
and restoring your backups,
DiskImage 14 has all the
options you need. You can
restore entire images or select
individual files and folders, as
well as ‘mount’ your image files
in Windows, allowing you to
browse them in the same way
as any other attached drive.
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
 Resources
Chat and Communication
UPDATED Evernote 6.23.1.8853 Store your
notes, ideas and plans in the cloud, and
synchronise them between computers.
UPDATED Mailbird 2.7.13.0
A free desktop email client for Windows.
Miranda IM 0.10.80
Chat with friends across multiple
messaging platforms, including AIM,
Facebook, IRC and MSN, all from one
simple interface.
Customisation
iolo System Mechanic Free 19.1.4.107
Speed up your system with
iolo’s PC optimisation suite.
Rainmeter 4.3.1
Customise the desktop with your choice
of tools and shortcuts.
Windows 8 Transformation Pack 9.1
Emulate the look of Windows 8 on an
earlier version of the operating system.
General
Genie Timeline Free 2017 10.0.1.100
Protect your most valuable files with this
easy-to-use backup tool.
Paragon Partition Manager 16 Free
Create, format, split, merge and reorganise
all your hard disk’s partitions.
UPDATED PeaZip 7.1.0 An extremely
powerful archive-management tool.
Internet and Network
CarotDAV 1.15.8
Manage all your online storage services
with one simple application.
Cyberduck 7.2.5.32097
A powerful but easy-to-use FTP client for
uploading and downloading your files.
Glasswire 2.1.166.0
Keep tabs on your network usage with this
simple monitor.
Tweaking and Performance
CCleaner 5.63 Remove unwanted
information, temporary files, browsing
history, huge log files and even the settings
that uninstalled software leaves behind.
Defraggler 2.22 Ensure that your system
is defragmented properly and improve
its performance.
Finestra Virtual Desktops 2.5.4501 Set up
four or more virtual desktops on your PC.
ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020
UPDATED Skype for Windows 8.56.0.102
Make internet voice and video calls for
free, and buy credit to make calls to
mobiles and landlines.
UPDATED Telegram 1.9.13 This free IM app syncs
your conversations across multiple devices,
and can spruce up chats with stickers and GIFs.
UPDATED WhatsApp Desktop 0.4.315 A free
PC and Mac version of the popular messaging
app, letting you chat from your desktop.
Windows 8 UX Pack 9.1
Get a glimpse of the Windows 10 UI without
committing to a full OS upgrade.
Windows 10 Transformation Pack 7.0
Bring some of Windows 10’s new features
to your current operating system.
Winstep Xtreme 19.2
Freshen up your system with this suite of
desktop and UI replacement applications.
UPDATED Screenshot Captor 4.36.1 Create
and manage screenshots the easy way.
UpdateScanner 2.2.0.0 Scan all the software
on your PC, find out if an update is available,
then install it immediately.
ZipGenius 6.3.2.3116 A flexible file-
compression tool with support for a huge
number of compressed file formats.
FileZilla 3.46.3 A fast and reliable FTP client
with lots of useful features.
UPDATED NetBalancer 9.14.5
Make the most of your internet connection
by assigning download and upload priorities
to web applications.
UPDATED TeamViewer 15.2.2756
Remotely control your computer from
anywhere in the world.
IObit Advanced SystemCare Free 13.2.0.218
A complete computer security, maintenance
and optimisation suite.
Revo Uninstaller Free 2.1.0 Remove installed
applications completely, including all their
folders, system files and Registry entries.
Simple Performance Boost 1.0.5 Tweak the
Windows Registry to give your PC a
performance boost.
69
 SYSTEM REFRESH
Home office PCs
CONTENT REVIEWS Using a laptop at home is fine for sending the occasional
Page 72 email, but for more intensive work, you can’t beat a
ALPHABETAPC AMD Ryzen well-specced PC. Here, we put six complete home office
5 3400G Gaming Desktop PC
desktops – all costing no more than £600 – to the test
Page 73
ARIA Gladiator Paradigm NOT EVERYONE HAS a home office, but you You could argue we’re using ‘home office
could still benefit from having an office PC in PC’ interchangeably with ‘general purpose PC’
Page 74 your home. While conventional wisdom here, but whatever you want to call these
CHILLBLAST Fusion suggests that a laptop or 2-in-1 would be a systems, maintaining productivity is key.
more convenient choice, there are many good That’s true whether you’re an accountant
Dauntless Family PC reasons to find room for a desktop system running bookkeeping software, an amateur
instead. They’re more customisable and photographer editing your own pictures or
Page 75 upgradable, they offer a greater range of just a casual user wanting to browse and
PALICOMP Intel i5 Mercury connectivity and they’re invariably more stream video at the same time.
powerful than a laptop of the same price. First and foremost, you’ll want a good CPU.
Page 76 On that note, it’s easily possible to get an The emphasis with these PCs is on multitasking
excellent bargain when taking the PC route. To prowess, as having a processor that can capably
PC SPECIALIST Magma S1 prove it, we asked six UK-based PC building handle multiple applications at once will avoid
companies to create a full home office system slowing you down in more general terms –
Page 77 costing a maximum of £600, Windows included. even if you’re not trying to do serious work.
WIRED2FIRE Ultima WS We’ve tested the results later in this feature, That said, because we’ll be running our
following our guide to what makes a great PC standard 4K application benchmarks, we’ll also
and what to look for when buying one. be measuring single-core CPU performance, as

70 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387


well as how well a system can run a single task
(in this case, video encoding) that nonetheless
requires the attention of multiple CPU threads.
You’ll find that chips with more cores (and
thus more threads) will have an advantage.
There’s also the issue of RAM. As always,
more RAM means smoother multitasking,
though piling on the memory won’t necessarily
elevate a middling CPU to greatness. 16GB of
RAM should be more than enough, unless you
want to eventually upgrade your £600 system
to a bona fide high-end workstation.
TICKET TO DRIVE
Besides the CPU, our other big focus will be on
storage. A quality storage setup will find a
balance between capacity and speed. More of
the former lowers the chances that you’ll need
to delete old files and applications to make
room for new ones, while higher storage
speeds will make everything feel more
responsive by reducing the time it takes to
boot up, load applications or transfer files.
Mechanical hard disks offer higher capacity
at a lower price, so they’re a common choice
to act as a secondary drive, but we strongly
recommend the main drive – the one on which
Windows is installed – to be a faster, more
expensive SSD. All the better if it’s an NVMe
model, as these are much faster than SSDs
that use the same SATA interface as hard disks.
Exactly how much capacity you need will
depend on how you use your PC, but a good
compromise is to have a small SSD for
Windows (and a few of your most-used
applications) with a 1TB or larger hard disk on
the side. Then again, sometimes compromises
aren’t necessary, as the Wired2Fire Ultima WS
shows with its hefty 1TB NVMe SSD.
DOWN TO BASICS
A home office PC is not a gaming PC, nor
should it be. Most of the six systems covered
here include dedicated graphics, but largely
because their chosen CPUs lack integrated
graphics of their own. We’ll run a couple of our
usual 1080p gaming benchmarks to get more
of an idea of each PC’s graphical capabilities,
but GPU muscle isn’t nearly as much of a
concern as the CPU and storage.
There are a couple of reasons for this. One,
asking for a mighty graphics card would either
push prices up, or force severe compromises
to the other existing components. Second,
very few home office-type tasks really benefit
from anything beyond simple graphics
hardware. Image- and video-editing software
can sometimes take advantage of GPU
acceleration to speed up the toughest
processing and encoding jobs, but for the level
you can reasonably expect from something
costing £600, this was never going to come
into significant play anyway.
Indeed, the main benefit of dedicated
graphics in a cheap home office PC is that
they can add extra display output options.
Connectivity is, in general, one of the single
biggest advantages a PC has over portable
devices: you can use so many more
ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020
HOME OFFICE PCs
peripherals, monitors, speakers and external expansion card that grants them 802.11ac or
devices at once, further improving your 802.11n Wi-Fi connectivity out of the box.
productivity and multitasking abilities.
The best PCs offer a wide range of ports MAKING THE UPGRADE
and sockets, both at the rear I/O panel and Wi-Fi cards, like dedicated sound cards, extra
– for convenience’s sake – on the front of the storage drives, additional RAM or a powerful
chassis. Faster USB ports such as USB3.1 and graphics card, are a potential upgrade you
USB Type-C are preferable to older, slower might like to make yourself further down the
ones such as USB2, and while not everyone will line. This is the beauty of PCs: they can be
use all of them, it’s good to have a variety of configured to your exact needs even after
display outputs: even on basic graphics, you you’ve bought one, and making such additions
can get two or even more monitors running at is often easier than it might first appear.
once, provided you can plug them all in However, the extent to which different PCs
individually. If you have (or want) a surround- are upgradable varies. Some may be peppered
sound speaker system, you should also make with empty PCI-E slots and storage drive bays
sure the I/O panel provides additional 3.5mm waiting to be filled, but others might be more
audio jacks, not just the standard line out. fully occupied. If, say, there are no spare RAM
All PCs can be connected to the internet slots but you want to add more memory, you’d
via an Ethernet cable, but Wi-Fi support is need to get rid of the existing sticks instead of
one area where laptops win out. That said, adding to them. We’ll take a look at each
several of our tested PCs come with an system’s upgrade-friendliness in the reviews.
PERIPHERAL PICKS
This guide will help you find a great-value PC, but check out
these peripherals if you’re starting a home office setup from
scratch – they’re also cheap for the quality they offer
MONITOR
AOC Q3279VWFD8
(£198, www.ebuyer.com)
There are loads of Full HD monitors, some half as expensive
(or less) as the Q3279VWFD8, but this is at least a few steps up
on specs and performance while still costing less than most
other Quad HD displays. The spacious 31.5in screen provides
plenty of room for working with multiple applications, while the high resolution means
everything stays sharp and readable in the process.
The Q3279VWFD8 also uses an IPS rather than a cheap TN panel, so viewing angles
are nice and wide, and in our testing we recorded an average delta-E of just 1.29, making
it sufficiently colour-accurate for serious image editing.
MOUSE
Microsoft Classic Intellimouse
(£25, www.ao.com)
This remade and remastered version of the legendary Intellimouse Explorer lorer
3.0 is affordable, ergonomically comfortable and has a nifty BlueTrack sensor.
Unlike a lot of optical mice, it will work well on any surface save for glass
ass or mirror,
which is ideal if you don’t want or have room for a mousepad.
Two thumb buttons and customisable sensitivity make the Classic Intellimousel use even
more practical, and through the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center application, you can
completely remap any of the five inputs to perform a different task entirely. It’s a very
well-featured mouse for less than £30.
KEYBOARD
Razer BlackWidow Lite
(£61, www.amazon.co.uk)
Mechanical keyboards are almost always better than mushy rubber-dome bber-dome
models, but they’re also much more expensive. Luckily, the BlackWidow kWidow Lite
– which uses quiet but nicely tactile mechanical switches – has recently shed
nearly a third of its price, turning it into an enticing alternative to more basic boards.
It’s a tenkeyless keyboard, so there’s no numberpad, but at this price that’s the only
thing to be worried about. This is a comfortable, durable and cleanly backlit mechanical
keyboard that’s great for general use regardless of Razer’s gaming pedigree.
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 HOME OFFICE PCs
ALPHABETAPC AMD Ryzen 5
3400G Gaming Desktop PC
★★★★★
£600 • From www.alphabetapc.com
VERDICT
Heaps of memory and a premium chassis disguise
what is ultimately vanilla performance
NO PRIZES FOR guessing which processor is
at the heart of this verbosely titled system,
but it’s not devoid of surprises either. Besides
the choice of a case, a glowing multicolour
cube amidst the sea of plain black towers that
are the other five PCs on test, AlphaBetaPC
has maxed out the motherboard’s RAM limit
with a workstation-grade 32GB of DDR4.
That’s an incredible amount of memory
for a £600 PC of any kind, but for now let’s
keep attention on the chassis; it’s certainly
capable of grabbing it. It’s the same Tsunami
Gorilla case as seen containing the
AlphaBetaPC Intel i5 RTX (Shopper 384),
which means the same boxy, Gorilla Glass-
covered shape, the same massive 200mm fans
(fitted both at the front and in the roof) and
the same remote-controlled RGB lighting.
Technically this lighting is part of the fan
design, but the bundled remote is a fun
change of tack from the usual desktop
software. With a single button press you
can change both fans to a single matching
colour, or cycle between various effects
that span a wider range of the spectrum.
There’s even a speed control for the more
animated effects, which can tone down
their considerable flashiness.
AND NO PLAY
Despite this inclusion of a design feature
that’s far more prevalent on gaming systems
– not to mention the word ‘Gaming’ in the
name – the AMD Ryzen 5 3400G Gaming
Desktop PC is specced much more for work
than play. The quad-core, eight-thread Ryzen
processor makes full use of its integrated
Vega 11 graphics, so there’s no dedicated GPU,
and 32GB of RAM is far more than any game
would need to run at its best – though not
too much for high-end productivity software.
Unfortunately, such vast reserves of
memory aren’t enough to elevate what is a
thoroughly middling CPU. The Ryzen 5 3400G
only put forth enough horsepower for
benchmark scores of 139 in the image test,
149 in the video test, 162 in the multitasking
test and 154 overall. Our tests take RAM into
account, but it’s telling the AMD Ryzen 5
3400G Gaming Desktop PC’s multitasking
result is less than half that of the Chillblast
Fusion Dauntless Family PC. This has 16GB of
RAM, as do all the other PCs here, but its
more powerful CPU is still dramatically faster
in heavily multithreaded workloads.
The AlphaBetaPC system also sits
joint-bottom of the pack on image test scores,
72
although anecdotally we
didn’t notice it being
much slower than the
Fusion Dauntless when
performing basic tasks
such as web browsing and
installing applications. It’s
also much more powerful
than any £600 laptop you
could possibly find; it’s just
that should you ever need to run
more demanding programs, it’s not
clear why you’d settle for it when much faster
desktops are available for the same price.
More positively, the storage here is good.
You get a nicely spacious 480GB NVMe
SSD and a 1TB hard disk, so of all the six PCs
here, only the Aria Gladiator Paradigm offers
greater capacity – and even then, only by a
handful of gigabytes.
READ DEMON
The SSD is also a lot quicker than the
Gladiator Paradigm’s, at least for read
speeds. Using the AS SSD benchmark, we
recorded a sequential read speed of
1,559MB/s and a sequential write speed of
877MB/s; Aria’s scored 761MB/s and
697MB/s respectively. The writing difference
is minor, but since read speeds affect how
quickly files and applications load, the
advantage is a lot more noticeable.
It’s still nowhere near as fast as the SSDs
within the Palicomp Intel i5 Mercury and the
Wired2Fire Ultima WS, and both of these are
also much bigger 1TB drives that act as the
sole storage drive in their respective PCs.
However, while this means they’re not slowed
down by mechanical storage, it also means
that total capacity is lower than that of the
AMD Ryzen 5 3400G Gaming Desktop PC.
This is a fairly upgradable system as well.
The case only supports a microATX
motherboard, but its neat dual-chamber
layout finds room for two 3.5in drive trays
and two 2.5in trays, all but one of which is
already occupied. The use of integrated
graphics also helps keep the motherboard
free, leaving one PCI-E x16 slot and two PCI-E
x1 slots available for expansion. There are no
free RAM slots, but then it’s unlikely you’d
ever need more than 32GB anyway.
That used-up x1 slot, by the way, contains
an 802.11n Wi-Fi card, a handy wireless
alternative to the Gigabit Ethernet port.
Otherwise, connectivity is fine, if seldom
exciting: you get two USB2 ports and one
USB3 port on the front, adding to the two
USB2 ports, four USB3 ports and two PS/2
ports on the rear.
LIGHT SHOW
Since there’s no graphics card, your
monitor will need to connect to one of the
motherboard I/O panel’s outputs. You only
get a choice of HDMI or dual-link DVI-D,
which isn’t ideal. It’s enough for dual
monitors, but DVI can’t carry audio, and
has lower resolution/refresh rate support
than HDMI or DisplayPort. The Intel i5
Mercury is better in this regard.
In fact, it’s better in a lot of ways, and
besides high storage capacity there’s not a
lot that the AMD Ryzen 5 3400G Gaming
Desktop PC can convincingly claim in its
defence. The fancy light-up case makes it
distinct, but is also a little incongruous given
this isn’t a real gaming PC, and the benefits of
the extra RAM are limited with a CPU slower
than its rivals. It’s still a decent desktop, but
there are others here that are truly great.
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

ARIA Gladiator Paradigm
★★★★★
£590 • From www.aria.co.uk
VERDICT
Storage is plentiful, but the Gladiator
Paradigm’s performance is far from the best
STRAIGHT OUT OF the box, the Gladiator
Paradigm presents itself as a more compact
kind of home desktop. It’s a mini tower, not an
outright mini PC, but at only 358mm tall and
410mm deep it’s a lot shorter and squatter
than most of the other systems here.
It’s also unusual (though not unique) in
using an Intel CPU and motherboard chipset,
rather than being AMD-based. Inside is a
hexa-core, 2.9GHz Core i5-9400F – basically
the same chip as the mainstream mid-range
Core i5-9400, but without integrated graphics
– and 16GB of DDR4 RAM, with a 2GB
GeForce GT 1030 on video duties.
For basic browsing, this setup works well.
There’s none of the hesitation you might see
from a budget dual-core or quad-core
processor, and there’s more than enough
memory on tap to juggle a few different
applications at once.
Examined more thoroughly, however,
the Gladiator Paradigm lacks the sheer
computing power of many of its
contemporaries. Our 4K benchmarks
returned scores of 139 in the image test,
181 in the video test, 195 in the multitasking
test and 181 overall, so it’s faster in
multithreaded tasks than the AlphaBetaPC
AMD Ryzen 5 3400G Gaming Desktop PC,
but behind the other four systems we tested.
WORK ALONE
It’s worth noting that the i5-9400F lacks
HyperThreading, a feature on some Intel
chips that ups its total thread count by
adding digital ‘cores’ to share the workload.
The Core i5-9600K within Palicomp’s Intel i5
Mercury is the same, and also has six physical
cores in total, but compensates with a hefty
5GHz overclock. With multiple cores
under load, the Core i5-9400F runs
much closer to its 2.9GHz base speed
than its highest potential boost clock
speed of 4.1GHz.
What’s more, AMD-based systems
like the Wired2Fire Ultima WS and PC
Specialist Magma S1 use Ryzen chips
with AMD’s HyperThreading equivalent,
Simultaneous Multithreading, allowing
them to work with extra threads and
thus perform better in the video and
multitasking tests.
There is an upside to your quality
of life, as we found the Intel stock
CPU cooler installed in the Gladiator
Paradigm ran a bit quieter than the
stock AMD cooler used by several
of the other PCs. Still, the Intel i5
Mercury has it beat here as well, as
ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020
its beefy Be Quiet! cooler is the least
audibly intrusive of the lot.
The Gladiator Paradigm’s SSD is also on
the slow side. Not to the extent of the
Chillblast Fusion Dauntless Family PC’s
SATA-based drive, but it doesn’t really take
advantage of NVMe’s higher ceiling: we
recorded a sequential read speed of
761MB/s and a sequential write speed of
697MB/s. These are fine in practice, but not
a patch on the Ultima WS and Magma S1,
both of which blaze past 2,000MB/s.
It’s not all bad news, however. SSD
capacity is a very healthy 512GB, and with a
1TB hard disk in tandem, the Gladiator
Paradigm actually has the highest total
storage capacity of all six PCs. That alone
could be a compelling reason to look past
its lower performance, if you commonly
work with large files or applications and
you’re not keen on having to upgrade the
storage yourself.
MORE OR WIRELESS
To be fair, storage-wise there’s not a lot that
can be added. There are no drive cages or
trays as such, just a series of mounting
holes drilled into a vertical panel near the
front of the case. Empty, they can support
one of three configurations: three 2.5in
drives, two 3.5in drives, or one 3.5in and
one 2.5in drive. The SSD is mounted in the
motherboard’s sole M.2 slot, but the hard
disk still takes up one of the 3.5in sections,
so you basically have a choice of adding
either one 2.5in or one 3.5in drive. That’s not
exactly a blank canvas.
External connectivity is largely very basic,
too. The rear panel supplies only four USB
HOME OFFICE PCs
ports in total – USB2 and two USB3 – which is
less than some mini PCs, and the two PS/2
sockets don’t help make up the difference
unless you’re still using old peripherals.
There are single USB2 and USB3 ports on
the front as well, so it’s a usable total, but
there’s not much special here.
Audio connections come in the form of
basic 3.5mm line-in, line-out and mic jacks,
while the dedicated GPU only contributes one
HDMI and one dual-link DVI-D output apiece.
The one highlight is 802.11n Wi-Fi, which
comes via a PCI-E x1 expansion card. This is a
genuinely useful inclusion that becomes
downright essential if you can’t connect to
the internet via Ethernet.
The fact that both this card and the GPU
provide vital functions mean it’s not massively
concerning that there are no spare PCI-E
motherboard slots to play with in the future,
although with no empty RAM or M.2 slots
remaining, that one unused drive
mounting spot remains the sole place
to make an upgrade. There is a 5.25in
tray, which is rare in 2020, but it’s had
a bundle of PSU cables stuffed inside it.
THINK BIGGER
Of course, the main issue with the
Gladiator Paradigm has nothing to do
with how many RAM sticks or disk
drives you can put inside it. As a
multitasking performer, it’s merely
passable: not quite the level you want
it operating at when so much of the
competition is excelling. The Fusion
Dauntless does a better job of stuffing
huge power in a small chassis (the
exact same chassis, in fact), while the
Intel i5 Mercury and Ultima WS are
better workhorses in general.
73
 HOME OFFICE PCs
CHILLBLAST Fusion
Dauntless Family PC
★★★★★
£600 • From www.chillblast.com
VERDICT
The Fusion Dauntless is incredibly powerful for the
price, though it comes at the cost of storage space
HERE’S ANOTHER PC that’s on the smaller
side – exactly as small as the Aria Gladiator
Paradigm, in fact, thanks to both systems
using Fractal Design’s short-statured Fractal
1100 chassis. There’s some shared DNA on
the inside, too, as both PCs use Nvidia’s 2GB
GT 1030 graphics processor.
Otherwise, these two desktops take
remarkably different routes in approach of
home office success. The Gladiator Paradigm
is based on a current-generation Intel CPU
with an SSD/hard disk combo for storage, but
the Fusion Dauntless goes back in time with
the 2018 AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, plus a single,
unaccompanied 500GB SSD.
GOLDEN OLDIE
There’s a good reason to go for this chip,
mind. The Ryzen 7 2700X was AMD’s top-end
mainstream chip at the time, and since then
it’s dropped in price to the point where it can
be fitted to systems costing £600 instead of
£1,600. As long as budget and mid-range
CPUs haven’t caught up on performance –
which, for the most part, they haven’t – then
the lack of pride you might have in owning
the latest and greatest hardware is
counterweighted by being able to get such a
potent chip at such an affordable price.
As a strategy, it works splendidly, especially
with a healthy 16GB of DDR4 RAM. The Fusion
Dauntless put in a superlative performance in
our benchmarks, scoring 153 in the image test,
291 in the video test and – best of all – 348 in
the multitasking test. That works out to an
overall score of 296, comfortably the highest
of all six PCs here.
Compared to the PCs that immediately
follow it, such as the Wired2Fire Ultima
WS (which scored 258 overall), the
Fusion Dauntless’s multitasking
advantage is clear: it’s the only one with
an octa-core processor, and thanks to
Simultaneous Multithreading it has
another eight virtual cores on top of that.
This hasn’t hurt clock speeds much,
either: the 3.7GHz base speed and
4.3GHz maximum boost clock are
both respectably high.
It should be noted, however, that its
enormous multithreading advantage isn’t
matched on single-core performance: its
image test score, while high, is beaten by
both the Ultima WS and the Palicomp
Intel i5 Mercury. That mainly represents
basic workloads, however – for editing,
encoding and other forms of content
74
creation, more cores are generally better, and
so is the Fusion Dauntless.
On that note, this PC also demonstrates
the limits of graphical hardware acceleration,
at least in lower-end builds. The PC Specialist
Magma S1 has a much more powerful GPU,
the GeForce GTX 1650, than Chillblast’s
choice of a GT 1030, but because it’s also
running a weaker Ryzen 5 CPU, its video and
multitasking test results aren’t nearly as high.
COMING UP SHORT
There’s one area where the Fusion Dauntless
disappoints: storage. Having a 500GB SSD
sounds great until you realise there’s no
additional capacity in the form of a second
hard disk, and not only that, but it’s also
connected to the M.2 motherboard socket via
the SATA interface rather than NVMe.
The result is a drive that’s slower than the
competition and will require replacing or
complementing much sooner. First, the speed
issue: a sequential read speed of 501MB/s is
decent by SATA standards but well behind any
capable NVMe SSD, while the sequential write
speed of 272MB/s is just poor.
It could be argued that 500GB of SATA
storage is better than 250GB of NVMe,
provided you have relatively modest storage
needs, but saving a lot of images, videos or
music files – not to mention applications – can
fill up space faster than you might think.
At least you can add drives without much
trouble. This, naturally, has the same range of
storage possibilities as the Gladiator Paradigm,
but all the potential spaces are free to begin
with. That’s room, then, for up to three 2.5in
drives or two 3.5in drives. The Fusion
Dauntless also leaves its 5.25in tray
unobstructed, so you could add a Blu-ray or
DVD-RW drive, or possibly a multicard reader.
There are certainly enough SATA ports to
go around for devices like these – six in total,
all free – and upgrading the RAM is easy
thanks to the two empty slots. Further down
the motherboard, the only M.2 connector is
taken by the SSD, but there are single spare
PCI-E x16 and x1 slots for expansion cards.
There’s no Wi-Fi, but a wireless card could
quickly be added in the future.
Alternatively, you could use a USB dongle,
as there’s plenty of USB connectivity to make
use of. The rear panel is well equipped with
two USB2, four USB3 and two USB3.1 ports,
the latter of which are great for higher-spec
external storage drives. A pair of USB ports –
one USB2, one USB3 – also sit on the front
for easier access.
THE MUSICAL TYPE
The highlight of connectivity is, without a
doubt, the extra audio outputs. Besides the
standard line out, there are also 3.5mm
side speaker, rear speaker and C/SUB
jacks; many users won’t need these, but if
you have a more advanced surround-
sound system instead of standard
desktop speakers, it’s a perfect fit.
Rounding things off are a single PS/2
port and, via the GPU, single HDMI and
DVI-D outputs. Again, DisplayPort would
have been better, but this will suffice for
one or two Full HD monitors.
It’s good to see that the Fusion
Dauntless isn’t just about its powerful
CPU, though that is very welcome.
Versatile connectivity and high upgrade
potential (in spite of its short dimensions)
further help make this is a very good
home office PC, although you can do
better than that lonely little SSD.
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

PALICOMP Intel i5 Mercury
★★★★★
£600 • From www.palicomp.co.uk
VERDICT
The Intel i5 Mercury goes big on both CPU
speed and storage capacity, with superb results
IT’S NO SECRET that hardware overclocking
can, if done carefully, wring extra performance
out of a PC without adding anything to the
cost. That’s why we’re a little surprised that
only the Intel i5 Mercury has tried it.
It’s an ambitious tweak, too. The Intel Core
i5-9600K usually runs at a 3.7GHz base clock
speed with a Turbo Boost clock of up to
4.6GHz, but in this PC it’s set to target 5GHz
at all times. Palicomp’s approach also has a
knock-on effect on other individual
components, all for the better: the
motherboard uses the high-end Z390 chipset,
as cheaper Intel chipsets don’t support
overclocking, and instead of a small stock
cooler the system is fitted with a tower-style
Be Quiet! Pure Rock air cooler.
BROUGHT LOW
This keeps the heightened CPU temperatures
– an unavoidable aspect of overclocking – well
in control. We measured a relatively high core
idle temperature of 38°C, but even under
heavy load it stays in the 70-80°C range,
which is nowhere near cause for concern.
It also helps keep the Intel i5 Mercury
beautifully quiet – noticeably more so than
any of the other PCs on test.
The lack of a dedicated GPU also removes
a potential source of noise, with the Core
i5-9600K providing integrated Intel UHD
Graphics 630 for the job instead. Both the
front and rear of the case feature a 120mm
fan, though these aren’t too loud either, and
in fact are a welcome source of cyclical
airflow; another helping hand to deal with the
overclocked CPU’s heat production.
Perhaps most importantly, the 5GHz
overclock succeeds in boosting the Intel
chip’s power. This hexa-core chip lacks
HyperThreading, so it only has six threads
in its arsenal, but with 16GB of DDR4
RAM it still had the speed to compete
with 12-thread CPUs in our 4K
benchmarks. Its image test score of 176 is
particularly impressive, just three points
behind that of the Ryzen 5 3600-powered
Wired2Fire Ultima WS, and its video test
score of 228 isn’t far behind either. The
Ultima WS more handily beats its
multitasking score of 256, though that’s
still very good for a mid-range Intel CPU,
and an overall score of 233 makes the
Intel i5 Mercury the third-fastest PC here.
That’s not damning with faint praise,
either. True, there are better choices for
heavy multitasking, but the Intel i5
Mercury is still a lot better at this than
AlphaBetaPC’s and Aria’s systems, and
ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020
that commanding single-core power is perfect
for keeping lighter workloads fast and
responsive. Only the Ultima WS manages a
more appealing balance; the Chillblast Fusion
Dauntless is a multitasking monster, but isn’t
quite as outstanding on single-core tasks.
Palicomp has also been bold with this PC’s
storage. It’s a single NVMe SSD with no hard
disk, but unlike the Fusion Dauntless, the 1TB
capacity is high enough to handle solo duty.
This is worth getting excited about. Of all
the PCs that pass through Shopper, it’s
typically only the ultra-premium crowd that
deliver so much solid-state space. To see a 1TB
drive, and an NVMe model no less, in such a
cheap desktop is a welcome change of pace.
It’s not the fastest SSD ever – this is
another way the Ultima WS claims an
advantage – but with a sequential read speed
of 1,731MB/s and a sequential write speed of
1,594MB/s, it’s still nice and quick. There’s a
tangibly greater sense of urgency to how the
Intel i5 Mercury boots Windows and moves
files around than the likes of the Fusion
Dauntless or the Gladiator Paradigm.
WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
Everything is contained inside a very tasteful
Kolink Stronghold chassis, which is easily
our favourite of all six cases. It’s classier
than the simplistic cases of the Chillblast,
Aria and PC Specialist systems, while not
being as overblown as the AMD Ryzen 5
3400G Gaming Desktop PC: the front panel
is plastic but with a nice-looking brushed-
metal finish, and the left side panel is
genuine tempered glass. This adds a
HOME OFFICE PCs
premium touch while granting a tinted view
into the main internal chamber, which is kept
wonderfully clean of unsightly cables.
More practically, the case is relatively
good for adding storage, with two 3.5in drive
trays under the PSU shroud and three spots
for vertically mounted 2.5in drives. The
motherboard being a higher-spec Z390
model also means it can offer enhanced
connectivity, including a second M.2 slot,
should you ever want to add another
low-profile and more power-efficient SSD.
There are also two spare PCI-E x16 slots, an
excellent four spare PCI-E x1 slots, two empty
RAM slots and four unused SATA ports. The
Intel i5 Mercury is therefore the most
upgradable PC of these six, and although we
wouldn’t have complained if one of those
motherboard slots was taken up by a Wi-Fi
card, the scope for future customisations is
highly impressive for the price.
Ethernet handles internet for the time
being, alongside an enviable set of four
USB3 ports and two USB3.1 ports – no
slower USB2 here, unless you count the
two on the front panel, though there’s
another USB3 port here as well. Two PS/2
sockets and three standard 3.5mm audio
jacks join the list of rear connections, as
do single HDMI and DisplayPort outputs.
The lack of dedicated graphics can often
mean relying on an inferior selection of
video ports, but we’ll take DisplayPort
over DVI or VGA any day.
PLANET WORTH
The Intel i5 Mercury has a headline-
grabbing feature in its overclocked CPU,
but really this is a great PC all round.
We think the Ultima WS’s higher
compute performance and faster SSD
give it an edge, but if you’d prefer a
quieter, more upgradable or better-
looking system, this will suit you just fine.
75
 HOME OFFICE PCs
PC SPECIALIST Magma S1
★★★★★
£599 • From www.pcspecialist.co.uk
VERDICT
Good but not quite great, the Magma S1 shines
in some places but coasts along in others
LIKE THE CHILLBLAST Fusion Dauntless, the
Magma S1 also looks back towards AMD
Ryzen’s second generation for its centrepiece
CPU, but plumps for a lot more storage too.
The hexa-core, 12-thread Ryzen 5 2600X is
accompanied by 16GB of DDR4 RAM, both a
250GB NVMe SSD and a 1TB hard disk, and a
relatively powerful graphics card in Nvidia’s
GeForce GTX 1650. Emphasis on the ‘relatively’
– it’s still only an entry-level gaming GPU, so
won’t take the performance of video- and
photo-editing software to another level. It’s
mainly there as the Ryzen 5 2600X lacks an
integrated graphics processor of its own.
OLD FRIEND
Following on from the glass-panelled Palicomp
Intel i5 Mercury, the Magma S1’s chassis looks
a lot more basic. It’s another mid-sized black
box with few special features, although the
faux-brushed aluminium effect on the plastic
front panel looks decent. The lack of a side
window opens up the opportunity to mount
cooling fans on the side instead, adding
flexibility should you ever want to upgrade,
and the magnetic dust cover on the top
detaches magnetically for easy cleaning.
Performance, luckily, isn’t nearly as
humdrum as the exterior looks. The Ryzen 5
2600X was a great-value multitasker when it
was new, and that hasn’t changed in the two
years since. In our 4K benchmarks, it scored
146 for the image test, 220 for the video test,
260 for the multitasking test and 228 overall.
That last result narrowly puts it fourth out
of six, as far as these home office systems go,
but in use it feels closer to the best than
the worst. The Magma S1 will cope with
lots of browser tabs without issue, and
its high thread count ensures it can just
about keep up with the newer, heavily
overclocked Core i5-9600K chip inside
the Intel i5 Mercury.
That fact that its video test result is
slightly lower shows that the dedicated
GPU isn’t much of an advantage for
editing and encoding compared to the
Intel i5 Mercury’s integrated graphics,
but again, it doesn’t need that boost;
for the money, it runs better than just
fine. The only problem is that other
PCs, particularly the Fusion Dauntless
and the Wired2Fire Ultima WS, manage
even better multithreading power.
The storage setup, however, is among
the finest. The SSD component might
not be as large as AlphaBetaPC’s and
Aria’s systems, but it’s much faster:
sequential read speeds come in at a
76
fantastic 2,878MB/s, and sequential write
speeds are also good at 2,210MB/s. There are
some moments – such as loading large files –
where the Magma S1 feels even nimbler than a
PC with a more powerful CPU, simply because
its main storage drive is so fast.
The fact that it’s ‘only’ 250GB in size
means you can’t really use it for everything, as
you would on the Ultima WS, but nonetheless
that’s room enough for Windows and a fair
few of your most-used applications. The hard
disk is better suited for general file storage,
especially personal files that you won’t need in
a productivity/work context.
PLAYING ITS CARDS RIGHT
Should you ever need to add more, there’s
sadly no second M.2 slot, but the case can
hold one additional 3.5in drive as well as two
2.5in drives. That’s roughly standard for a
cheap mid-tower of this size, although there’s
also a more unusual touch in the empty 5.25in
tray. Unlike on the Gladiator Paradigm, there’s
nothing here blocking you from installing an
optical drive or multicard reader.
Both of these would complement an
already rather well-specced front panel.
Besides two USB2 ports and one USB3 – a
greater range than the average – the Magma
S1 has the very rare quality of integrated SD
and microSD card readers. These could make
it a very appealing option to photographers
wanting an affordable system to edit their
photos with, as it’s possible to simply pop the
SD card out of a camera, slot it directly into
the PC and transfer the image files from there.
Be warned, however, that these are the only
modifications you’ll be able to make without
also throwing something out. The Magma S1
opts for a microATX motherboard instead of a
full-size ATX board, as the case would allow,
and seems to at least partly suffer for it: there
are no available PCI-E x16, PCI-E x1, M.2 or
RAM slots whatsoever. One of the x1 slots
isn’t actually in use, but the graphics card is
thick enough to render it inaccessible.
In fairness, the other x1 slot is taken up by
a Wi-Fi card, which would have been a
worthwhile upgrade if it didn’t already come
included in the price. Like the rest of the
wireless cards we’ve seen in these PCs, it uses
the 802.11n standard instead of the faster
802.11ac, but not every desk setup suits an
Ethernet connection, so that’s fine.
WELL BALANCED
Speaking of Ethernet, the sole Gigabit
port is in its usual place at the back,
alongside two USB2 ports, four USB3
ports, two PS/2 ports and three
3.5mm audio jacks. That’s a functional
if basic collection, as is the GPU’s
single HDMI and dual-link DVI-D
outputs. We were hoping a dedicated
graphics card would provide more,
but most monitor configurations will
work well enough.
Ultimately, this willingness to
settle for the basics somewhat takes
the sheen off the Magma S1’s high
performance; and, let’s not forget,
it’s pipped on those qualities too by
the Ultima WS. The Magma S1 is still a
respectable budget system, however,
with a good balance of economical
and high-speed components.
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

WIRED2FIRE Ultima WS
★★★★★
£600 • From www.wired2fire.co.uk
VERDICT
An outstanding processor and high-end SSD
join forces in this outstanding system
THE ULTIMA WS is another option for
those preferring a smaller PC, although this
is mainly only ‘compact’ in its short 385mm
length; it’s still taller than Aria’s and
Chillblast’s identically tiny desktops.
Nevertheless, it’s the insides of this PC
that make it not just stand out, but stand
above the rest. The brains of the operation
is AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600, a hexa-core,
12-thread CPU from the most recent third
generation of Ryzen chips, with clock speeds
of 3.6GHz at minimum and up to 4.2GHz
with sufficient thermal headroom to boost.
Alongside it is 16GB of DDR4 RAM – no
complaints there – and, similar to the
Palicomp Intel i5 Mercury, a single 1TB SSD.
Lastly, since there are no integrated graphics,
a simple 2GB GeForce GT 710 graphics card
is called upon for video output.
CORES OF THE MATTER
There’s no overclocking or upgraded cooling
here, but that didn’t stop the Ultima WS from
cruising through our performance tests.
Although it’s not as mighty as the Ryzen
7-powered Chillblast Fusion Dauntless in
multithreaded work, it’s balanced out with
superior single-core capability that makes it
more or less the best of both worlds.
Scores of 179 in the image test, 246 in the
video test, 291 in the multitasking test and
258 overall show this in action. The Ryzen 5
3600 has the signature multithread prowess
of AMD CPUs, but its image test result
points towards the best single-core
performance of all six PCs. That includes
the 5GHz Intel i5 Mercury.
While the Fusion Dauntless’s
multitasking advantage is considerable,
in a way we actually prefer the Ultima
WS’s more rounded approach. There’s
still more than enough in the tank for
smooth media editing and encoding,
or working with massive documents
and spreadsheets, but the addition
of higher single-core power helps
ensure top-notch performance in
simpler tasks as well.
To be clear, the GT 710 is almost as
weak as graphics cards come – we’d
say it’s about as capable as Intel’s UHD
Graphics 630, which isn’t much. Still,
we’re not looking for major graphics
muscle here, and it doesn’t actively
slow the Ultima WS in these
benchmarks, so it’s perfectly welcome.
Conversely, the NVMe SSD is an
outstanding choice. As with Palicomp’s
system, it’s large enough that the lack
ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020
of a second drive isn’t much of an issue,
and in terms of speed it’s tremendous.
We recorded a sequential read speed of
2,720MB/s and a sequential write speed of
2,763MB/s, so while the PC Specialist
Magma S1’s SSD has modestly faster read
speeds, the Ultima WS can perform much
faster writes. Averaging the two, then,
makes this one the quicker SSD overall, the
benefits of which probably don’t need
explaining yet again.
Upgradability doesn’t reach the same
heights as performance, but it’s adequate.
The lack of a spare PCI-E x16 slot is
compensated by the two unused PCI-E
x1 slots, and the former is unavoidable
anyway owing to dedicated graphics being
a necessity. Two spare RAM slots also make
for a quick and easy upgrade down the line,
and the only storage slot that’s already
occupied is the motherboard’s M.2 connector.
All four chassis-provided bays, split evenly
between two 2.5in and two 3.5in bays, are
ready and available to take extra hard disks
or SATA SSDs, and there’s even one 5.25in
slot up top.
LOOKALIKE CONTEST
Outside, the case is loosely similar in design
to that of the Magma S1. Both are simple and
straightforward, with few visual flourishes
save for a brushed aluminium effect on the
front panel. Once again, this is a decent
touch, even if the Intel i5 Mercury looks a lot
nicer on a desk.
HOME OFFICE PCs
On top, there’s no Magma S1-style card
reader, just two USB2 ports and one USB3
port, although this is still pretty convenient.
This also sets the tone for external
connectivity more generally, as it’s all fair
and functional without many luxuries.
The rear panel, for example, offers Gigabit
Ethernet and three 3.5mm audio jacks, but
there’s no onboard Wi-Fi and no extra
speaker connectors. USB3.1 is nowhere to be
seen either, although this has proven to be
largely common with these £600 systems.
Also in the Ultima WS’s defence is the
generous total of eight full-size USB ports,
split between four USB2 and four USB3 ports,
so it’s unlikely you’d ever run out.
This is also the only PC here to have more
than two display outputs, which is
good news for those who favour
multiple monitors. The catch is that the
GPU’s three sockets comprise HDMI,
DVI-D and the ancient VGA standard,
with no DisplayPorts or second HDMI.
TOWER OF POWER
Still, that’s a minor complaint that
doesn’t even apply if you’re only using
one or two monitors. By and large, the
Ultima WS is excellent, combining
rapid performance in all workloads
with nimble, spacious storage and
many channels of potential future
upgrades. It’s also quiet enough for an
office space and has a smaller
footprint than most, which might be
useful if you’re short on space.
The Intel i5 Mercury shares many
of these qualities, and is even easier
to customise, but the Ultima WS’s
faster CPU and storage seals the deal
as a Best Buy.
77
 HOME OFFICE PCs

RECOMMENDED BEST BUY

Manufacturer ALPHABETAPC ARIA CHILLBLAST PALICOMP PC SPECIALIST WIRED2FIRE

Model name AMD Ryzen 5 3400G Gladiator Paradigm Fusion Dauntless Intel i5 Mercury Magma S1 Ultima WS
Gaming Desktop PC Family PC
Rating ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
CORE SPECS
Processor Quad-core 3.7GHz AMD Hexa-core 2.9GHz Intel Core Octa-core 3.7GHz AMD Hexa-core 5GHz Intel i5 Hexa-core 3.6GHz AMD Hexa-core 3.6GHz AMD
Ryzen 5 3400G i5-9400F Ryzen 7 2700X Mercury Ryzen 5 2600X Ryzen 5 3600
Processor socket AM4 Intel 1151 AM4 Intel 1151 AM4 AM4
RAM 32GB DDR4 16GB DDR4 16GB DDR4 16GB DDR4 16GB DDR4 16GB DDR4
Maximum memory 32GB 32GB 64GB 128GB 64GB 64GB
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-A320M-H Asus Prime H310-A R2.0 Gigabyte B450 Aorus M Asus Prime Z390-P Asus Prime A320M-K MSI B450M-VDH Max
PORTS AND EXPANSION
Front USB ports 2x USB2, 1x USB3 1x USB2, 1x USB3 1x USB2, 1x USB3 2x USB2, 1x USB3 2x USB2, 1x USB3 2x USB2, 1x USB3
Rear USB ports 2x USB2, 4x USB3 2x USB2, 2x USB3 2x USB2, 4x USB3, 2x USB3.1 4x USB3, 2x USB3.1 2x USB2, 4x USB3 4x USB2, 4x USB3
Other ports 2x PS/2 2x PS/2 1x PS/2 2x PS/2 2x PS/2 1x PS/2
Networking Gigabit Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet
802.11n Wi-Fi 802.11n Wi-Fi 802.11n Wi-Fi
Case type Mid-tower Mini tower Mini tower Mid-tower Mid-tower Mid-tower
Case dimensions 480x290x380mm 358x175x410mm 358x175x410mm 435x201x435mm 448x185x436mm 410x175x385mm
PCI-E x1 (free) 2 (1) 2 (0) 1 (1) 4 (4) 2 (0) 2 (2)
PCI-E x16 (free) 1 (1) 1 (0) 2 (1) 2 (2) 1 (0) 1 (0)
Serial ATA (free) 4 (3) 4 (3) 6 (6) 4 (4) 4 (3) 4 (4)
Memory slots (free) 2 (0) 2 (0) 4 (2) 4 (2) 2 (0) 4 (2)
Drive bays 2.5in (free) 2 (2) 3 (1) 3 (3) 3 (3) 2 (2) 2 (2)
Drive bays 3.5in (free) 2 (1) 2 (1) 2 (2) 2 (2) 2 (1) 2 (2)
M.2 ports (free) 1 (0) 1 (0) 1 (0) 2 (1) 1 (0) 1 (0)
STORAGE
Total storage 480GB SSD, 1TB hard disk 512GB SSD, 1TB hard disk 500GB SSD 1TB SSD 250GB SSD, 1TB hard disk 1TB SSD
Memory card reader None None None None 1x SD, 1x microSD None
GRAPHICS
Graphics processor AMD Radeon Vega 11 2GB Asus GeForce GT 1030 2GB Nvidia GeForce GT 1030 Intel UHD Graphics 630 4GB Palit GeForce GTX 1650 2GB Palit GeForce GT 710
StormX
Graphics/video ports 1x HDMI, 1x DVI-D 1x HDMI, 1x DVI-D 1x HDMI, 1x DVI-D 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort 1x HDMI, 1x DVI-D 1x HDMI, 1x DVI-D, 1x VGA
SOUND
Sound card Onboard Onboard Onboard Onboard Onboard Onboard
Sound card outputs Line out Line out Line out, side speaker, rear Line out Line out Line out
speaker, C/SUB
SOFTWARE
Operating system Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Home
Operating system Windows 10 restore Windows 10 restore Windows 10 restore Windows 10 restore Windows 10 restore Windows 10 restore
restore option
Prices correct at time of going to press

BUYING INFORMATION
Warranty Three years RTB including 30 Four years labour Two years collect and return Three years RTB Three years labour, one year Five years labour including
days collect and return parts, one month collect two years parts
and return
Price £600 £590 £600 £600 £599 £600
Supplier www.alphabetapc.com www.aria.co.uk www.chillblast.com www.palicomp.co.uk www.pcspecialist.co.uk www.wired2fire.co.uk
Details www.alphabetapc.com www.aria.co.uk www.chillblast.com www.palicomp.co.uk www.pcspecialist.co.uk www.wired2fire.co.uk
Part code ABPC-R5-3400G Gladiator Paradigm C6830 COF9 Magma S1 Ultima WS

VERDICT
When we run these low-price PC shoot-outs, it’s always interesting
to see how different systems take different approaches. Just among
these six desktops, we’ve seen the resourceful mining of previous-
generation hardware to get erstwhile flagship performance on the
cheap, and almost every single one came to a distinct conclusion on
what the best balance of storage capacity and speed should be.
Two systems stand out. The Palicomp Intel i5 Mercury is – not
unlike its distant gaming-based cousin, the Palicomp AMD Abyss – a
brilliantly balanced system, managing to spin high CPU performance,
a spacious SSD, extensive upgradability, speed-focused connectivity
and even a handsome chassis out of a relatively tight budget.
However, we think the Wired2Fire Ultima WS edges it. Its core
performance is even better than that of the Intel i5 Mercury,
thanks to the superior multitasking capability of its AMD Ryzen
processor and even nimbler NVMe SSD – which, again, is big
enough to handle storage duties all by itself, with no mechanical
hard disk slowing it down.
The Ultima WS also has the biggest, most varied collection of
external ports – mainly in the USB and display output departments
– so it’s a particularly good choice if you have loads of peripherals
and external drives that need permanent or regular connections.
There are other highlights elsewhere. The Chillblast Fusion
Dauntless Family PC, for instance, makes up for its limited storage
with chart-topping CPU power and bonus audio connectivity, but
the Intel i5 Mercury and Ultima WS are the most endearingly
well-rounded systems.

78 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

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 STRAP IN
Fitness bands
Not everyone needs a top-of-the-range smartwatch to start tracking their
exercise routines. Fitness bands are smaller, lighter and cheaper, and newer
models have more versatile feature sets than ever

CONTENT REVIEWS FITNESS-TRACKING CAPABILITY can be
Page 82 found in all manner of wrist-mounted
FITBIT Inspire wearables: dedicated fitness watches and
all-purpose smartwatches alike seem to be
Page 83 adding new tracking metrics and workout
FITBIT Inspire HR aids with every new model.
Page 84 However, the issue with these devices are
twofold. First, they’re generally bigger and
HONOR Band 5
more fashion-minded than the kind of
Page 85 compact, lightweight device that made
HUAWEI Band 3 Pro fitness trackers popular in the first place;
second, they tend to be a lot more expensive,
Page 86
and might be loaded with advanced features
XIAOMI Mi Smart Band 4 that casual users might not get enough out
of to be worth it.
The classic fitness band, then, might well
be a better choice for those who only exercise
occasionally, or simply want to spend as little
as possible. These wearables are slim and light
on the wrist and, while often able to track a
wide range of activities, offer a more simple
(and affordable) experience.
Read on for our buying guide to fitness
bands, as well as full tests of five recent
models you can choose from.
MEASURE SEEKER
The most important part of picking a fitness
band is making sure it can track the activities
you want tracked. There’s a degree of basic

80 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

 FITNESS BANDS

functionality that all will share – pedometers
come as standard, for instance, so any device
will be able to handle simple step counting
– but beyond that, they can vary.
We recommend having a heart-rate sensor,
as this can give you a better understanding of
your general health and fitness than most
other measuring tools, although some cheaper
bands omit this. Swim tracking, conversely,
has become much more widely supported
recently, and since this requires waterproofing,
swim-tracking support will herald better
physical durability. Sleep tracking has become
a lot less niche as well.
TAKE POSITION
Integrated pedometers are useful for recording
how many steps you take in a day, but if
you’re a keen runner, you’ll want to keep track
of distance travelled as well. GPS support is
ideal for this, or at the very least more
accurate than using step counts to estimate it.
There are two forms of GPS support to
look out for: onboard and connected.
Onboard/integrated GPS means the requisite
chip is inside the band itself, whereas
connected GPS needs a GPS-enabled
physical controls are therefore ideal, though
admittedly rare on small bands.
The good news is that even if your tracker
gets wet, a slippery touchscreen is probably
the most of your worries. All of the fitness
bands we’re looking at in the following pages
are waterproof to a depth of 50m, so they’ll all
be fine with some lengths of the pool.
APP YOUR HANDS
With such small screens, the best way to
actually review your tracking data is with a
mobile app. For the most part you’ll likely be
using the official app of whichever
manufacturer produced your band – Fitbit,
Huawei and so on – but you can sometimes
also sync your data with third-party fitness
apps such as Strava and Runkeeper.
As with the devices themselves, each app
will vary significantly, but the best ones will be
able to balance the need for detailed feedback
(vague or inaccurate data won’t help you
improve your fitness or help you sleep better)
with the need to present this information in
understandable, user-friendly formats.
Fitbit’s app is particularly well made, and
makes it easy to compare your progress with
other Fitbit users, which could be a source of
motivation if you’re the competitive type.
GET A LIFE
Another advantage of fitness bands over
smartwatches is that their lower-spec
displays (among other size limitations) often
translates into longer battery life. This is a
rare area in which Fitbit devices are relatively
weak – the otherwise excellent Fitbit Inspire
HR lasts about five days – but even very
cheap models can keep going for two weeks
or more between charges.
Having to charge less often is convenient in
any case, although it’s particularly handy for
trackers. Running out halfway through a
workout would render any data collected up to
that point almost worthless, and if you want
to track your sleep, you obviously can’t take
the opportunity to remove the band to charge
overnight. Therefore, a device that can go for
days and days at a time will maximise the
number of nights you can track.

smartphone to be connected over Bluetooth;
the band essentially piggybacks off the
phone’s GPS signal to record movement data.
The benefit of onboard GPS is that you
don’t need to carry a phone with you while
exercising, a boon if you don’t want it
bouncing around in your pocket the whole
time. However, we generally find connected
GPS can produce more accurate results.
We test this by performing precisely 5km-long
runs, and seeing how close to 5km each band’s
distance tracking comes. You’ll be dependent
on the reliability of your phone’s GPS chip, of
course, so that’s another potential variable,
though again, it’s likely to be more accurate
than the chips used inside fitness bands.
Either of these alternatives are better than
having no GPS at all, though it’s up to you
whether you’d prefer the convenience of
onboard GPS or the superior accuracy of
using a connected smartphone.
STAY IN TOUCH
If having unobtrusive hardware is important to
you, a fitness band is definitely preferable to a
fitness watch. These are designed to be as
small and as light as possible, eschewing
traditional round watch faces and heavy
construction materials such as metal.
This unavoidably means smaller display
sizes, and more often than not, touchscreen
controls in place of any physical buttons. Be
warned, however, that this can adversely affect
usability: small displays have trouble displaying
more than small snippets of text, so when
you’re in the middle of a workout, you might
not be able to keep all the tracking data you
want visible at a glance.
Touchscreens can also be tricky to use with
wet fingers: an obvious problem should you be
tracking a pool swim, or if you’re caught in the
rain while running. A mix of touchscreen and
Figures of fitness
What metrics can a fitness band measure,
and how do they help you stay healthy?
HEART RATE
Heart-rate tracking is very nearly a standard feature on all fitness trackers,
with only very basic models (such as the Fitbit Inspire) going without
them. That’s because for such a simple metric, it can tell you a lot
about how healthy you are.
The better your cardiovascular fitness, the lower your heart rate
will be, so you’ll be able to tell quickly if your exercise routine is
working, as both your resting and active pulse will get slower over
time. If you know the ideal rates for your weight and age (most
adults, for instance, should have a resting heart rate of between
60 and 100 beats per minute), you can also tell immediately if you’re
not as healthy as you should be.
VO2 MAX
This is the maximum amount of oxygen that is transferred into your blood when
exercising. It’s a more complex calculation than heart rate – your VO2 Max is expressed
as millilitres of oxygen transferred per kilogram of body weight, per minute – but it
serves a similar purpose. The healthier you are, the more oxygen gets pumped in, so
improving your VO2 Max means you’re improving your overall fitness.
At the same time, it’s not quite as reliable when calculated on a fitness band, as
something on your wrist can’t measure what’s going in and out of your lungs.
Instead, devices that provide VO2 Max data work out an estimate using your age, sex
and heart rate.
DISTANCE/STEPS TRAVELLED
This isn’t technically a measure of bodily health – a fit person could
certainly run further than an unfit person – but, unlike heart rate
or VO2 Max, you won’t be trying to plateau your highest step
count every time you go for a walk.
Even so, such a basic metric can be useful for getting and
keeping fit: all you have to do is take an initial measure of steps
or distance, and go further the next time. Do this on repeat, and
you gradually build up your endurance while also burning more
calories each time.

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 81

 FITNESS BANDS
FITBIT Inspire
★★★★★
£50 • From www.johnlewis.com
VERDICT
The Fitbit Inspire is a perfectly decent wearable,
but with the Inspire HR you get a whole lot more
OF FITBIT’S THREE newest wearables – the
Inspire, the Inspire HR and the more
smartwatch-like Versa Lite – the Inspire is
both the cheapest and the least interesting.
Still, that’s more down to its comparative
weaknesses rather than being a poor tracker
in its own right.
The Inspire is a stripped-down version of
the Inspire HR. That means it shares the same
form factor, the same screen and – for the
first time in living memory – the same
charger.
The element that’s been stripped out is
the heart-rate sensor, hence the lack of ‘HR’
in the title. That means it can’t tell you your
heartbeat, obviously, but that has a knock-on
effect on other things. It prevents the guided
breathing exercises, stops the app giving you
a cardio fitness level and strips sleep tracking
of the ability to detect different stages.
Less explicably, Fitbit has also removed
the connected GPS functionality, meaning it
won’t give you run data on your wrist even
by piggybacking off a smartphone. Given that
all the heavy lifting for this is done on your
phone, there’s no technical reason it can’t
do this, so dropping it feels more bloody
minded than anything.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
How much more would you pay for those
extra features? If it’s £20, happy days: go and
buy a Fitbit Inspire HR for £70 right now and
don’t worry about its cheaper sibling.
Ind
deed, the Fitbit Inspire goes for
£50. That puts it in a strange
price bracket of its own but
one thhat’s markedly lower
than itts other offerings.
The Fitbit Charge 3 sells
for £1000 and offers a
couplee of extra things
to the Inspire HR:
floors climbed and
quick replies to
messa ages. That’ss not
an exttra £30 of value,
howev ver, so you can
safely discount it.
Design-wise,
there’ss very little to
differe
entiate the Fitbit
Inspire
e from its
heart-rate-tracking
sibling
g. The two points of
differe
ence: the back
doesn’t have the green light
to mea asure heart rate
via blo
ood flow, and it’s available in
82
different colours. That’s it.
That’s no bad thing: botth
varieties of Fitbit Inspire arre
excellent examples of sleek k
minimalism. A small plasticc
lozenge – the brain of the
Fitbit – clips neatly between
two rubber straps. These
straps can be swapped outt to
match your style, and the
company sells a number off
options in rubber, leather
and steel, meaning you can n
match both your outfit and d the
formality of any occasion.
There’s a drawback to copying
c
the design from the Fitbit Inspire HR,
which is that it inherits its weaknesses
as well as its strengths. Tha at’s chiefly
because it’s a touchscreen device, and
quite a fiddly one at that. There’s a button
on the side, but that’s used d ffor
or go bac
backk
when navigating menus, and not much else. need that kind of data. We’re a bit sceptical of
That said, a touchscreen interface makes its utility unless you’re having serious trouble
marginally more sense here than it does on sleeping, but it’s still another bit of value that
the Inspire HR. Since this doesn’t have makes that £20 difference look pretty
connected GPS, there’s less need to consult significant.
it when exercising, meaning sweat and rain Perhaps this more limited feature set is
confusing your inputs shouldn’t be an issue. enough for occasional users; it worked well
enough for early Fitbit models and it does
SIMPLE MINDED come with the genuinely fantastic Fitbit app,
The core functions of the Fitbit Inspire are the which offers just the right amount of friendly
same as that of the Inspire HR. That means competition between friends and family.
you put it on your wrist and forget abo out it, But, for all this, it does feel a bit cheap of
while it dutifully counts your ste eps and Fitbit not to include connected GPS. There’s
congratulates you when yo ou hit no technical reason the company couldn’t
the target. Occasionally it will have added it, and it would make the tracker a
tell you to move if you’ve lot more useful, even without tracking heart
been sedentary for to oo long, rate (which felt pretty flakey during exercise
and it will also buzz on the HR anyway.) It feels as though Fitbit
through call and message cut the feature here just to make the Inspire
notifications from your HR seem like a better option, when the truth
phone. is that, even without it, it was already a far
The trouble is that more compelling product.
there’s really nott much
more to say abou ut it. It’s LOSING HEART
comfortable eno ough, In short, for a saving of £20, you’d be a fool to
and the screen iss bright, pick this over the Inspire HR. Even if you don’t
but this is a prett
tty basic care about running, the guided breathing
device when all is said exercises and better sleep tracking are worth
and done. Even the the extra money. Unless £50 is all you can
sleep tracking simmply afford, you’re better off spending a bit more.
tells you whether you’re Even then, if money’s tight, we’d advise
sleeping or not based on going cheaper than this. The Honor Band 5
movement, with no one of and Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4 both offer the
the clever sleep-stage same kind of features for a fraction of the
tracking the Fitbit Insp pire HR Inspire’s price, and throw in a heart-rate
offers. monitor. If you’re going to compromise on
Maybe you don’t feel lik ke you features, you may as well do it on the cheap.
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
 FITNESS BANDS

FITBIT Inspire HR
★★★★★
£70 • From www.johnlewis.com

VERDICT
The Inspire HR’s simplicity, stylishness and superb app
make it a great fitness tracker for more casual users

FITBIT ISN’T THE fitness band dominator it proprietary y Fitbit design.

once was, but devices such as the Inspire HR At this poiint, it’s pretty
show why the firm has been so successful in clear that unless Fitbit
the first place. It’s a well-balanced blend for has a desig gner on the
people who want to get fitter, but don’t want payroll wh ho just really
to spend hours analysing their form. loves desig gning
As such, it’s not as fully featured as the chargers, thet only
likes of the Fitbit Charge 3, though the design reason forr this is
will be pretty familiar to anybody who has the huge markups
m
used a Fitbit band from the past few years. A it can mak ke from
small plastic lozenge is the brain of the device, selling replacements.
and it clips in between two silicone rubber Still, the Inspire HR
straps. Rather neatly, two bands come in the nails the re est of the
box, so you don’t have to figure out whether basics, ste ep-counting in
you qualify as having large wrists or not. You particular. You can set your
can also buy separate straps, ranging from desired ste ep target in the
£20 to £60, to make the Inspire HR look as app (the default
d is 10,000,
smart or as sporty as you like, depending on or around five miles for
whether you want rubber, leather or steel. most peop ple), and the little
OLED scre een dutifully keeps
SLIPPERY WHEN WET track, occa asionally buzzing to
As for the brain part, it may look a little tell you to get up for a walk if you’ve
cheaper than the old but particularly stylish been stationary ffor too llong.
Fitbit Alta – its predecessor was constructed The sleep tracking has come on quite a Fitbit really shines: the app is not just
from aluminium, this is plastic – but there’s long way since the early days, and the app user-friendly and accessible to people who
not much in it. Indeed, we quite like the curvy claims to be able to tell the difference may find a full Garmin-style stat-fest
elegance of the Inspire HR, and the display between light, deep and REM sleep. This is daunting, it also has a huge userbase, meaning
looks a little sharper, too. difficult to entirely prove from our end, what you’ll likely find plenty of friends and family
The Inspire HR is mainly controlled via with having to be asleep for testing, but to compete with. No other fitness-tracking
touchscreen, which is rarely a great idea for a anecdotally the charts seem to match up ecosystem comes close to matching Fitbit’s
fitness tracker, given that sensitivity drops from what we remember, with spikes during sense of friendly competition, and it’s a world
when they come e intto conttactt wiith unexpectted d 3am wak ke-ups and the like. away from the overwhelming sense of elite
moisture – some ething that The other features are equally athleticism that other apps try to instil.
makes a touchsccreen well thought out. The guided However, this simplicity cuts both ways.
difficult to use when breathing app, for example, Frankly, we found the Inspire HR too small and
running in rain, or has you focus on a circle fiddly to use as a running watch; the tiny
simply having that gro
ows and shrinks for display means only one stat can appear
sweaty fingers. two orr five minutes to onscreen at a time, and swiping while running
It’s even harder help you pace your is distinctly awkward. You can use connected
when the screen n is breatthing, while the GPS (allowing the band to use the GPS on
so tiny, although h Fitbitt monitors your your phone), but it’s not built in, so you’d
to Fitbit’s credit, hearrt rate. It will have to carry your phone with you on runs.
this one works eveen give you an
well; even betterr estimate of VO2 Max AT A GLANCE
than the Charge e to help you judge That isn’t to say the Fitbit Inspire HR is of no
3’s screen, in facct. youur overall fitness use to runners. If you’re the kind of person
There’s a single lev
vel and, more to trust your body, you’ll find it fine for
button on the importantly, track recording your performance. It’s just not that
left-hand side, youur improvement useful for assessing it on the fly compared
but this mainly er time.
ove with dedicated running watches that show
functions as a multiple data fields on one screen.
back button, or GROUP ACTIVITY For £70, however, the Inspire HR doesn’t
as a way of In cla
assic Fitbit style, necessarily have to compete with the best
lighting up the this innformation is high-end fitness trackers and hybrid
screen if it doesn’t presen nted in a very smartwatches. What it actually does, it
detect the fact that user-frieendly way, giving generally does very well – so if all you’re after
you’ve raised yo our wrist. you a ratiing rather than a is a smart fitness band to track your steps,
Less useful iss the raw set of numbers to decode. sleep and general fitness levels, the Fitbit
charger, which iss yet another And this is, of course, where Inspire HR is an easy recommendation.

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 83

 FITNESS BANDS

HONOR Band 5
★★★★★
£30 • From www.amazon.co.uk

VERDICT
The Honor Band 5 proves that you don’t need to
spend the earth to get a reliable fitness tracker

THE HONOR BAND 5 is another fitness band Remember, however, that

for those who want to be a bit more active, your mileage will quite literally
but don’t need the advanced features of a vary depending on your
running watch. That means no onboard GPS, phone. Onboard GPS also
but you do get a heart-rate monitor, a step seems a little better in more
counter and notifications showing up on the urban areas rather than parks
0.95in OLED screen. and fields; unlike the M430,
Fairly thick bezels surround this 282ppi the Band 5 sometimes
touchscreen, which is par for the course with recorded our running route
this type of fitness wearable, and you can as having passed straight
bring it to life with a quick tap of the through buildings.
touch-sensitive panel beneath it. Because all
the backgrounds are black, it’s not obvious ON THE PULSE
where bezels end and screen begins, so those Still, for a £30 wearable, we’d
bezels don’t look as ugly as they might. say everything works rather
well. Heart-rate tracking is
BUDDY UP both accurate and well
In fact, despite having a different brand developed: it can be switched off ff,
ff
stamped on it, the Honor Band 5 seems to set to constantly take readings or
share a lot of the same DNA as the Huawei put in smart mode, where it
Band 3 Pro, right down to the plugs holding automatically limits tracking whe en it
the replaceable straps in place, which require detects you’re not doing much.
fingernails of steel to remove. It’s not If you have continuous heart-rate tracking
something you’ll want to do often, and nor enabled, you can even set it to give you an
will you be able to put on any old watch strap, alert if your heart rate is unusually high for to measure movements. If it’s on, the
as these are proprietary attachments. more than 10 minutes. This includes the heart-rate sensor comes into play, allowing
Although the Band 5 can only claim a basic ability to set the threshold for what you the watch to estimate sinus rhythm and
feature set, they all work well enough, even if consider to be unusually high, too: anything breathing signals, which in turn gives you a
step-counting accuracy can vary compared to from 100bpm to 150bpm. better analysis of your sleep: when you’re
other fitness trackers. Then again, since the All these advanced features are off by light sleeping, deep sleeping or enjoying a
main point of step tracking is to encourage default to save on battery life, but we’d dream in the REM stages.
you to do more today than yesterday, it only recommend you flick them all on straight Again, we found the readings accurate
siste t with
really needs to be consistent t itself.
tse . you need to charge it
away. Yes, you’ll and reliable, even if the nuggets of sleep-
More important, esspecially more often n, but that’s still not improving advice offered by the Huawei
for runners, is accuracyy hugely re egularly. Honor says Health app weren’t particularly insightful.
tracking distance. The lack you’ll ge et 14 days with just Unsurprisingly, given that Honor is a
of GPS means you’ll basic fu unctionality, down Huawei subsidiary, the Band 5 uses the same
need to pair it with a to six if you turn mobile app as the Band 3 Pro. It’s mostly fine,
smartphone, and keep everytthing on. Both of but suffers from two big problems. First,
the latter on you, thesee estimates are in there’s no web interface at all, meaning any
when taking a run; line with what we’ve analysis you do will be on your phone. More
that’s less experienced, so even seriously, it only connects with MyFitnessPal
convenient, but it at
a full whack it’s and Google Fit. There’s no option to export
does mean you very long-lasting. things to Strava, Runkeeper, Endomondo or
might get better The Xiaomi Mi any other running app.
results than with an Smart Band 4,
onboard GPS chip. however, can keep COST BENEFIT
We completed a oing for up to 20
go That will probably disappoint anyone with a
5K run wearing ays, so the Band 5 is
da history of enthusiastic fitness tracker use,
both the Band 5, eat on battery life,
gre although the £30 price doesn’t just earn the
paired to a Huawei butt not the best. Band 5 some goodwill – it also makes it a
P20 Pro, and a By default, you also great first-time device for anyone looking to
Polar M430 with onlyy get basic sleep take their exercise more seriously.
integrated GPS: the trackking. Again, you The Mi Smart Band 4 is similarly cheap,
Band 5 ended up shoulld switch on just as usable and can last a few days longer,
the more accurate, TruSlee ep if you have any so it slightly pips it, but both devices are
measuring the distance e interest in knowing how extremely impressive. Frankly, it’s incredible
as 4.97km compared to o well you’re e kipping. If it’s off, that you can get this kind of functionality
the M430’s 5.09km. it just tracks the accelerometer for such little money.

84 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387


HUAWEI Band 3 Pro
★★★★★
£50 • From www.amazon.co.uk
VERDICT
The fitness band isn’t the most accurate at
tracking, but for the low price it’s still a good buy
THE HUAWEI BAND 3 Pro has nearly
everything you could plausibly want in a
fitness band, including integrated GPS, a
heart-rate monitor and a vibrant AMOLED
screen. More importantly, it has all this at a
price where you’ll get change from three
£20 notes.
Like smartphones, fitness bands are all
beginning to follow the same design cues.
A rubber band encases a small unit with a
touchscreen on the front, with a heart-rate
sensor and charging ports on the back.
THE QUIET TYPE
There are no physical buttons on this
otherwise conventionally designed wearable.
The closest thing is a single touch-sensitive
button under the main screen; while we like
the clean, symmetrical look, we also wouldn’t
have minded one or two extra buttons on the
side. Touchscreen controls can get tricky to
use when sweating, swimming or just out in
the rain, so a protruding button would have
been a reassuring backup option even if it
would disrupt the band’s symmetry.
As with the Honor Band 5, the straps are
replaceable but don’t come off without a
fight – the plugs holding them in place are
secure to a fault.
Even with these wobbles, however, using
the Band 3 Pro as an everyday fitness tracker
is an understated pleasure. Your wrist will
occasionally buzz with notifications, if
enabled, but otherwise it’s seen and not
heard, only springing into life if you move
your wrist sharply. The 0.9in AMOLED screen
is sharp and easily readable, too.
Its one drawback is the lack of automatic
brightness adjustment, which can be
bothersome if you’re wearing it while trrying
to sleep. There is an option to reduce
brightness at night, buried in the settings –
bafflingly not enabled by default – but iit’s
not a perfect solution.
The onboard software is also fairly
barebones, with just three faces to cho oose
from, and there are no widgets for wea ather or
water consumed. Instead, you just have e pages
for steps, heart rate, sleep, workout andd
messages. There’s no support for musicc
– even just as a remote control for your
phone – and no guided breathing exerccises
or the like, as you get on some rivals.
nce
The biggest issue, however, is distan
accuracy. At the end of a 5km run, the Band 3
Pro had measured us as only having tra avelled
4.56km. Some heavy tree cover might have h
interfered here, but that’s not a very
reassuring excuse. Another run, this timme at
ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020
3.75km, only registered as 3.41km – againn,
falling short by about 10%.
Conversely, heart-rate tracking is
pretty reliable. Some peaks can be a
little on the low side, but averages are
accurate and there are no odd jumps or
dips when reviewing post-workout data.
SQUASH AND STRETCH
The Huawei Band 3 Pro falls into the
same trap as all slim fitness bands:
there just isn’t enough space on the
screen to show all the key running
metrics at a glance. Instead, six data
fields are shown across three screens,
which can be cycled through with a tap.
Suffice to say, this isn’t ideal for serious
runners, especially as you can’t change
the order in which they appear.
Fortunately, the design isn’t too bad
here, as the touch button for stopping
and starting is sufficiently far removed
from the main panel that you won’t end up
inadvertently ending your run early. And d even
if you do tap it by accident, you need to hold
it for the duration of a three-second
countdown for anything to happen.
One area where the Band 3 Pro really
excels is battery life. Despite having a tiny
100mAh cell, Huawei claims it will last up to
three weeks on a single charge or around
seven hours of GPS tracking: from our
experience this seems optimistic, but not
hugely so. After a week of normal use with
some GPS tracking thrown in occasionally,
we still had plenty of charge left.
It’s also worth notingg that the Band 3 Pro
is both cheaper and more fully featured than
FITNESS BANDS
the Fitbit Inspire HR. However, the latter
h the
has h benefit
b fi off b h the
both h Fitbit
b app and d
community, which do a much better job of
making fitness fun.
The Huawei Band 3 Pro makes you use
Huawei Health, which isn’t an entirely bad
app, but it lacks a web interface, a similarly
enthusiastic userbase to Fitbit’s and support
for interfacing with third-party apps. There’s
no option to export data to Strava, Runkeeper,
Endomondo or anything else.
SMALL DATA
As witth the Honor Band 5, this alone might
be a deal-breaker to some potential buyers,
althouugh if you just want to track things by
yourseelf, it does the trick, letting you easily
keep tabs on your steps, exercise and sleep
from the
t main menu. Tapping on a run, for
examp ple, offers you a granular breakdown
of youur heart rate, pace and cadence over
the duuration, with insights about how your
fitnesss compares with your gender and
age-grroup peers.
Thiis kind of simple but effective usability
goes a long way towards making the Band 3
Pro a nice
n little fitness band, even in spite of
our cooncerns about its GPS accuracy. It’s
particu
ularly good value, too: ultimately the
Inspire
e HR is a far better device in most
regardds, but then it is more expensive.
Huawe ei’s wearable isn’t, of course, as
unbelieevably cheap as the Honor Band 5 or
the Xiaaomi Mi Smart Band 4, but it’s fairly
comfoortable being sat in the middle.
85
 FITNESS BANDS

XIAOMI Mi Smart Band 4

★★★★★
£28 • From www.amazon.co.uk

VERDICT
Upgraded features and an incredibly long-lasting
battery ensure you get plenty for your money

THE NEW AND improved Mi Smart Band orst

may be a few pounds more expensive than
the £20 Mi Smart Band 3, but that £8 sure
seems to pay for a lot of extra features. The
screen is bigger, has a higher resolution and is
colour, it’s gained connected GPS and, unlike
the Mi Smart Band 3, it actually pairs its full
waterproofing with swim-tracking capability.
Despite these improvements, Xiaomi
claims that the battery life is the same
impressive 20 days, too. That’s because the
battery cell has also grown a little, from
110mAh in the Mi Smart Band 3 to 135mAh
in the Mi Smart Band 4.
BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE
This is yet another small black lozenge of a
fitness tracker, which sits securely within a
rubber wrist band when in use and in a small
charging dock when not. Despite the larger
display, the Mi Smart Band 4 can be fitted
with Mi Smart Band 3 straps, which is both
impressive in itself and decent of Xiaomi not
to make returning buyers start afresh.
The vibrantly colourful screen isn’t as big
as it looks – it simply has a black background
that blends in with the rest of its plastic
housing – but it is large enough to read
clearly. WhatsApp messages can be a bit
tricky to make out but, to Xiaomi’s credit,
the Band 4 displays the whole message
(over multiple screens if necessary) instead
of truncating it.
There are no physical buttons, so
navigation can get tricky if you’re in the pool
or simply soaked from the rain, and the whole
thing is a little bulky, too, protruding a good
10.8mm from th he wriist. That may
not sound like much,
but remember most
smartphones arre around
the 8mm mark, and
imagine how that
looks – especiallly on a
device with a lo ong and
thin profile like this.
Still, it’s not bad
at all for £28, an nd
considering wha at
this design mea ans
in terms of stam mina
and performancce,
it’s a compromiise
that’s ultimately y as the sortt you might
worth making.
We found th he
Mi Smart Band 4’’s
pedometer reassonably
accurate, thoug gh even if it
wasn’t, it wouldn’t be the wo
thing – the exact number of
steps doesn’t matter per se,
as long as the wearable is
consistent with itself so
you know if you’ve
performed better or
worse than yesterday.
GOING THE DISTANCE
Besides, the big advancemen nt
in performance terms is the
connected GPS, where the
wearable can utilise your pho one’s
location-tracking data. Here, of course,
you’re reliant on your phone e, and when
we tested it we were at the mercy of the
Huawei P20 Pro’s aggressive e battery-saving
algorithms. Despite this, it pe erformed well,
measuring a distance of 3.49 9km compared
to the Polar M430’s 3.59km.
It’s best not to look too closely at the especially on the sleep-tracking side of things,
details, however. Zooming in on the map where the app will not just show you the
revealed the odd inconsistency, such as information, but tell you how that compares
when the GPS thought we had swung to others. It also supplies practical tips on
completely off the running route and into how to have more restful nights.
a nearby industrial park. Even so, there are two things that hold it
Again, however, it works well enough back. The first is simply that very few people
considering how little it costs – this is not a use Mi Fit compared to more established
£200 running watch. To come this close to a fitness apps; if your fitness regime is
dedicated wearable like the Polar M430 is motivated by friendly competition, then this
pretty good going. is clearly a big issue.
Speaking of good going, the battery in the Second, its Chinese roots are clear in the
Mi Smart Band 4 just runs and runs. The 20 tiny list of apps you can connect: WeChat
days quoted by Xiaomi may be pessimistic, in and Google Fit. There’s no Strava, no
fact, depending on your usage. Judging by Runkeeper and no MyFitnessPal.
how slowly the battery drains when you’re not That feels like nitpicking, however: as a
usiing track
kingg apps or GPS, you may product, it’s extremely hard to quibble with
be able to get closser to a full the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4, especially when
month h than 20 days. most concerns about the app also apply to
So far, so good. The the similarly priced Honor Band 5.
biiggest wea akness isn’t
even partt of the band PICK MI UP
itself: it’ss the Xiaomi Mi The Mi Smart Band 3 was a bargain, and
Fit mob bile app, which is the Mi Smart Band 4 certainly has £8 worth
pretty bare on features. of extra value. From its larger, more eye-
It’s also not the most catching screen to its ability to track runs
user-frie endly experience, using your smartphone’s GPS, the Mi Smart
and traccking down past Band 4 is an extremely worthy follow-up
running data was a bit that’s definitely worth a look for budget-
of a chore. Once found, conscious consumers.
the data is nowhere Is it worth buying ahead of the Honor
near as co omprehensive Band 5? Each has one minor advantage over
the other: while the Honor Band 5 can
fin
nd on Garmin Connect measure blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), the
or Polar Flow w, either. Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4’s battery lasts longer.
Th
hat said, once you get To us, the added reliability of a bigger battery
past th
he initial confusion there’s is worth the loss of a relatively obscure
some innteresting g data in there, sensor, so we’d go for the Mi Smart Band 4.

86 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

 FITNESS BANDS

RECOMMENDED RECOMMENDED BEST BUY

Manufacturer FITBIT FITBIT HONOR HUAWEI XIAOMI
Model Inspire Inspire HR Band 5 Band 3 Pro Mi Smart Band 4
Rating ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
HARDWARE

Pedometer Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Altimeter No No No No No
Heart-rate monitor No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Sleep tracking Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GPS No Yes (connected) Yes (connected) Yes (onboard) Yes (connected)
Waterproof Yes (50m) Yes (50m) Yes (50m) Yes (50m) Yes (50m)
Weight 19g 20g 22.7g 25g 22.1g
Wireless Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth
DISPLAY

Display size 0.7in 0.7in 0.95in 0.95in 0.95in

Resolution 128x72 128x72 240x120 240x120 240x120
Display technology OLED OLED AMOLED AMOLED AMOLED
SOFTWARE

Operating system FitbitOS FitbitOS Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary

Mobile OS support Android, iOS Android, iOS Android, iOS Android, iOS Android, iOS
BATTERY

Battery size Not stated Not stated 100mAh 100mAh 135mAh

Battery life Five days Five days Two weeks Three weeks 20 days
BUYING INFORMATION

Prices correct at time of going to press

Price £50 £70 £30 £50 £28
Warranty One year RTB One year RTB One year RTB One year RTB One year RTB
Supplier www.johnlewis.com www.johnlewis.com www.amazon.co.uk www.amazon.co.uk www.amazon.co.uk
Details www.fitbit.com www.fitbit.com www.hihonor.com consumer.huawei.com www.mi.com
Part code FB412BKBK FB413BKBK KYG3649645453002TV 55023002 XMSH07HM

VERDICT
These results should be music to the ears
(or eyes, or wrists) of anyone less than keen
on spending £300-plus on an Apple Watch.
Three of the best fitness bands here cost
£50 or less, with the cheapest of the
bunch – the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4 –
also being the best value. It’s laden with
features far beyond what we’d expect for
£28, including connected GPS and swim-
proofing, and its phenomenal battery life
gives it a nicely practical advantage over the
similarly inexpensive Honor Band 5.
The latter is, as we’ve seen, great value
as well. It’s only major downside is its use of
Huawei’s mobile app, but the hardware is
more than good enough for a beginner’s or
intermediate’s fitness tracker.
As is the Fitbit Inspire HR. It’s a major
upgrade on the standard Inspire, thanks to
its heart-rate sensor and connected GPS
support, but doesn’t cost all that much
extra. In fact, it doesn’t cost all that much
at all, and while it’s not quite as absurd a
bargain as the Mi Smart Band 4, it does have
the bonus of a class-leading mobile app.
The cheaper but sensor-deprived Inspire
is left behind as a result, but that’s no great
loss: there’s evidently no shortage of
credible alternatives that manage to stay
low on price but aim high on features.

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 87

 REVIEWS

How we test
Find out how well products perform with the help of
Computer Shopper’s comprehensive tests

COMPUTER SHOPPER’S REVIEWS use The actual scores in each test are
some of the most exhaustive testing shown inside each bar
procedures you’ll find in any PC
magazine. Every product is subjected to
qualitative and quantitative tests that Normal speed 11ppm Bigger is better for
show how it performs in practical use. all bars except the
Graphs for performance, battery-life Mono costs 2.2p red ones, which
scores and costs are used in the Reviews show running costs
section, as shown on the right. Look in Colour costs 6.7p A product hitting
the ‘Summary of tests’ table (below) for the +100 per cent
0% -50 Reference +50 +100
details of each test we run. mark performed
For PCs and laptops, we evaluate twice as well as our
performance using our own custom reference
benchmarking suite. See opposite for This line represents the performance of a reference product in
a description of our benchmarking each test. All graphs for components and systems are relative
software and game tests. to our reference PC (see opposite for specifications)

SUMMARY OF TESTS
PC SYSTEMS & GAMING LAPTOPS
Windows overall Average speed across
numerous demanding tasks
Multitasking Speed when running
simultaneous applications
Dirt Showdown Frames per second at
(1080p) 1,920x1,080, 4xAA,
Ultra detail
Metro: Last Light Frames per second at
Redux (1080p) 1,920x1,080, SSAA,
Very High detail
LAPTOPS
Windows overall Average speed across
numerous demanding tasks
Multitasking Processor-intensive
multitasking test
Dirt Showdown Frames per second at
(720p) 1,280x720, 4xAA,
High detail
Battery life Run time in minutes for
continuous video playback
SMARTPHONES/TABLETS
Battery life Run time in minutes for
continuous video playback
PRINTERS AND MFPs
Mono text speed Pages per minute for
correspondence-quality text
Mixed colour speed Pages per minute for
presentable text and graphics
Mono page cost Running costs expressed as
pence per page
Colour page cost Running costs expressed as
pence per page
DIGITAL CAMERAS
Battery life Number of shots from
full charge
CAMCORDERS
Battery life Run time in minutes
for recording
ROUTERS
Laptop 2.4GHz Mbit/s at 5m with 802.11ac
5m laptop on 2.4GHz band
Laptop 2.4GHz Mbit/s 1 floor up with
1 floor 802.11ac laptop on
2.4GHz band
Laptop 2.4GHz Mbit/s 2 floors up with
2 floors 802.11ac laptop on
2.4GHz band
Laptop 5GHz Mbit/s at 5m with 802.11ac
5m laptop on 5GHz band
Laptop 5GHz Mbit/s 1 floor up with
1 floor 802.11ac laptop on 5GHz band
Laptop 5GHz Mbit/s 2 floors up with
2 floors 802.11ac laptop on
5GHz band
NETWORK-ATTACHED STORAGE
Large files Average MB/s for read/write
of 100MB large files
Small files Average MB/s for read/write
of 100MB small files
HARD DISKS
Huge files Average MB/s for read/write
of a single 2.5GB file
Large files Average MB/s for read/write
of 2.5GB of large files
Small files Average MB/s for read/write
of 2.5GB of small files
PROCESSORS
Windows overall Average speed across
numerous demanding tasks
Multitasking Speed when running
simultaneous applications
Dirt Showdown Frames per second at
(720p) 1,280x720, 4xAA,
High detail
MOTHERBOARDS
Windows overall Average speed across
numerous demanding tasks
Multitasking Speed when running
simultaneous applications
Dirt Showdown Frames per second at
(1080p) 1,920x1,080, 4xAA,
Ultra detail
Dirt Showdown Frames per second at
(720p) 1,280x720, 4xAA,
High detail
GRAPHICS CARDS
Dirt Showdown Frames per second at
(1080p) 1,920x1,080, 4x MSAA,
Ultra detail
Tomb Raider Frames per second at
1,920x1,080, SSAA,
Ultra detail
Metro: Last Light Frames per second at
Redux 1,920x1,080, SSAA,
Very High detail

88 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

 REVIEWS

BENCHMARKS RATINGS & AWARDS

Computer Shopper rates
products out of five:

★★★★★
Excellent

★★★★★
Very good

★★★★★
Good

★★★★★
Below average

SHOPPER BENCHMARKS ★★★★★

Our benchmark suite uses open-source software that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux Avoid!
systems. This lets us use objective results to compare PCs and laptops, no matter which
operating system they run. It’s designed to test each computer to its limit, using a
combination of intensive image-editing, video-encoding and multitasking tests. The best products can win
We ran the tests on our reference PC, which has an Intel Core i5-4670K processor, the following awards:
8GB of DDR3 RAM and an AMD Radeon R7 260X graphics card. We normalised our
results so this PC had a score of 100. This makes it easy to draw comparisons between
test systems.
BEST BUY
Products with outstanding quality
The resulting overall score is shown at the bottom of every PC and laptop review. and performance for the money
As we use the same tests in our standalone and group test reviews, you can compare
win our Best Buy award.
the performance of any computer, whether it’s a hybrid, laptop or desktop, from both
sections of the magazine.

3D BENCHMARKS
DIRT SHOWDOWN
Dirt Showdown is a cracking racing
game that makes good use of
DirectX 11’s fancy graphical effects.
RECOMMENDED
Products that don’t quite qualify
You’ll want at least 30fps for
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highly rated by our reviewers.

TOMB RAIDER
With the ultra-demanding
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BUSINESS BUY
The very best products for work
win our Business Buy award.
METRO: LAST
LIGHT REDUX
Our most demanding graphics test
uses tessellation, SSAA and massive
textures to give even high-end cards
a thorough workout.

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 89

 PRODUCT INDEX

Product Reviews
Your guide to all the products reviewed
in this month’s Computer Shopper
140
Hot Product
Google Pixelbook Go 18
Components
NZXT Kraken X53 32
revi ews
Laptops Home Cinema
Microsoft Surface Pro X 22
Samsung
Acer ConceptD 7 24 Video
UE50RU7470UXXU 33
Lenovo Yoga C940 25 Insta360 One R 39
Philips Hue Play HDMI
Displays Sync Box 34
Philips Brilliance 439P9H 26
Handhelds
Motorola Moto E6 Plus 40
Razer Raptor 27 27 Smart Home
Motorola Moto E6 Play 41
Harman Kardon Citation One
Networks Fairphone 3 42
MKII 36
Netgear Orbi WiFi 6 Sony Xperia 5 44
RBK852 30 Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T 46
Audio
Printers Cooler Master MH630 37 Wearables
Fujitsu fi-800R 31 Grado SR80e 38 Garmin Vivomove 3 47

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE Home Office PCs

AlphaBetaPC AMD Ryzen 5
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Desktop PC 72
Aria Gladiator Paradigm 73
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Family PC 74
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Fitbit Inspire 82
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Honor Band 5 84
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CALL 0330 333 9493 OR SEE PAGE 118
Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4 86

90 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

 From Apple to Zeiss, and
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MOVE
BEYOND
WINDOWS

7
WITH WINDOWS 7 NO LONGER
SUPPORTED, YOU MAY NEED
TO MOVE TO A NEW PC OR
OPERATING SYSTEM. DAVID
LUDLOW EXPLAINS HOW TO DO
EVERYTHING THE EASY WAY

W
ith Windows 7 no longer getting any updates from
Microsoft as of February 2020, we all face having to
upgrade at some point, whether that’s to a new
Windows 10 PC or by using a different operating system on our
existing computers.
As painful as this sounds, it doesn’t have to be this way.
Windows 10, for example, has got a lot better since launch. It’s
now fast, stable and will have updates for years to come. The
main issue that most of us face is getting our new PC or operating CONTENTS
system to work the way that we want, which is where we come in. How to move user accounts ........ 94
In this guide, we’ll show you how to transfer everything from
How to move files between
your old computer, including files, applications, peripherals computers ......................................... 96
and more. We’ll even show you how to make Windows 10
How to move old applications.... 99
look like Windows 7 so that the move from the old to the new
isn’t quite as painful. Get incompatible hardware
or software working.....................100
We refer to both your old and new PCs throughout the guide.
These could be physically different machines, where you’ve How to move old peripherals...100
bought a completely new computer; or they could refer to a Create a virtual machine
Windows 7 PC before you’ve upgraded it to Windows 10. In the from your old PC...........................101
case of the latter, you’ll need to follow many of the instructions Browser and password
before you upgrade and wipe everything, and not all methods settings ............................................102
will apply to you. Make Windows 10 act like
In all cases, you’ll get exactly the same results. The end result Windows 7 .....................................103
may be a new computer, but you get to keep everything that What to do with an old PC.........104
you loved about your old one.

92
93
HOW TO MOVE
USER ACCOUNTS

E
very person that uses a computer
should have their own user account.
This holds their own apps, settings, files
and preferences, giving each person a unique
view of their computer. Transferring old user
accounts from your old PC is possible with
software, but it’s often easier to start over and
configure your new computer from scratch.
First, for your new computer, you should
set up a new user account. We’ll assume that
you’re moving to Windows 10 for this one, as
all new computers (bar Apple ones) will run
this operating system. When you first turn on
your computer, you’ll be prompted to use the
wizard to create a new Microsoft user account.
This type of account uses an email address for
login, but has the advantage that key settings
(such as region, themes and wallpaper) are
synchronised to the cloud. If you have a
second Windows 10 computer, logging into
that one with your Microsoft account
automatically applies the same settings.
This can save a lot of time in the future
customising your computer every time you
get a new one or you opt for a fresh install.
If you don’t want to share information with
Microsoft, you can opt for a local account
instead, which doesn’t synchronise any
information with the cloud.
Your first user account on a new computer
will be an Administrator account, which
means that it can be used to add other
users, manage your computer and install
applications. You can add additional
accounts, which can be either Administrators
or Limited accounts; the latter has more
restrictions and can’t install software or make
major system changes.
To add a new account, go to Settings in the
Start menu and click Accounts, then click ABOVE: It’s easy to add new users to your computer
Family & other users. Here, you can choose to
create two types of accounts: Family and account are as above, where settings are person to your computer by clicking Add
Other. The main difference is that Family synchronised between computers. someone else to this PC under Other users.
accounts let you control and manage a child’s If you don’t want to use a Microsoft account, Click the ‘I don’t have this person’s sign-in
activity on your computer. Unless you’re click the link at the bottom: The person who I information link’ and then click ‘Add a user
sharing your computer with friends, it makes want to add doesn’t have an email address. without a Microsoft account’. Enter a
more sense to create a new Family account, so This will let you create a new email address for username and add a password, fill in the
click the Add a family member link. You can the person, although you can use a phone security questions and then click Next. Again,
then choose to Add a child or Add an adult. number instead. Follow the wizard through to this type of account is a Standard one, but you
If the person you want to add has an complete the setup. The new user will have a can click Change account type to change the
email address and a Microsoft account, Standard account, giving them lower access account type to an Administrator.
enter this below and click Next; if the email to system settings, but you can change this by
address you entered doesn’t have a Microsoft clicking Change account type and selecting WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE
account associated with it, you’ll see a link that Administrator from the drop-down menu. IN ACCOUNT TYPES?
says ‘sign up for a new one’ that you can If you really don’t want to create a Microsoft The main differences between account types
follow. The benefits of having a Microsoft account for a new user, you have to add the are down to what they can and can’t do.

94 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

 MOVE BEYOND WINDOWS 7

What about Laplink PCmover?

Laplink PCmover is a well-known
tool for copying files, applications,
settings and user profiles from an
old computer to a new one. The
main version, Laplink PCmover
Professional, costs £42 (web.
laplink.com/pcmover_feature_
overview), although there are
cheaper versions that offer fewer
features that may suit your needs.
The main benefit of using
software like this is that it does the
job for you automatically, making
its best effort to get your new PC
working like your old one. If you’re
after convenience, then PCmover
is a great bit of software that will
do the job for you.
However, there are a few
reasons why you may want to do
the job manually. First, you save
the money, as you can do
everything that PCmover can do ABOVE: Laplink PCmover attempts to get your new PC working like your old one automatically
for free, even if it takes a bit
longer. Second, PCmover can’t move all applications, notably new PC is that you get to start from scratch, setting up your new
security software, so you’ll still need to move these applications computer without any of the hangovers of the old one.
manually. Third, PCmover can’t reactivate all software, so you may For that reason, our advice through this feature will help you
still need to go through a manual process to get all of your pick and choose what you want to do, so you can get your new
applications working. Finally, one of the benefits of getting a PC working the exact way that you want it.

Administrator accounts have full access to the

system, so they can format disks, change
critical settings, add users, install software
that requires administrator privileges and
more. A Standard account has far more
restrictions and won’t let users change
important settings or install many applications.
In terms of safety, a Standard account is best
for a less knowledgeable user, as they can’t
accidentally mess anything up.
When a Standard user tries to do
something that’s not allowed, such as
installing an application, they will get a
popup that asks for an administrator to
provide their password. Doing so allows
the one action.
When installing software, select the option
to install system-wide when given, as this will
make it available for all users. Note that
software is often customised per user, so
running Office 365, for example, will let
each user customise their own settings and
name under their own accounts. Note that
some software is automatically installed
system-wide, such as security suites that
give protection to all users.

RIGHT: You don’t have to use Microsoft accounts

if you really don’t want to, although it can make
things easier in the future if you do

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 95

HOW TO MOVE FILES
BETWEEN COMPUTERS

O
ut of everything that you might want
to keep from an old computer, files
are going to top anyone’s list of
items that you’ll want to transfer. There are
many ways to do this, and we’ll cover our
favourite ways to do so here.

USE A CLOUD SERVICE

We find that the best way to transfer and
protect files is to use a cloud-synchronisation
service, such as Google Drive or Dropbox.
These services constantly make backups of
files as they’re created or saved, with
everything going to the cloud. Not only does
this mean that your files are protected in the
event of an error, but you can also use these
cloud services to synchronise files between
multiple computers. Here, we’re using
Google Backup and Sync, which comes with
15GB of free storage, and requires a free
Google account to use (you can create one at
accounts.google.com/signup). Dropbox is
very similar in operation. If you need more
storage you can pay for 100GB (£1.59 a
month) or 1TB (£7.99 a month). Microsoft
OneDrive is built into Windows 10, but you
have to install it for Windows 7; in our
experience, OneDrive really isn’t very good, ABOVE: Google lets you choose specific folders for backup only
so we prefer Dropbox or Google Drive.
First, you need to download and install By default, Google Backup and Sync will try to and select New, Folder to create a new one).
Google Backup and Sync (google.com/drive/ download all the files from your Google Drive Click Move and then click Yes when asked if
download) on your old computer. Once to your computer, but you can select the you want to move files. Repeat for any other
installed, you’ll be prompted to enter the ‘Select these folders only’ option and then default system folders that you need.
details of your Google Account and your choose just the folders that you want to In Windows 10, the best way to move
password to log in. synchronise with your computer if you prefer. system folders is to open Explorer and click on
Once logged in, the first screen you see is Click Start when you’re ready. This PC. Right-click Documents and select
for My Computer. Here, you’ll see a list of To get files to upload, you need to first Properties, then click Location. Click Move and
folders that are automatically backed up copy or move them to the Google then navigate to your Google Drive folder,
to the cloud, but you can add new Drive folder that you created. You right-click and select New, Folder, and add a
ones to the mix. These folders can open this folder in Explorer new folder for your Documents. Enter the new
appear online (drive.google. by double-clicking on the folder and click Select Folder. Click Apply and
com) under My Computers, but Backup and Sync icon in your you’ll see a dialog box asking if you want to
are not synchronised to other computer’s Notification Area. move your old files from the old location to
computers. As a backup tool, Next, you need to move the new one. Select Yes to do this.
this can be useful, but here we files and folders into this new If you get an error message telling you that
want to synchronise everything, Google Drive folder. It makes Windows ‘Can’t move the folder because
which requires using the sense to start with the default there is a folder in the same location’, this is
Google Drive folder. ABOVE: Google Backup Windows folders, such as because of OneDrive.
Next, you can select the and Sync synchronises Documents and Pictures. The workaround is to follow the
destination of your Google Drive your files in the cloud In Windows 7, open instructions above but to select No when
folder. Everything copied into this Explorer and click on the little asked if you want to move your files, then
folder will be uploaded to the cloud. triangle next to Documents. Right-click My select Yes on the next dialog box. You’ll now
By default, this folder is kept in your user Documents, select Properties and click the need to manually move your files from your
folder, but you can click the Change button Location tab. Click Move, and browse to old Documents folder (located by clicking the
and select a folder elsewhere on your the folder in your Google Drive where you OneDrive icon) to the new Documents folder.
computer, such as a secondary hard disk. want this folder to go (you can right-click Repeat for the Pictures, Music and Videos

96 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

 MOVE BEYOND WINDOWS 7

ABOVE: You can move system folders in

Windows 10 easily ABOVE: You can turn off password network sharing to make file transfers easier

folders. You should also move any other files
and folders that you want to synchronise into
the Google Drive folder.
Once done, your existing files will be
uploaded to the cloud, which can take quite
a while depending on the speed of your
internet connection. Once the files have
backed up, you can repeat the instructions
above on your new computer, which will
download everything that you select to your
new Google Drive folder.
Now, every time you make a change to a
file on one computer, it’s reflected on all
computers that are running Google Backup
and Sync. This can be useful as a way to run
two computers for a bit, particularly if you’re
sorting out what to do with old applications
that won’t run on your new computer.
You’ll need to repeat these instructions
for all user accounts, remembering that you
need a different Google Drive to log in for
each person you have.
USE THE NETWORK
If you don’t want to use a file service, you can
copy files over your home network. You can
use password-protected sharing or you can
turn this off so that you don’t need to provide
passwords. To do this, go to the Control Panel
(in Windows 7, 8 or 10), select Network and
Internet (Network and Sharing Center in
Windows 7), and click Advanced Sharing
Settings. Expand the All Networks settings,
select Turn off password protected sharing,
and click Save Changes.
It’s worth sharing your document folders
and any other folder that contains important
files. Sharing a folder in Windows is very easy.
All you have to do is find the folder you want

Remember email and other data

Some applications require specific data files to work. For
example, if you use Outlook as your email client, your data
will be stored in a .pst file located on your computer.
Adobe Lightroom Classic keeps its picture information in a
catalogue file (.lrcat).
When moving to a new computer, it’s not just enough to
move your personal files, but also your data files, too. Most
companies will give advice on how to move data files to
another location or computer, but here we’ll give you an
example of what to do with Outlook.
First, you need to find your .pst file. You’ll only have one of
these if you have a regular email account that’s not stored in
the cloud; with Gmail,Outlook.com,Hotmail.com and Live.com
accounts, all of your emails are safely in the cloud and you can
just connect your new computer’s Outlook to the service.
Assuming you’ve got an offline email account, you need
to find your .pst file. Depending on the version of Windows ABOVE: Don’t let important emails get lost in the move to a new computer
you have and if you have Outlook 2013 or later, there are
three possible options: Options. Select the Mail Setup tab and click Data Files, then note
• c:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook down the full path of your .pst file.
• c:\Users\<username>\Roaming\Local\Microsoft\Outlook Copy the .pst file that you find to your new computer, then start
• c::\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\ Outlook. Select File, Import and then select Import from another
Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook. program or file. Browse to the .pst file and click Next, and then click
For Outlook 2010, start Outlook, click the File tab in the Finish to import your data.
Ribbon, select Account Settings and then Account Settings. Remember to do this for all users on your computer. It’s worth
Click DataFiles, then note the full path and filename of your .pst keeping hold of your old computer for a few weeks to make sure
file. For Outlook 2007, start the software and then click Tools, you’ve made a copy of all the program data you’ll need.

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 97

MOVE BEYOND WINDOWS 7

LEFT: You can choose the level of

access for each user

computer. If you turned off password

sharing, you shouldn’t get a prompt.
Once done, you’ll see all of your
shared folders, so you can copy the
files from your old computer to your
new one. Don’t forget to repeat this
for all user accounts on your old
and new PC alike.

WITH AN OLD HARD DISK/

EXTERNAL HARD DISK
One of the simplest ways to transfer
files is to use a USB hard disk. Plug it
into your old computer, drag and
drop the files you want to transfer
on to it, then transfer the disk to your
new computer and copy the files off.
Depending on the size of your
external disk, you may need to
perform this job in a few stages.
If you have an old computer that
has died but the hard disk still works,
you can remove the hard disk from
your old computer. You can install
to share in Windows Explorer, right-click it and ipconfig. Note down your computer’s IP this in your new one if you’re comfortable
select Properties, then click the Sharing tab. address. On your new computer, press doing so, but the easiest option is to buy a
You can now click the Share button to make Windows+R and type \\<ip address of your USB-to-SATA adaptor such as the BENFEI USB
the folder available on the network. However, old computer> (for example, \\192.168.0.105) 3.0 to SATA III HDD SDD (£14, www.amazon.
note that some system folders, such as the and hit Enter. You may be prompted for a co.uk). Plug the hard disk into this and the USB
Windows directory, cannot be shared and will username and password: this is the username port into your new computer,and you can copy
have the necessary button greyed out. and password you use to log into your old your files from the old disk to the new one.
To share a folder in Windows, you need to
select which users will have access to the
folder over the network. The default share
username that you’re using will be listed in BELOW: A USB-to-SATA cable
the main window with a Permission Level of is a clever way of gettttting files
Owner. You should leave this setting alone off
fff an old hard disk
but you can choose additional users that will
have access to this folder.
If you turned off password-protected
sharing, you should select the Guest account
from the drop-down menu and click Add; if
you’re using password-protected sharing,
select the user accounts that you want to give
access to and click Add (repeat for as many
user accounts as you need). To give all user
accounts access, simply select Everyone from
the drop-down menu.
Next, for each account you’ve selected, you
can choose the Permission Level. Read lets
those users look at, but not modify, files stored
in this folder; Read/Write lets users view and
modify files stored in this folder. For home use,
it’s best to set Read/Write as the permission
level for all users, unless you specifically don’t
want network users being able to modify files.
To access a network share, open up
Windows Explorer on your new computer,
then click Network. You should see your old
computer listed. If you don’t, you can connect
directly. To do this, go to your old computer
and open a command window, then type

98 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

HOW TO MOVE
OLD APPLICATIONS

T
he chances are that your old computer
is full of applications that you’d like to
move to the new one. How you do this
depends on the application and whether or
not it’s compatible with your new operating
system. We’ll look at each type here.

UTILITY SOFTWARE
If you’re after installing utility software, such as
WinZip, Google Backup and Sync, Chrome
and so on, the best advice that we can give is
to use Ninite (ninite.com). Go to the website, ABOVE: Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder will scan your computer to find old software keys
tick the software you want to install, then scroll
to the bottom of the page and click Get your
Ninite. This will download a small file to your
new computer. Just open this file and the
applications will install automatically, all
without spyware or adware.

OLD APPLICATIONS WHERE

YOU HAVE A LICENCE CODE
Most old applications just require the
installation media and licence code to install.
Much of this software isn’t activated online,
so you just need to insert the installation
media into your new computer and,
assuming the software is compatible, install
it and provide your licence key.
If you don’t have your key, you can try to
extract it from your Registry using Magical
Jelly Bean Keyfinder (www.magicaljellybean.
com). The free version works with over 300
bits of software, so is worth trying first, but
there’s a paid-for version that works with
more software. For the latter, it’s worth using
Google to search and see if Keyfinder will
work with your chosen software. NEW SOFTWARE THAT ABOVE: You may need to sign out of an
Once installed, run Keyfinder and it will REQUIRES ACTIVATION application on an old computer before your
give you a list of licence keys that you can use It’s now becoming increasingly common for software can be moved to a new PC
to install software on your new computer. software to be activated online, and for you to
be allowed to install it software on your old computer. It’s worth
only on a set number of checking your software’s help guide for
computers. Once you instructions on how to do this, but typically,
exceed your limit, you’re the instructions are similar.
prevented from installing First, you need to log into your online
it again. This is typical for account via a web browser. From here, you
security software, Office should be able to find a section that lists the
365, Adobe CS software devices on which your current software is
and more. To move this installed, typically under an account section.
kind of software, you first Find your old computer and use the disable
need to deactivate the or log out option. This frees up a licence
code for your new computer.
LEFT: Ninite is a great way Once you’ve done that, move to your
to get lots of commonly new computer and follow the installation
used software programs instructions for your software. It should now
on to a new PC install without any problems.

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 99

GET INCOMPATIBLE HARDWARE
OR SOFTWARE WORKING
O
ne of the biggest issues
you’ll encounter when
moving from Windows 7
to Windows 10 is getting old
hardware and software to work.
One option is to virtualise your old
Windows 7 computer (see
opposite) and still run it under
Windows 10. With Seamless mode,
Windows 7 applications feel like
part of Windows 10, but it’s not a
perfect solution, and you end up
dedicating a lot of physical
resources to do this.
There are alternatives, however.
Old software, including drivers for ABOVE: You can try to make old software run on your new PC
devices such as printers and
scanners, may run under Windows
10 if you use the compatibility mode. Just
right-click the program that you want to run
and select Troubleshoot compatibility. In the
dialog box that comes up, select Troubleshoot
program, select ‘The Program worked in
earlier versions of Windows but won’t install
or run now’, and click Next. Now select
Windows 7 from the list and click Next.
Click the option to test the program and,
if there are no problems, click Next, then
choose ‘Yes, save these settings for this
program’. You can now try to run this
application or driver again. If you run into
problems or the application still won’t run,
you’re out of luck with this method.
HOWTO MOVE
OLD PERIPHERALS
I
f you’ve got old hardware that you’d like
to use with a new computer, then you
should be able to move it. The most
important thing to check is if there are new
drivers available for your new computer. To do
this, go to the manufacturer’s website and
download the latest driver for your product,
looking for the Windows 10 drivers.
If there’s a driver here, then you’re in luck,
as you can just run the new driver installation
and install your old peripheral simply by
100
Scanner owners may find themselves
better off buying and installing VueScan (www.
hamrick.com), which comes with drivers for
many old scanners, saving them from the
dump. You can download a free trial, after
which the software costs $50 (around £40).
There’s also hope in Windows 10 Update,
which pulls in new drivers for hardware
directly from Microsoft. Run Windows Update
on your computer. Then plug in your old
peripheral, such as a printer, and turn it on.
If there’s a driver available, it should be
installed automatically.
If not, you can try to manually install a
printer. Open the Start menu and search for
‘printers’ then select Printers & Scanners.
plugging it in. You’ll find that there’s no
difference running your peripheral on your
new computer compared to the new one.
The problems arise if you’ve got a
device that doesn’t have new Windows 10
drivers. Here, you’ll need to follow our
guide above on getting old devices
or software working.
RIGHT: Most recent devices will have
specific Windows 10 drivers
ABOVE: Some drivers can be installed manually
Select Add a printer or scanner and then wait.
Click ‘The printer that I want isn’t listed’ option
when it appears, then select ‘Add a local
printer or network printer with manual
settings’, and click Next. Select ‘Use an existing
port’ and select USB, such as USBxxx (Virtual
printer port for USB) and click Next. Select
your manufacturer and product from the list
and click Next. If you can’t see your printer,
click Windows Update to download the latest
list of drivers. If you find the one you want,
click Next to complete the installation. If your
printer still has no driver, you’re out of luck.
Unfortunately, there’s no guaranteed
method of getting all hardware and software
to work, so if you’ve upgraded to Windows 10
and these tips don’t work, you may need to
bite the bullet and upgrade to more recent
peripherals and software.
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
CREATE A VIRTUAL MACHINE
FROM YOUR OLD PC

I
f you’ve bought a shiny new PC but still
want to access your old computer, you
can convert your Windows PC into a
virtual one for free, such as for an old
Windows 7 computer. The easiest way to do
this is to use your Windows installation disc
and create a new virtual machine in the free
VirtualBox application. However, you can also
convert your entire Windows computer into a
virtual one, which we’ll show you how to do
here with an old Windows 7 computer.
First, you’ll need as much free disk space
as the amount of storage that you’re currently
using; if you can delete old files and
applications, do this now. We recommend
using an external hard disk to save the image
to (if you have one to hand), so that you’re not
taking up valuable storage space.
To convert your computer to a virtual
one, you’ll need Microsoft’s free Disk2vhd
program from Microsoft (tinyurl.com/
msdisk2vhd). Download this to your
computer, then extract the files and run
the application. First, remove the option to
Use VHDX (a slightly older virtual disk image
has to be used for compatibility). You can
select which hard disks you want to save, ABOVE: You can run your old computer as a virtualised one
then choose where you want to save
your virtual image and click Create. Your should set the operating system as the right Tell them that you’ve changed motherboard
computer will now be virtualised. type, but if not, use the drop-down menus to as the reason for this, and you should get
Next, you need to download and select the type of operating system that you your operating system activated. You should
install VirtualBox on your computer (www. want and click Continue. You need at least now clear out your old computer, as you can
virtualbox.org). This is a free virtualisation 2GB of RAM dedicated to the virtual machine, only have one Windows 7 running on one
application, which supports .vhd files. It runs so you can leave the default or increase this if PC per licence key.
on Windows, Linux and macOS, so you can you have more system RAM; 4GB makes In VirtualBox, it’s worth installing the
run your old computer on practically any Windows 7 run smoothly. Click Continue, then VirtualBox Guest Additions on your virtual
other operating system. select ‘Use an existing virtual hard disk file’. computer by clicking Devices, Insert Guest
Open VirtualBox and select New to create Select the folder icon, click the Add button, Additions CD Image, which will let you run
a new virtual machine, then enter a name for browse to the .vhd file from your old your old computer at a higher resolution.
your computer, such as Windows 7. This computer and select Open. Choose this From the View menu, you can even run
virtual hard disk from the your computer in Seamless mode, which
list and select Choose. dumps the Windows 7 desktop image and
Once you’re done, you makes it look as though applications you’re
can click ‘Start to boot running are actually on Windows 10. Just take
your old computer as a note of the popup box, which tells you which
virtual one’, and you’ll key combination you need to switch back to
see that you have your old regular virtualisation mode.
files and applications, This method is handy if you have old
which will still run. applications that you rely on, as you can run
Windows 7 may need them as though they were native Windows 7
reactivating, which may applications. However, a virtual computer can
mean calling Microsoft. take up a lot of disk space. And, while
VirtualBox lets you share your actual
LEFT: Create a virtual computer’s USB ports through the Devices,
image of your computer USB menu, it can be tricky getting old
with the free Disk2vhd peripherals such as printers to work correctly.

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 101

BROWSER AND
PASSWORD SETTINGS

W
ith so many services online, you
don’t want to lose your data, such
as usernames and passwords, by
moving to a new computer. Fortunately, most
modern browsers support synchronising
settings between computers using the cloud.
We recommend using Google Chrome, as it’s
the best browser overall.
Download and install this on your old
computer (you can use Ninite for this job), and
then follow the instructions to connect
Chrome to a Google Account and allow the
browser to synchronise settings. If you were
using Chrome already, there’s nothing else to
do; if you were using another browser, you
need to import bookmarks, settings, and any
usernames and passwords. To do this, click
the three dots at the top of Chrome and select
Settings. Type import into the search bar and
select Import bookmarks and settings.
Using the drop-down menu, you can select
the browser that you were using. For each
browser, you get a different selection of
import options. For example, Edge gives you
the option of Bookmarks, but select Firefox or ABOVE: You can import bookmarks, settings and more using Chrome
IE and you can pull in saved passwords, too.
Once you’ve imported everything, the and all of your data will come down. It’s worth and passwords in a cloud vault, which can
information will be uploaded to the cloud. mentioning that you should use a secure then be used across multiple devices (Mac,
From your new computer, you can now install password manager, such as LastPass. With this Windows, Android and iOS) and multiple
Chrome, link it to the same Google account, software, you can securely store usernames browsers, giving you the ultimate flexibility.

RIGHT: Make sure

you’re not left without
all your usernames
and passwords from
favourite websites

102 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

MAKE WINDOWS 10
ACT LIKE WINDOWS 7
I
f you’ve just been made to upgrade to
Windows 10 away from Windows 7, you
may find the new operating system too
much of a departure from what you know and
love. Fortunately, things don’t have to be this
way, and there are some steps that you can
take to make the new operating system act
more like the old one.
CHANGE THE START MENU
You don’t have to be stuck with the Windows
10 Start menu, as you can make it look and act
like the one in Windows 7. To do this,
download and install the free Open Shell
(tinyurl.com/openshell – link starts a
download). Once done, the Open Shell
preferences screen will open. From here, you
can select Windows 7 style as the option to
get a more familiar look.
If you prefer, you can also use the Replace
Start button option to give your computer an
older look, although we have to say that the
old-style button can look a bit out of place.
GET RID OF THE SEARCH BAR
Windows 10 puts a giant search bar next to
the Start menu button, but you can get rid of
this and stick to the search feature in the Start
ABOVE: If you don’t like the new Start menu, you can replace it
ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020
ABOVE: You can get rid of the Windows 10
search bar if you don’t like it
menu. To do this, right-click the taskbar and
select Search, Hidden. You can also right-click
the taskbar and remove the tick from the
Show Cortana button option if you don’t
want access to Microsoft’s voice assistant.
RESTORE WINDOWS EXPLORER
If you’re not getting along with Windows
10’s new Explorer for managing files, the
good news is that you can download the
ABOVE: You can undo the Windows 10
‘improvements’ to Explorer
OldNewExplorer to restore the look and feel
that Windows 7 introduced. To do this, you
need to download OldNewExplorer from
tinyurl.com/oldnewexplorer. This will
download a .RAR file, so you’ll need an
application such as 7Zip to extract it (7Zip
can be installed via Ninite following the
instructions on page 99).
Once extracted, run OldNewExplorerCfg.
First, click Install next to Shell extension.
Now you can use the tickboxes to get your
Explorer back to how it used to look. We
recommend using ‘Use classical drive
grouping in This PC’, and ‘Use command bar
instead of Ribbon’. This will get you pretty
close to what Windows 7 offered. Note that
existing Explorer windows won’t update, and
you need to close them down and reopen
them to see the changes.
ADD THE OLD PERSONALISATION
SHORTCUT
If you right-click the Windows 10 desktop and
select Personalise, you get the new, restricted
menu for choosing how the operating system
looks and feels. You can add a shortcut to the
old-style menu that you’re familiar with from
Windows 7 by doing this. Right-click your
Desktop and select New, Folder. Enter the
folder’s name as Personalisation.{ED834ED6-
4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921} and hit
Enter. The new folder will change to an icon of
a PC. Double-click this and you’ll get the larger
menu for changing how your PC looks.
103
WHAT TO DO
WITH AN OLD PC

N
ow that you’ve got your new PC
working the way that you want it,
what about the old one? Although it
may not be your primary computer any
more, there are a few good options for how
to deal with it.

UPGRADE TO WINDOWS 10
FOR FREE
If you have an old Windows 7 PC that you’re
worried about no longer getting support for,
you may be able to upgrade it to Windows
10 for free. You’ll have to perform a clean
install to do this, and please note that if
you’ve got an OEM Windows 7 key that
came with your computer, then you may find
that you can’t get the free upgrade.
To do this, you’ll need to get your
Windows 7 Licence Key. You can use the
Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder tool that we
mentioned on page 99 if you can’t find your
key anywhere else.
First, you should check the compatibility
with your computer. The best way to do
this is to download the Windows 10
Download Tool from Microsoft’s website
(microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/
windows10). Once you’ve downloaded
the tool, run it and choose the option to
upgrade your computer. Your PC will be
checked for any compatibility issues, such
as not having enough hard disk space or
some hardware being incompatible.
This gives you a chance to fix or repair
issues if you can. Don’t try and perform
the upgrade, and quit the tool.
Next, make sure that you’ve taken a backup
of your Windows 7 PC and its files, then you
can run the Download Tool,
but select the option to
create installation media.
Follow the wizard through
and insert a 4GB USB drive
to create a boot drive that
you can use to install
Windows 10. Reboot your
computer with the USB
drive inserted, and boot
from this to start the
Windows 10 installation.
When you get asked, enter
your Windows 7 licence
RIGHT: You can check if you
have a genuine copy of
Windows 10 online
ABOVE: Download the Windows 10 tool to check your computer’s compatibility for an upgrade
key rather than a Windows 10 one, and the
software should accept it. We tried it with our
Windows 7 Home Premium Key and it all
worked perfectly.
To check if it has worked, after you’ve
installed Windows 10, go to Settings in the
Start menu, select Update & Security and then
click the Activation link in the left-hand panel.
Under the Activation header in the main pane,
you should see a message that says,
‘Windows is activated with a digital licence
linked to your Microsoft account’.
If you don’t, or Windows 10 didn’t accept
your Windows 7 key, you’ll need to buy a
Windows 10 licence to use your computer.
Windows 10 Home costs £120 for a licence,
and is available from the Microsoft Store.
INSTALL LINUX
Linux can be a good choice for an old
computer, as it’s lightweight, requiring fewer
resources, and you can get the latest version
for free. The main downside is that you can’t
run any of your existing applications on Linux
(although you can run a virtual copy of your
Windows 7 computer if you follow our
advice), and you’ve got another brand-new
operating system to test.
Still, this method can be a good one to
give a new lease of life to an older computer.
Ubuntu is a good choice. The latest version
has slightly higher hardware requirements
than Windows 10, but you’ll find that a lot of
Windows 7 hardware is up to the job. The
main requirements are a 2GHz dual-core
processor, 4GB of system memory and 25GB
of free hard disk space. You can download
Ubuntu for free from ubuntu.com.
This will get you an ISO file, which you
can burn to a blank DVD for installation on
your computer. Alternatively, if you want to
install via USB, you’ll need to download and
install a program called Rufus (rufus.ie). Once
you’ve got the application, run it, then insert
the USB drive that you want to use and select
this from the Device menu. Select the Boot
selection as FreeDOS, then choose Select,
navigate to the Ubuntu ISO file and select

104 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387


RIGHT: You can reset Windows 10
back to its default state easily enough
Open. Click Start and your
bootable USB drive will be
created, which you can use to
install Linux on your computer.
A quick word of warning: if
you have a laptop, make sure
that you have Wi-Fi enabled.
Many laptops have a keyboard
combination that toggles Wi-Fi on
and off, but these typically only
work in Windows 7, so boot into
Windows 7 and turn on Wi-Fi
before you install Ubuntu.
GET RID OF YOUR
OLD COMPUTER
If you want to get rid of your
old computer, then first of all
you’ll need to make sure that your data
can’t be recovered.
If you want to give away your PC to
someone else, make sure that you’ve copied
any files you need off of it, as you’ll need to
securely delete everything. If you’re running
Windows 10, the good news is that you can
easily wipe everything and start from scratch
with the Microsoft Refresh Windows Tool.
Download the tool from the ‘Start afresh with
a clean installation of Windows 10’ website
(www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-
download/windows10startfresh).
Run the Refresh Windows Tool that you’ve
just downloaded. Click Accept to agree to the
licence terms and conditions. You’ll then have
the option to keep personal files only or to
keep nothing, which is the option you want.
The Windows Refresh Tool will now
download a new copy of Windows 10, which
is around 3.2GB, so you’ll have to be patient
while this happens. Once it’s complete, click
ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020
Next and the tool will check for updates
before starting to install Windows 10 over
your existing installation. Your computer
will be back to its original state.
If you’ve got Windows 7 or 8, then the
refresh options aren’t as easy. First, you should
delete all personal files securely. A good
way to do this is to use the free Eraser tool
ABOVE: Use the free Eraser tool to securely delete data from an old computer
MOVE BEYOND WINDOWS 7
LEFT: Running Ubuntu can
be a good way to breathe new
life into an old computer
(eraser.heidi.ie/download).
Download and install the
software, and then run
Eraser. Now, when you find a
file or folder that you want to
remove, right-click it, select
Eraser and Erase. This will
securely delete the files from
your computer. This can take
a while, as the software will
overwrite the files with
random characters to
prevent them from being
recovered. If you have items
in the Recycle Bin, you can
right-click this and select
Eraser, Erase, too. Repeat for
all user accounts that you
have on your computer.
Once you’ve removed
all your files, it’s worth
securely overwriting your
unused disk space to
prevent files that you deleted
previously from being
recovered. To do this, open
Eraser from the Notification
Area, click Erase Schedule
and select New Task. Click
Add Data and set Target
type as Unused disk space,
then select the hard disk that
you want to tackle and click
OK, and then OK again. You
can now reinstall Windows
using your installation media
or using the system restore
option provided by your
computer’s manufacturer.
If you don’t have anyone to donate your
PC to, and have no use for it yourself, you
can take it for recycling at the tip. Make sure
that you remove your hard disk or SSD first.
You can either reuse these in another
machine, or smash them up with a hammer
to prevent them from being used and data
being recovered.
105
106
ROBOTS
ARE AI,5G AND MORE
WILL MEAN THE
NEXT GENERATION

HERE
OF ROBOTS WILL BE
SMARTER, MORE
FLEXIBLE, AND
PROBABLY MUCH
CREEPIER THAN
TODAY’S MODELS,
FINDS NICOLE KOBIE

AND THEY’RE ABOUT

TO GET EVEN BETTER
R
obots are coming for our jobs, automating
us out of employment. They’re killers,
sinister beasts created for warfare. They’re
unfeeling and uncaring machines, ready to
push humanity out of the way when the
singularity arrives. Or they’re foolish,
hilarious failures, comically tripping over their own
limbs, struggling to grasp everyday objects, and
falling into fountains.
Both extremes are true – but there’s so much
more that robots can do for us, and to us. While
office workers bemoan looming automation,
factory staff already toil alongside robots that
have displaced their formerly human colleagues.
While the beasts that Boston Dynamics builds for
battle seem straight out of a sci-fi nightmare,

107
 videos abound on YouTube of the
million-dollar machinery tripping and
falling. And while robots are inching
into our homes, they’re more likely to
be single-use appliances like a Roomba
than robo-butlers whose intelligence
challenges our own.
Here we look at the sometimes
scary, often hilarious and always
intriguing reality of robots now – at
work, in the wider world, and at home
– and what’s next for automated
machines and the artificial intelligence
(AI) that increasingly powers them.
ROBOTS AT WORK
Back in 2014, academics at the
University of Oxford predicted that a
third of UK jobs would be replaced by y
automation and robotics wiithin two
decades, sparking g myriad headlines
about robots stea aling jobs. Others
disagreed, with an nalyst firm Gartner
suggesting AI will create more jobs
than it destroys.
Technology naturrally impacts
our work – only prete entious or
nostalgic people would d use
typewriters any more, after all
– and the rise of robots at
work isn’t new, though itt may
feel that way for those wh ho
sit at a desk in an office.
“I think, in general,
people don’t realise how
our modern society is
already massively reliant
108
⬆ Robots have on robotic systems,” says Simon
long been used Watson, robotics lecturer at the
in factories for
University of Manchester.
automated tasks
“The majority of our mass-
manufacturing supply chain is built on
industrial robotic systems. Everything
from food, to medicine, to transport
production is often done in automated
factories with limited human
intervention. Without robots, our
current society may look very different.”
Given that, it’s no surprise that the
shift to automation and robots has
⬇ Roomba vacuum already led to job losses, butt not as
cleaners are a many as you may eport from
y think. A re m food orders that have been packed by
common sight in MIT inn 2017 suggested that the numbe er
many homes of jobs lost in the US since 19990 is
somewhere between 360,000 and
670,000; not particularly high over 30
years across a job market of 130 million
people. While research varies
depending on industry, other studies
note that increased productivity and
the ensuing boost to the economy
actually increases the overall number of
jobs available, though that’s not always
to the benefit of people who have lost
work and need to retrain.
What’s more, although robots
replace some work, they are more likely
to support and augment. In Ocado’s
warehouse, robots shuttle crates of
staff ready for delivery, while Amazon
has warehouses with automated
shelves. Nissan uses ‘cobots’ to support
staff with lifting or repetitive tasks;
previous robots in the car industry had
to be kept separate from human
workers to avoid injury. In hospitals,
DaVinci robots can help surgeons be
more precise with their incisions,
meeaning shorter recovery times for
pa
atients, but as yet there’s no robot
hat can fully replace a surgeon;
th
they’re merely another tool,
alongside the MRI and scalpel.
Such robots are all support staff.
Thhey may lead to some lost jobs,
but they still need humans to do
the careful work of picking goods
to shhip – a job that current robots
still fin
nd difficult – or overseeing
and ma anaging what tasks need to
be comp pleted. When used well, they
MAY 2020 | COM
MPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
 WOULD YOU WELCOME A ROBOT INTO YOUR HOME?
Robots are already in our homes, but as with manufacturing, they’re not flexible in operation: we have single-task Roombas rather
than multitasking robo-butlers. That could be set to change, with AI making robotics smarter, and connectivity letting them move to
any corner of your home. Here are three products that point to the future of robots in the home

ELEPHANT ROBOTICS MARSCAT

SAMSUNG BALLIE
Ballie is a unique-looking robot that, as the
name suggests, is a wee ball. Samsung
videos show it rolling around a sleeping
home – ominous as that may sound – and
controlling smart home features such as
opening curtains. After interacting with a
human via a built-in camera, it follows its
owner around the house (again, creepy),
helping with her yoga position, entertaining
her dog by showing it YouTube videos, and
telling the Roomba to clean up a mess. Is the
future of home robotics a rolling camera to
control the smart home? That remains to be
seen, as Ballie is still a prototype, so no
release date or prices are yet available.
You know how cats never do what you want
or expect? This one is different. This fully
autonomous, open-source bionic cat is
programmable, controlled with a Raspberry
Pi 3, and features both object recognition
and voice recognition – this cat can
understand ‘come here’, unlike the real
thing. What’s it for? The makers say it can
play with toys or even your real pet cat, and
would make a great tool for teaching young
students how to programme. Beyond that,
it’s as delightfully useless as a real cat.
MarsCat will start shipping this spring
following a successful Kickstarter campaign,
and will eventually retail at $1,299.
LOVOTS
That name looks a little like ‘love’ crammed
on to the front of ‘bots’, and that’s with
good reason: Lovots are ‘emotional’ robots
that want to be loved by you, which sounds
a bit like the plot to a horror film. Lovots are
small soft toy-like creatures on wheels with
360-degree cameras topping their cute
faces. That allows them to navigate your
home, while facial recognition means they
can see it’s you. And, the makers claim,
when they recognise you they’ll start to
love you, and then they’ll demand your
attention and follow you around. If you have
two, for some reason, and give one a hug,
the other will come and ask for a squeeze,
too. It’s like having kids, but without all the
biological hassle. So far, they’re only
available in Japan for about £2,100 plus a
monthly subscription.

can help reduce the physical burden
and health risks to humans.
Bill Ray, an analyst at Gartner,
explains. “This does allow for a
reduction in the workforce, as each
worker can do more, but it also
requires that workers are better
trained so they can work efficiently
with the robots. Workers also need
flexibility, as mundane and repetitive
tasks are increasingly done by machine,
so the humans will become managers
of a robotic workforce.”
GET MOVING
At the moment, robots tend to be static
or move on a set course. For example,
rather than work wholly autonomously,
Ocado’s swarm of grocery-ferrying
robots are programmed to work
together as a team, so if one fails,
the whole system stops. But robots
are starting to get better at moving
around, spurred by better batteries,
smarter computer vision helped by
laser-guided ‘lidar’ systems and radar,
as well as the rise of ubiquitous
connectivity, expanded via 5G.
“We can say that robots are getting
more mobile, across every setting,
which can largely be attributed to
improvements in battery technology,
greater awareness of their surroundings
and improved connectivity,” says Ray.
“Lidar gives an extremely accurate
3D model of the surrounding area,
enabling a robot to navigate with great
accuracy. Radar is also getting cheaper.
This kind of sensing enables a robot
(mobile or stationary) to build a
more complete picture of the
environment around it.”
That’s one step forward that gives
robots better mobility, but they have
another challenge: robots of today
aren’t flexible thinkers. They’re
⬇ Robots can controlled and programmed directly by
help with surgical humans – such as with surgical robotics
precision in or in factories – or handle one specific
healthcare task. But that’s slowly changing.
Rethink Robotics’ ‘Baxter’
could be trained by anyone to
complete basic tasks, simply by
walking it through a new
process, just as you would a
new hire; the company went out
of business in 2018, but its rivals
Universal Robots and ABB make
similar cobots that can be
programmed for multiple uses,
suggesting a route towards a
more generalist trainable robot.
The advent of machine
learning and AI means that
trend will continue.
“Traditional industrial
robots are designed to

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 109

 consistently perform just one repetitive
task on a 24/7 basis, after taking a lot “WITHOUT ROBOTS, OUR
CURRENT SOCIETY MAY
of time, effort and money for training,”
Ray explains.
“Smart robots are designed for
flexibility. They can learn by example:
human employees can teach them new
tasks by simply moving their arm and
LOOK VERY DIFFERENT”
recording the movement. Sensors allow
smart robots to operate in space,
knowing their environment and
stopping when somebody or something
gets in its way. Sensory awareness
makes these robots able to work
alongside humans and other robots.”
Robots may take our jobs, but smart
ones are likely to work alongside us.

FALLING DOWN
Some of that mobility and automation
is already on show. Robots are building
cars and optimising warehouses, but
they’re in wider use in more dramatic
fashion, too, showing there’s no
question robots are coming on leaps
and bounds, although sometimes it’s
more of a trip or stumble.
Perhaps the best example of robotic
feats of prowess, and the hilarity that
can ensue, is Boston Dynamics, once
owned by Google. The company makes
military robots, which naturally raises
Terminator concerns – and the
machines are terrifying to watch.
Head over to YouTube (www.youtube.
com/user/BostonDynamics), and you’ll
see humanoid robots performing ⬆ Boston Dynamics contraptions being kicked over with cameras to act as a security guard,
parkour, four-legged machines with leads the way with ease. Though they’d be terrifying which infamously fell into a fountain in
demonic digital faces clambering up human and canine deployed alongside soldiers, such Washington, DC – at least it only hurt
stairs, and a mass of metal and cabling automatons machinery is laughable at a distance itself. Another version of the same
that can run faster than Usain Bolt. over the internet; if this is the best security bot also reportedly knocked
On the other hand, there are the well-motivated and well-funded over a toddler at an American mall.
compilations of that same humanoid military and its suppliers can do, other Sometimes the product works, but it’s
robot falling over after failing to place industries don’t have much hope. less sensational than it sounds.
a package on a shelf, ‘dogs’ slipping in Take, for example, the Knightscope Some robots are technically
the snow, and other four-legged K5, a rolling robot equipped with impressive, but not worth the effort.

CORONAVIRUS HELP
The coronavirus outbreak has accelerated
the adoption of medical and assistance
robots in China, with reports suggesting
their use has been sparked by a shortage
of staff, as well as concerns about the
spread of the disease. In some areas,
telepresence or videoconferencing bots
are being used to monitor patients or
allow physicians to communicate remotely,
which is helpful when so many patients are
under quarantine.
But the use of robotics is going further
than ferrying a camera and tablet between
beds. Local reports say that disinfecting
bots are cleaning two hospitals, while
others are using robots to deliver meals
and medicine to patients, and to collect
dirty bed sheets and rubbish.
Robots are also making deliveries in
areas under quarantine outside of hospitals.
Chinese media reports show videos of a
rolling drone called Peanut carrying meals to
thousands of travellers in isolation at a ⬆ Peanut is delivering food in Chinese hospitals
hotel in Hangzhou, calling out ‘Hello
everyone, cute Little Peanut is serving you stethoscope and allow videoconferencing,
food’. Reports suggest drones may be used while other hospitals have turned to the
more widely to make deliveries without the Xenex LightStrike, which rolls through
risk of spreading the virus. rooms with an ultraviolet light to help
Such technology isn’t limited to China. disinfection against diseases including
In the US, a patient in Seattle is being coronavirus. A similar robot called
monitored via InTouch Health’s Vici robot, GermFalcon is doing the same disinfection-
which can check vital signs via a via-light trick for aeroplanes.

110 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

⬆ The Knightscope K5 security robot found
unwanted fame when it fell into a fountain

At the end of 2019, investors were lining

up to throw millions of dollars at a
pizzeria in Silicon Valley, with Zume
Pizza valued at $2bn. Why? It used a
robotic arm to pull pizzas out of hot
ovens. No-one needs to pay a robot to
do the work that a human pizza chef
– who still needs to be employed – can
do in a flash. Only a few months later,
the company was out of business.
Other robots work, but the
limitations reveal they’re little more
than a gimmick. An $82,000 robot
bartender by QBIT Robotics in Tokyo
sounds like the future of cocktails, but
watch a demo video of it in operation
and it’s merely an automated arm that
moves a cup between an ice dispenser,
one of five spirits, and your mix of
choice – it’s hardly advanced mixology.
If this is the future of bartending, then
we’d better not order anything fancier
than a gin and tonic.
(Terminator) or the fear of losing their ⬆ A robot can put the new technologies being developed,
FIXING THE FEAR jobs,” says Watson. toppings on your they needed to re-skill or upskill the
While the ‘killer robot’ cliche persists – Those are valid concerns, he says, pizza, but what’s workforce,” Watson adds.
even if it’s just about automation but are also challenges seen in previous the point of that? “There was significant investment,
killing jobs – we’ve also learned the technological revolutions. While the both from the government and the
reality that robots can be a little former may require government treaties private sector, in the education and
foolish, pointless and often ineffective. to keep killer robots in line, those retraining of the workforce, which
Still, overcoming long-held fears may worried about the job situation should ultimately led to the formation of the
take some work. look to history for solutions. ‘red-brick’ universities.”
“Overall, I think that robotics has “During the Industrial Revolution, In short, if we want people to stop
a poor public image; traditionally the government of the time and fearing robots, we should make sure
people have feared them due to sci-fi industry realised that to capitalise on they have nothing to fear.

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 111

 Say goodbye to the past
Keeping technology’s past alive is no easy task, as an archivist
s
.

o e
a e
w R
v
a
t

. s
s l o
i e s.
u i l t u l u i f h
n l d e i s t y l r h 1r- n s a
h l d . a l ,a e d c u a in p
i h a it f a it ci s, e e p s m g
f p le’ h t y, o ’d h k al r aa sonn’s 1 bi r h of d a p g , ll i e tu ll
h c n u te e J bs a a bes el r e e th l g t u lic r i it k d

112 MAY 202

20 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUUE 3887
 RETRO

⬆ As you’d expect, Steve Jobs features highly,, including as a 27-year-old in thiss news report

Less than two weeks later, howe ever, his

h
email inbox began to fill with more than
700 copyright takedown notices isssued by
the Cupertino-based tech giant, eacch on ne
telling him that a video he was hostting
on Vimeo was promptly being
removed. It left his archive in
tatters and Gold despondent.
“The DMCA notices bummed me m
n r ll , ls
r . –i
. n r – e o re
l e…
COPY PROTECTION
ole
ol
le, a
are
re str
trike
ik s issu
ik issu
ssued
ed aga
agains
instt th
ins thei
eir acco
acco
c ount
u s for
unt o ass fre
f eewa
eewa
e ree (ch
( heck
e k ou
o t th
the
he lis
lilist on
on Wiki
k ped
ed
dia
k p hii i l di hi d i l F h i l / 1)
y
. k
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i l i r
, n
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s i l i h it e c s t “ p eV
Vd a
e c i d i t e a s c ig e a s l r . a I g i Y u
i a o o e l n h t r ta S ft a u s e a ie d s ls a h g o l vi th
h t c l
u o s e n t er h n s ttl v lu i h ir a r a i e l d n s r in n Clo ou D v
in a e o Y b s a n c y g n o a lo e t to e el a d l r,” h sa s.

SUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER

ISS | MAY 20020 113
 RETRO

⬆ Check out the advertisements for many product

launches, including the Macintosh Classic II

These videos were used to start his own

YouTube channel, but that too was pulled
after six days. “YouTube never gave me a
direct answer as to why,” says Gold, whose
never-say-die attitude seemed to be
ingrained from that point on.

TAKING A BITE
At first, Gold, who got his first Apple product
in 2005 when his grandma bought him a
first-generation iPod Nano for his fourth
birthday, opened up his video archive via
Google Drive “as a sort of test flight to make
r l
I haven t missed anything .
, ,

I , le r o c e
w

e
t
n
” ”
a “
a i ‘
l n i ’ ’” l
i i ll h g i p ’
1 e e h 5 J s e 1 e r e e a
r h s g r t 1 3 l a s i ii; n J s v e s i e o p
“ p ’s u d- c g u u i v y g in a p tooe p y s b a e p s d u r e l ’s
a u re vi e a , t b k o a cs n t in in di e n y. h re il h s b i w ul a r
r r ti g n e,” a r l . w s f i te na
a A pl si v e d si e t at he ell a e a s in d h p.

114 MAY 202

20 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUUE 3887
 RETRO

Archive action
Other great online collections
GOOGLE DOODLES
www.google.com/doodles
The first Google Doodle was designed in 1998 by the
tech giant’s co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin
to mark their attendance at the Burning Man festival
in the Nevada desert. There have been more than
4,000 doodles since then, each playing around with
the Google logo, and you can see the whole lot in
this searchable archive.

WORLD OF SPECTRUM
www.worldofspectrum.org
World of Spectrum is not the prettiest of websites
and it’s certainly showing signs of age, but it’s a
goldmine for fans of Sinclair’s finest. Packed with
thousands of games, utilities, books, adverts,
loading screens, game maps, magazine pages and
more, it provides a great trip down memory lane.
Improvements also appear to be on the way (see
live.worldofspectrum.org).

⬆ There are also brochures that you can flip
through, many of which have been collected
from the Internet Archive
INTERNET ARCHIVE
archive.org
Not only is this archive essential for checking past
versions of websites, it also contains large numbers
of tech-related collections. These include old
manuals, classic magazines, and scores of games
and applications for different retro computers,
many of which can be played in your browser.
You’ll return to it again and again.

“While I’m not willing to share how I’v

ve CENTRE FOR COMPUTING HISTORY
obtained them in order to protect my www.computinghistory.org.uk/pages/590/
sources, they [the people who have hand ded Search-Our-Archive
over the content] have been very Created by an educational charity based in
accommodating,” Gold says. Cambridge, this website catalogues the many
And yet with Apple clamping down on items the Centre for Computing History has in its
this flourishing collection, Gold is now collection. Search through adverts, blank media,
reassessing what can be done to keep th he newsletters, circuit diagrams and lots of other
. fascinating stuff to read more about them while
’ ll t can viewing images and discovering specs.
.
, n
e
n
g
. c , s.
p b
t
SPECCING UP
S m
C ’
l 8 ,
“ t s
, i , i
a i s i e g s “ le
e t t ’ u
i t y g n” h l “ t s n r a err i l o n t s e
i d p n o T I i t m S r s o i t 5
a H ri ol , w 8, as e i I l h e e e e t c h s bt le a d e d ta r e
n p le n in t e ff r h r i lo m r O i a b o t sss g ti t e a . it

SUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER

ISS | MAY 20020 115
 RETRO

⬆ The archive goes back to 1977, with a cringe-inducing advert introducing ⬆ Apple is constantly looking forward from its futuristic base in Cupertino, but
the Apple II Fuga that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t reflect on the importance of its past

was not on their servers, I’d search Vimeo
first and see if someone had put up a copy.
If not, I’d check the Internet Archive’s
Wayback Machine before waving the white
flag and searching for it on YouTube, which
is my absolute least favourite place to
source vid deos from.””
By making use of Vimeo, the videos in the
archive could benefit from less compression.
“You can go on to YouTube and type
‘iPod gamma ad’ and you’ll get a bunch of
240p/360p videos. But I was lucky enough
to find it in 1080p, and that’s virtually
unheard of for late 2000s Apple videos.
Even their keynotes from that era are in
standard definition,” Gold says.
In the end, the work saw Gold amass more
th
han 1 , files, wh
hich
h amounts to ab bout
worth of data. These were split across four
time periods in the archive: 1970s and 1980s,
1990s, 2000s and 2010s, with an additional
2020s category created for future media.
LOGGING ON
Gold is still looking for videos. Apple may
have pulled down the shutters on the archive,
but his insatiable desire to complete his own
collection still burns. Top of his list are the
WWDC 2000 and 2002 keynotes, which he
has been unab ble to find d.
“I’d also really like to upgrade the quality
of the MacBook Air Envelope ad from 2008
– that’s been stuck at 848x480 for a while
and it’s pretty nasty,” he says.

mimics the General Sound warned, it’s not cheap.

ULTIMATE EXPANSION
UNVEILED FOR
SPECTRUM
Rather than clog up a ZX
Spectrum with a host of
expansions and interfaces,
Jan Kucera from the Czech
Republic has created a versatile
all-in-one device capable of
performing multiple functions
Photo: Jan Kucera
sound card designed in the You’ll have to contact
1990s to allow samples and Kucera for the latest
.MOD files to be played. It also price but it’ll set you
incorporates the esxDOS back around €399.
firmware for the DivMMC
mass storage interface, JAVA MADE
allowing the use of microSD TO RUN ON
cards via one of two sockets. DEBUT AMIGA
The device also boasts 16MB In 2015, software
of SRAM, as well as digital developer Michael
outputting to TV, two USB ports Kohn figured a way
(one for use with a mouse), a to compile a Java

at the same time. DB9 joystick socket and program to run on a

Powered by the 8-bit
computer, the MB03+ Ultimate
mini-jack stereo sound output. Sega Megadrive.
An optional Wi-Fi module is Less than five years
available too but, later, he’s repeated the trick tool, which allows programs
since work is on the Commodore Amiga written in Java to run natively
ongoing, the spec 1000, a computer that was on older machines.
list is set to grow released in 1985 and He explains the thinking
and grow (indeed, discontinued two years later. and the process behind the
we’ve only Both devices were originally task on his website (tinyurl.
touched on the powered by the Motorola com/387retro3), where there’s a
highlights here). 68000 processor, and Kohn video of a 138k demo running
To find out reckoned it would be rather on an original machine.
more, check out straightforward to extend “Getting the software running
the latest news support to Commodore’s debut on a real computer was quite a
on the project Amiga computer. Even so, it’s a bit of work,” he says, explaining
at tinyurl.com/ technological accomplishment, that he loaded Java to the Amiga
387retro2 but, be making use of the Java Grinder using a null modem cable.

116 MAY 202

20 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUUE 3887
 RETRO

⬆ Many old games are now available as freeware, including Marathon, ⬆ The internal EasyPay training video – with its musical interlude to the tune of
a first-person shooter that was released for the Apple Mac in 1994 Haddaway’s What Is Love – is one of the many video highlights of the collection

He is also hopeful that a compromise can
be reached with the company.
“I’m sending a letter to Apple’s VP of
Marketing Communications to extend out an
olive branch and see if we can work together.
That’s the best-case scenario,” he says.
You can onlly wish
h him welll and
d hope th
hat
Apple decides to make the archive official at
some point in the near future.
How much time Gold will be able to devote
to the project in the long term is uncertain,
however. He’s a high school senior from New
York City planning to go to The New School in
the autumn, and he’s working towards being
hired as a creative/art director.
It has also proven to be a relatively
expensive task, especially for a teenager.
“Thhe fulll arch k me cllose to th
hive took hree
years andd launching it has left me about
$500 out of pocket,” he says.
This iss why he has a donation button
on the arcchive, although he adds: “Content
and monetary are always appreciated but
never expected.”
As it stands, however, Gold is highly
motivated, and it has helped enormously that
the archive has been widely appreciated by
the tech community, many of whom are
hoping th hat a compromise can be reachhedd.
“My motivation came from the lack of
anything else like this,” Gold says.
Check it out for yourself while you still can
by visiting www.applearchive.org.

MINI PC ENGINE which include Alien Crush,

SENSIBLE SOCCER
SCORES AGAIN
The iconic football game
Sensible Soccer has been
given a modern makeover in
the guide of an ambitious mod
that needs the original game to
run. Sensible World of Soccer
2020 adds customisable
commentary and graphics that
can be boosted to 4K resolution.
There are also updated team
names, rosters, up-to-date
colours for players and kits,
and full widescreen support.
CONSOLE RELEASED Bomberman ‘93, Dungeon
Yet another mini console has Explorer, Salamander,
rolled off the production line, Splatterhouse, Parasol Stars,
following small-form versions Space Harrier, Snatcher, Aldynes
of the PlayStation, SNES, NES and Ghouls ‘N Ghosts. Some of
and Mega Drive. the games are in Japanese, but
The PC Engine CoreGrafx most will have minimal text so as
Mini is something special, not to make it a big issue.
however, since so few people Emulation has been worked
got their hands on the original on by the renowned developer
full-size console when it was put M2 Released, and the hardware
on sale from 1987 onwards. has been created by arcade
Gamers will be able to use stick manufacturers Hori. It is
the bundled original-size due to be released on 19th March
Simply get yourself an origina
al controller to play 57 as an Amazon exclusive
copy of the game – perhaps from m built-in games, costing £100.
www.gog.com, where it retails forr
£4.59 (tinyurl.com/387retro4) –
and then visit the mod’s web
page at tinyurl.com/387retro5
to download and install the
extra features.
You’ll find versions for
both Windows and the Amiga,
but check the website’s forum
to learn how it can be played
on Linux using WineHQ
and on macOS X Catalina
using Crossover.

SUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER

ISS | MAY 20020 117
117
17
 Helpfile &
BusinessH Hel
Whatever your PC, hardware, software, office application
or macro issues, Simon Handby is here to help
Send your problems to help@computershopper.co.uk
Virtually there
In ‘The End of Windows 7’ (Shopper 383),
you cover the possibility of turning a
Windows 7 PC into a virtual machine
(VM), and running it under a different
operating system. I’ve considered doing
this before, but have never been able
to establish whether it’s possible to do
exactly what I’m after.
Rather than create a new virtual disk
for the virtualised PC to live on, I would
like to turn my Windows 7 PC into a
virtual machine, using all of its existing
devices and physical drives. Once I’ve
done this, I want to add another drive to
the computer and use it as the destination
for a fresh install of Windows 10.
Once I’d finished, the PC would boot
into a new installation of Windows 10, and
I’d be able to run my old Windows 7
computer virtualised within it, but using
the old physical disks. Is this possible, and
how would I go about it?
Sam Hones
This is an interesting question. On the surface,
it would be a far better idea just to install
Windows 10 alongside Windows 7, but with
support for the latter now ended this could
120
➡ You’ll need to dial the
memory down, and make virtual
disks of your system drives
pose a threat to the security
of the whole PC. You could
minimise this risk by
ensuring you use Windows 7
only when strictly necessary,
and offline when possible.
Virtualising the Windows 7
PC would be much safer,
but less so if you’re using
physical disks rather than
virtual ones.
You’d need to start by
installing the VMware
vCenter Converter
Standalone from www.
vmware.com and using this to virtualise the PC.
The first hurdle is that while you won’t need
any virtual disks, the converter won’t work
unless you include at least the system drive
and any system-reserved partitions (the ones
that appear with long string names) in the
conversion process. You should also reduce
the VM’s memory to ensure it’s below the
PC’s physical memory. You’ll need to save the
virtualised PC to a temporary
location with enough space.
Once the conversion completes,
you can fit the new drive, run the
Windows 10 installer, and ensure
you choose a fresh install situated
on the new, blank drive. Once
Windows 10 is installed and patched,
you’ll need to install suitable
hypervisor software to let you run
your virtual Windows 7 PC. While
you could use the free VMware
Workstation Player, it doesn’t
support snapshots – a useful way to
recover from disaster, particularly if
you’re using an unsupported
⬅ Add physical disks to your
virtualised PC; here we’re using
VMware Workstation
operating system. Oracle VirtualBox does, but
it makes it far harder to configure a VM to use
a physical drive; you’ll also need to install the
(free) extension pack to use the .vdmk image
format created by the VMware converter.
The full version of VMware Workstation
would be ideal, but it’s £220.
Whatever software you’re hoping to use,
copy the virtual PC directory to a sensible
location on the new system drive, then choose
to add a new VM in your hypervisor software.
Without starting the VM, edit its storage
settings, removing the virtual disk and
replacing it with the physical disk(s) to which
the Windows 7 PC had access.
Our tests suggest that this process may
work, but you’ll find multiple limitations. Aside
from the VM not having access to the PC’s
full memory, the VM won’t strictly have access
to the computer’s ‘existing devices’. Instead, it
will talk to most via a layer of abstraction
provided by the hypervisor. This might
particularly mean that you have issues running
games and other software that needs direct
access to hardware acceleration. Given this,
and the difficulty and potential risk of
configuring the VM to use your physical
disks, we’d recommend you create virtual
disks as we described in the article.
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
 HELPFILE & BUSINESS HELP

Full stream ahead

I was very interested in the ‘Make a
Touchscreen Jukebox’ project (Advanced
Projects, Shopper 383). I have a couple of
questions regarding the self-contained unit.
I have an old Denon micro hi-fi system
(consisting of a DRA-F102DAB AM-FM/DAB
receiver and a DCD-F102 CD player) hooked
up to quality speakers. Although this is an
old system, it is in good working order and I
would like to use it to play my CD collection
stored on a Synology DS213 NAS, which is
connected to my home network.
The Denon receiver has several unused
phono inputs. Could I connect the mini-jack
on the Raspberry Pi to the phono inputs
using a suitable lead with phono plugs and
a 3.5mm stereo jack? If this is possible, is
the Pi, together with the Rhythmbox
software, capable of connecting to my
home Wi-Fi network to play the music ⬆ Th
he ch berry Pii Zero is an excelllent ch
heap, low-power Raspb hoiice for musiic streamiing
stored on my NAS?
Bob Bryne A Pi Zero is ideal for music streaming, as digi pHAT with an S/PDIF output, such as
it’s small, cheap, low-power and has plenty of the JustBoom Digi Zero pHAT (£24). Most of
The short answer is yes, but we would advise processing power. That can be paired with a those pHATs have compatible cases for a
using an audio HAT (hardware-attached-on- pHAT daughterboard, which is the same size neat and easy build.
top) to get decent sound quality. The Pi’s as the Pi Zero. Once you’ve got your hardware, just install
built-in audio is fine for basic use, and you Pimoroni’s pHAT DAC costs only £13 but RhythmBox on the Pi (searching the Software
could use a mini-jack-to-phono cable to feed uses a mini-jack output, while the JustBoom Manager is easiest) and connect to the music
your amp, but an audio HAT will give you DAC Zero pHAT costs £20 and the Allo Mini library on your NAS. You can use the same
better-quality audio, and possibly phono BOSS pHAT costs £40. If your amp can accept tricks we used in the article to auto-load
outputs too. digital inputs, you might want to consider a Rhythmbox and set up the touchscreen.

Chromebook network confusion

I’ve had a Chromebook for a few months, ⬅ If other
and recently set up an account for my people use your
partner on it. We went to stay with her Chromebook,
parents for the second time since I make sure you
bought it, only to find that the computer allow them access
to new networks
hadn’t remembered their wireless
network, despite me having connected
to it before. My partner logged in and
added the network, and was prompted
to share it with other users; once she’d
done so, I could also use it. I can’t
understand why the computer ‘forgot’ a
wireless network it had already been
connected to. Any ideas?
Charles Head

Chromebooks handle multiple users in a

different way to Windows PCs. With the
latter, each user has to log in every time
they want to access a session on the PC,
providing a password if they’ve set one.
Each user’s session is maintained separately to any other logged-in
users, so there’s no need for users to trust each other – they can
still have secure access to all of their usual resources, including
wireless networks.
On a Chromebook, each user only needs to provide their
password once per session, after which users are considered
‘trusted’ until they log out or the computer is restarted. It’s a more
lightweight implementation of multiple user sessions, and a key
difference is that some of the resources available to all users depend
on which user signed in first. In your case, your partner must have
logged on first at her parents’ house, restricting the available wireless
networks to those she had previously joined.
Had you logged on first, you both would have been able to access
the network. You can get around the problem in the future by
ensuring that when connecting to any networks, you always agree to
the option, ‘Allow other users of this device to use this network’.

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 121

 HELPFILE & BUSINESS HELP

Conditional payment
I’ve recently become self-employed, and
needed a way to keep track of my invoices.
I looked into a few online accounts services,
but they all seemed more complex than I
needed. I built a spreadsheet in Google
Sheets tracking the number, date and
customer for each invoice, together with a
description of the work. I added fields for
the total I’d billed, the amount I’d been paid,
and a simple formula that helps ensure I
save enough money for my tax bill.
I’ve encountered my first overdue
invoice, and realised that it would be good
to add a column showing the due date,
along with some conditional formatting
to turn this red when an invoice is late.
I managed to do all this by trial and error,
but then I ran into problems. Currently I
manually apply a green highlight to an
entire row when that invoice is settled, but ⬆ Paid invoices are marked
the conditional formatting overrules it, green, overdue ones have the
giving paid invoices one distracting red cell. due date highlighted red
I realised it would be good to use
conditional rules to automatically apply necessary, then select the
the green highlight to a row when I mark entire Due column. Move
that invoice as settled, but I’ve run out of the cursor to the left of the
ideas. My ‘tax’ column would be a useful green highlight rule until it
trigger, as it only contains a figure once turns into a four-way arrow,
the invoice is paid, but I can’t work out then drag it up above the ⬆ The green formatting is triggered by populated cells under Tax,
how to use one cell or range of cells to red rule and release it. but the hyphen counts
trigger conditional formatting on a
different range of cells. Can you help?
Dan Neilson

Sheets does let you define a different source SCSI please

and destination for conditional formatting.
From the Format menu, select Conditional
formatting and click Add another rule, then
define the target range across which you want
the formatting to be applied. In your sheet,
something like A3:J1001 will include all the
active columns and give you plenty of rows.
Change the Format cells if… box to ‘Custom
formula is’ and enter =$H3<>"", then define
the green highlight and click Done. You’ll see
the entire spreadsheet, save the column
headings, light up green.
For the highlight to apply only to paid
invoices, you need to get rid of the hyphens
that appear in your Tax column in the unpaid
and blank rows. This column is populated by
simply dividing the amount you’ve been paid
by three, so when the Paid field is empty
there’s an error, resulting in the hyphen.
Remove it by changing the formula for the tax
cell on row 3 from =(G3/3) to =IF (G3<>"",
(G3/3), ""), which either displays a valid sum
or creates a blank cell. Copy this cell and paste
it down the column to keep your existing
correct figures but lose the hyphens.
The green highlighting should now apply
only to paid invoices, but you’ll notice that
the red highlight you defined for your Due
column still overwrites the green once paid
invoices go beyond their due date. To fix this,
re-open the Conditional formatting sidebar if
I use an ArtixScan 4000t
film scanner. This connects
to my Windows 7 PC via a
SCSI card, which Device
Manager reports as an
Adaptec 2915/2930LP. I’m
considering updating the
computer to Windows 10,
but I don’t think Adaptec
provides a suitable driver.
Do I have to keep a
Windows 7 machine just so I
can keep using my scanner?
Bill Edwards
Unfortunately, the only way
to be certain is to test the ⬆ You’ll have 10 days to revert to Windows 7 if your scanner doesn’t
card with Windows 10. work under Windows 10
Although Adaptec has a
Windows 7 driver for both the 2915LP and and its Windows 7 driver, but take a backup
2930LP, neither card is listed on its first. Otherwise you could upgrade your own
Windows 10 support page. This may well machine to Windows 10 as a test. If the card
mean that the card will continue to work no longer works, you’ll need to choose
using the Windows 7 driver – that’s the between investing in a new scanner or SCSI
case for several other Adaptec products – card, or downgrading back to Windows 7.
but we can’t be sure. You can do this within 10 days of upgrading
If it’s important to know before you by opening Settings, selecting Update &
upgrade, see if a friend with a Windows 10 Security, then choosing Recovery in the
PC will let you temporarily install the card left-hand pane.

122 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

 Advanced
Projects
Clive Webster has been tinkering with computers ever since
Windows 98 forced him to manually install his drivers
clive@computershopper.co.uk

Beyond Google search

In the same way as we clean with a Hoover, Google has become synonymous
with internet searching. But Clive Webster will show you it’s not always the
best, as some of these alternatives demonstrate
MONOPOLIES ARE BAD (the board game’s not great, either; try of web searches were routed through Google’s services (including
Machi Koro, Splendor or Concordia instead). Monopolies lead to YouTube). But there are two questions when it comes to searching
complacency, a lack of innovation, entrenched behaviours and the internet: whether there’s a better search engine than Google,
giant mega-corps that manipulate life, the world and everything. A and whether a typical search engine is even the best tool for what
recent study by the Business Insider website showed that 90% you’re trying to achieve.

124 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387


⬆ If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for on the web, maybe you need to move away from the mighty Google
GOOGLE LIKES TO portray itself as the king of search, the obvious and
only place to go to find any and all information. It is not.
If you’re looking for a new job, for instance, you probably wouldn’t
open www.google.co.uk and type in your aspiration, since you’d be
flooded with loads of irrelevant information. Instead, you’d almost
certainly go to Indeed, Monster, Reed or possibly a specialist
employment site if you have a niche skill set. If you’re looking for a
new car, you’d head to BuyaCar, Auto Trader, Carwow or perhaps
load a map to find your local dealers. If you want to discover the
background of a topic, meanwhile, you might go straight to Wikipedia.
If you want a better deal on a utility, you’d use a price comparison site
to search for the best price or level of service.
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All of these sites use search algorithms to connect you with the
information you need, and their greater focus helps you find what you
want quicker. So while you might use Google to find those specialist
sites, you’re already going beyond Google and you’ve already realised a
key concept: the tool you use depends on what you’re trying to achieve.
Let’s add another key concept: trust. If you’re feeling ill, or you’ve
developed a medical concern, you could type your symptoms into
Google and get a slew of results. But which would you trust?
Possibly it would be better just to head straight to WebMD or the
online NHS 111 service (111.nhs.uk).
Expand that concept even further, and you’ll stumble over the
influence of money. Most search engines use advertising to ensure
⬆ Is Google the best search engine,
or is there a better choice?
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 ADVANCED PROJECTS
Bing
Ecosia
that the service is free to use while covering the costs of running
servers and updating algorithms. But while you can argue that
displaying ad links, shopping results and promoting articles from
certain websites might be an honest attempt to display a range of
relevant results, companies pay to be among the links promoted at
the top of results pages.
The question therefore remains: are these companies promoted
because they pay, because they’re trusted, or because they’re trusted
and they pay? Even the latter case is problematic: should charities and
highly trusted organisations have to pay to be promoted? Are we
comfortable with such a mercenary attitude? Each search company
has its own policies to address those issues.
The ultimate combination of trust and money is how much of our
search history, online behaviour and personal data is captured and
used by the search companies. Cookies and other trackers can build
an accurate picture of who you are, what you do, how you live your
life, and (perhaps the most keenly felt aspect of this issue) which
products and services you might want to buy. Some search engines
126
DuckDuckGo
Google
⬆ Don’t assume that one search engine is like another – Google and Bing
showed the answer to the question ‘when is easter’ immediately, while we’re
not even sure that Ask understood the question
value online privacy so highly they do absolutely no tracking. As well as
looking at how to find information quicker, therefore, we’ll also cover
alternatives to Google that value your privacy.
ALTERNATIVE SEARCH ENGINES
Search engines are general-purpose tools, the default option or the
start of more complicated searches. There are many alternatives to
Google, and each uses its own methods (algorithms) to deliver the
results it believes you want. While you would assume we would have
moved beyond accuracy and speed by now – that all mainstream
search engines would surface the same information in similarly
accessible ways – you’d be wrong. We asked the major search
engines ‘when is easter’, deliberately leaving off the current year.
The results were surprising.
MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

Yahoo!
Ask
While you would assume that all
mainstream search engines would
surface the same information in similarly
accessible ways, you’d be wrong
So that’s Ask immediately in the bin: if we ask for the date for
Easter, we don’t expect a results page full of holiday offers.
Meanwhile, Google and Bing showed us our answer immediately,
while Yahoo! and DuckDuckGo both required us to click through to a
separate web page. While Ecosia uses Bing’s engine, it didn’t surface
the answer in the same speedy way as the ‘works’ page, also only
revealing a link to a reputable website.
However, as well as speed and accuracy, you’ll see that some of
these search engines offer different perks and features. DuckDuckGo’s
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ADVANCED PROJECTS
main selling point is privacy: it doesn’t track you as you search.
Perhaps that’s worth the compromise of having to use a few more
clicks to get your information. Equally, Ecosia diverts its profits into
planting trees, helping restore forests and address the climate
emergency (although many argue that carbon sequestration in
peat bogs and wetlands might be more effective than massive
reforestation – Ecosia it for more details).
If you’re worried about climate change, you might also note that
Bing is Microsoft’s search engine, and that Microsoft recently
committed to being carbon-negative (taking more CO2 from the
atmosphere than it puts in) by 2030. Meanwhile, Google has been
carbon-neutral since 2007, with employees pushing for further
action. Both companies rely on offsetting to achieve their carbon
targets, but we’ll leave the debate as to whether offsetting is
appropriate for another article.
You’ll also notice that some search engines have other tools,
whether that’s previews or summaries of Wikipedia articles, or links
to other types of search parameters. For example, most search
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Wolfram Alpha: a computational engine

Search engines are exactly that: mechanisms to search a pool
of information for specific information. How they do that
varies, but the basic theory is by checking as many external
web pages as possible to find the most relevant results. The
process is rather parasitic, and is based on the assumption of
crowd-sourcing answers: the answer to any question is
probably online, and the most trustworthy answer is probably
correct. Assessing the ‘trustworthiness’ of an answer or site is
where the algorithm wars occur.
Wolfram Alpha (see www.wolframalpha.com) always aimed
to do things differently. Rather than search the whole web, it
searches only a small pool of highly trusted external sources.
A large library of built-in data and algorithms are added to the
mix, before Wolfram Alpha applies ‘dynamic computations’ to
finally produce its results in a comparable timeframe to a
conventional search engine.
Wolfram Alpha is capable of answering questions directly;
it passed our Easter test well, returning the actual
answer rather than a link, even if the
presentation wasn’t quite as slick as ⬆ Wolfram Alpha can answer standard questions or solve equations
that of Bing’s or Google’s. Wolfram
Alpha excels when it comes to However, while Wolfram Alpha performs well when answering
anything factual and specific, and questions of fact, when it comes to opinion, it’s rather hopeless.
the range of topics has expanded Try asking it ‘what is the best iphone’ and it struggles to understand
hugely. You can ask for the calorie what an iPhone is, let alone offer sources where you might see a
count of a slice of cheesecake, dates discussion of price versus features and offer subjective or nuanced
of historical figures, mathematical advice. Then again, enter the same question into Ask and it’s almost
problems, engineering modelling and as bad, yielding a whole page of advertising before showing a
all kinds of other tricky questions. genuinely useful link.

engines have tools to specifically search for images, videos, shopping Finally, remember to update the default search engine of your web
comparisons and so on. Keen shoppers will prefer Google and Bing for browser. Each browser does this slightly differently, and the process
their general searches, as they both have shopping tools built in; again, can change with updates, so it’s best to search online for the most
Ask disappoints, with no additional search tools at all. up-to-date advice.
If you’re determined to ditch Google but still want a Google-like
service, Bing is your best bet. If tree planting or privacy is more BEYOND SEARCH ENGINES
important, opt for Ecosia or DuckDuckGo respectively. If you’d A search engine is a general-purpose tool, but sometimes you need
prefer the convenience of Bing but are somewhat worried about something with more precision. What exactly that is depends on the
privacy, safety or filtering inappropriate content, you’ll need to task in hand; sometimes you need a screwdriver, other times a spanner.
create an account and adjust the Settings. Use SafeSearch to filter Reverse searching is the general term for when you have a ‘thing’
adult content, and the Privacy settings to disable tracking and delete and want to know more about it. Shazam (free, iOS and Android) is
stored personal data. a good example: you’re listening to the song but want to know the
singer and the title.
If you’ve got an image and want
to know its source, TinEye is a
specific reverse-image search
service. You can upload an image or
copy its URL (right-click on the
image and select Copy Image or
Copy Address) and it will search the
internet looking for other instances.
However, while TinEye can be
useful, both Bing and Google have
built-in reverse image searching,
called Visual Search and Search by
Image respectively. Bing’s icon is
always present (the square-ish
icon to the right of the search bar),
while Google only reveals Search
by Image (the camera icon) once
you’ve performed a search.
We prefer Bing’s Visual Search
results page for clarity and
⬆ Bing gives the most Google-like experience, and you can adjust the privacy settings by creating an account presentation, but Google and

128 MAY 2020 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387

 ADVANCED PROJECTS

Search by source
While Bing is the strongest candidate to replace Google for general
use (unless you’re very particular about privacy or feel Ecosia has
better climate change credentials), a general-use search engine can
still be slow or inaccurate if your needs are very specific.
Enter the specialised, topic-specific search tool. We’ve
mentioned a few of the obvious choices throughout this article
– AutoTrader, Reed, Shazam and so on – but here are some
options for even more specialised searches.

CATEGORY SERVICE WEBSITE DESCRIPTION

News Twitter twitter.com Check Twitter for breaking news, as people tweet before
reporters can post

Images CC Search, Flickr, search.creativecommons. CC Search checks only copyright-free material; Flickr and
Pinterest org, flickr.com, www. Pinterest are essentially huge image libraries
pinterest.co.uk

Food Yummly www.yummly.co.uk Searches for recipes based on dietary requirements and
ingredients

Podcasts Listen Notes www.listennotes.com Podcasts are making a comeback, so find some gems

Social media Mention mention.com Unlike Keyhole and BuzzSumo, Mention has a free plan for
social media tracking and online profile insights

Research SlideShare www.slideshare.net Now hosted by LinkedIn, use SlideShare to find uploaded
presentations and get a head start on your next project

Business Crunchbase, www.crunchbase.com, Crunchbase finds local businesses to connect with, while
SimilarWeb www.similarweb.com SimilarWeb produces statistics for any website (handy if
you’re being asked to invest)

Web development BuiltWith www.builtwith.com Insights and trends on current technology and tools being
used online

Bing Google

⬆➡ Both Bing and Google can do reverse image searches, but the bespoke
TinEye might also be worth trying

TinEye also found other instances of our test image, Edward Hopper’s
Ground Swell, taken from the public domain gallery of the (US)
National Gallery of Art (see www.nga.gov).
If you’re a digital creative, you might want to go one step further
and use either Berify or Pixsy (see berify.com and www.pixsy.com).
These services use reverse searching to constantly scan the web to
find whether your images and videos have been copied to other
locations. You can then assert your copyright privileges, send a
licensing invoice or demand the image or video be taken down.

NEXT MONTH
MAKE A VPN ROUTER
We show you how to create a secure Wi-FI network to protect
you from trackers and hackers
TinEye

ISSUE 387 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | MAY 2020 129

 PARTING SHOTS
Zygote
Facial recognition technology is being rolled out across London, despite evidence from the
US that it’s a waste of time and money. Zygote wonders if the Met knows what it’s doing
SEE WEED
Thirty thousand cannabis users in
Maryland, Ohio and Colorado
received an unexpected present
last Christmas. Their free gift was
delivered by a database running on
an Amazon Web Services storage
bucket owned by THSuite.
The unprotected software
package decided to publish their
names and addresses on the
internet, along with details of the
exact amount of marijuana they
were in the habit of consuming.
When Zygote asked if usage
was limited to medicinal purposes,
the response was “yeah, man, too
much”. Speaking of which…
WHISPERING GRASS
Boffins at Plant-E in Holland and
Lacuna Space in Oxfordshire have
collaborated to generate
electricity from living grass.
As long as a little container of
the green stuff has enough water
to keep growing, it is capable of
generating 0.2mW of power, and
happily sends 50-byte messages
of information to an overhead
satellite on a continual basis. No
batteries, no solar power, no wind
generator required, just a basic
sensor in a biodegradable pot.
Zygote believes this is an
important achievement with
some fascinating implications.
For example, plants can be made
to tweet from any of the moister
regions on the planet, without
the need for humans to visit a
remote location to change
batteries. One obvious application
is that if a signal stops, then the
plant will report its own death
through lack of water. Or locusts.
FACE OFF
In the same week that the
Metropolitan Police announces
the operational use of live facial
recognition in London, the city of
San Diego, California, announces
that its massively expensive facial
recognition system is being
scrapped as a waste of time,
effort and money.
The Californian cops set up
their network of 1,300 cameras
130
seven years ago and assembled a
database of 65,000 suspicious
folk, using spy-bots, smartphones,
tablets and traffic cameras. Images
were run against the mugshots of
known criminals looking for
matches, but not a single arrest
has been made as a result.
Meanwhile, the Met’s
assistant commissioner Nick
Ephgrave declares, “This is an
important development for the
Met, and one which is vital in
assisting us in bearing down on
violence. As a modern police
force, I believe we have a duty
to use new technologies to
keep people safe in London.
Independent research has shown
that the public support us.”
Zygote declares that the
public may not support the
project if they knew about the
costs and results of the San
Diego fiasco.
DICK’S ON
Dixons has recruited Lindsay
Haselhurst from Kingfisher as
chief supply-chain officer. Her job
is to deliver a “brilliant end-to-end
customer experience”, and she’s
off to a great start at the retail
empire, which includes PC World,
Currys and Carphone Warehouse.
First thing in the morning,
Dixons filed that group revenue
had risen 2% during its peak
trading period. In the afternoon,
it issued a slight correction.
Sales had in fact not risen by 2%,
but dropped by 2%.
Now, Dixons has been slapped
with a penalty of £500,000 from
the Information Commissioner’s
Office after failing to keep hackers
out of its sales tills. No fewer than
14 million customer records have
been compromised, including
chip and PIN cards, account
numbers, expiry dates, cardholder
names, postal addresses, email
addresses, phone numbers, dates
of birth and failed credit-check
details. That’s some end-to-end
customer experience.
I SPY
Stanford University scientists
have developed a smart system
for seeing round corners, which
Zygote will attempt to explain in
simple language. OK, here goes.
First you see an object, then
you hit it with a laser beam at an
angle. The laser gets reflected on
to another object around a
corner that you can’t see. The
light from the object you can’t
see is bounced back to the object
you can see. A machine-learning
system is connected to a camera
looking at the object you can see,
which views it as a pattern created
by interference from light leaving
the laser against the reflection of
the object you can’t see. The
pattern is fed through a neural
network to reconstruct the image
of the object you can’t see. Bingo!
MAY 2020
The scientists believe that the
system will be used for safety in
self-driving cars. Zygote believes
it will be used by a lot of people
to spot a lot of other people
round corners, and shoot them.
SIGN LANGUAGE
The health secretary is called
Matt Hancock, or at least he was
at the time of writing, and he has
promised £40m for a single
sign-on system specially designed
to be used by any doctor each
time they see any patient.
This is because, “NHS staff
currently have to log in to
multiple computer programs
when tending to a patient,
with each program requiring its
own login details. Some staff
need to log in to as many as 15
different systems.” Crikey!
That’s terrible, Matt.
But Zygote would like to
remind you of the following
facts. Your promised money is
not new, it comes from the
existing 2020-2021 budget. No ifs,
no buts. Apart from that, the
overwhelming majority of GPs are
independent contractors, not
NHS staff, and your Department
of Health and Social Security
refuses to confirm that any
money for this project will come
from the so-called GP-IT Futures
Framework. So who exactly is
this non-existent new money
supposed to benefit?
| COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 387
 CQ32G1
2560X1440

BEND YOUR REALITY

Available at:

aocgaming.com @aoc_gaming @aocgaming @aocgaming