Articles by Darren Allan

Hand holding two DDR5 RAM memory modules in front of gaming computer with RGB lighting

Microsoft quietly stops recommending 32GB of RAM, as even Apple reportedly struggles to secure memory for iPhones and MacBooks

By Darren Allan Published 6 August 26

32GB is the 'no-worries zone'? Not anymore as Microsoft backtracks on past RAM recommendations, while Apple's seemingly having troubles of its own.

Oh, great, GPU prices could climb again — here's my expert advice on why you should buy now (and which graphics card to get)

By Darren Allan Published 5 August 26

The rumors are crystal clear: get ready for big GPU price rises, and that means you should seriously think about purchasing now rather than waiting.

Sad looking person holding head in hands sat at a gaming PC

Steam survey shows GPUs with 16GB are now the most popular graphics cards — and that really doesn't bode well for gamers' wallets

By Darren Allan Published 4 August 26

With more GPU price hikes apparently inbound, gamers are going to struggle to get the VRAM they crave.

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The Windows 11 battery life indicator on a Dell 16 Plus

Is Windows 11 spying on you via a new background process? No, it isn't, but the controversy around this clearly shows Microsoft must do better with privacy

By Darren Allan Published 4 August 26

Windows 11 process sparks controversy and user accusations of 'spying,' which are false — but still point to a wider issue around privacy for Microsoft.

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After months of silence, the first Googlebook has been spotted — and it looks nifty, but will anyone really care?

By Darren Allan Published 3 August 26

'What's a Googlebook?' After months of silence, the first Googlebook has been spotted — but the reaction to these laptops remains muted or confused.

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Microsoft acknowledges how dire the RAM crisis is by promising to reduce Windows 11's 'memory footprint' on 8GB laptops — but it should have been this way from the start

By Darren Allan Published 3 August 26

'There needs to be a mechanism to prevent this from happening': Microsoft vows to make Windows 11 run better on 8GB, but users complain something else needs fixing — rogue software installs.

The PS5 Pro console on a wooden desk in front of a white brick background and next to a potted plant

I defected to the PS5 after 30 years of PC gaming — here's why I have no regrets about swapping the RAM crisis for the disc crisis

By Darren Allan Published 2 August 26

Disc-less Elysium: I'm a veteran PC gamer who vowed not to buy a PS5 — but I changed my mind, and I don't regret switching to Sony's console for a second.

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I'm sick of smart TV privacy worries, so I'm taking my TV off the internet for good — here's why you should too

By Darren Allan Published 30 July 26

Do I need my TV online? No, I don't — here's how I'm finally pulling the plug on any spying or snooping fears, while still keeping my smart TV updated.

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An Asus laptop screen showing a 'subscription required' message on Windows 11

I'm worried that Windows 11 will slowly turn into a subscription-based OS, and AI agents will be to blame — here's why

By Darren Allan Published 28 July 26

My biggest Windows 11 fear is AI agents — and that they could be a Trojan Horse for subscription fees in Microsoft's OS.

Microsoft Copilot key on a HP Envy x360 14-fc009na laptop

Hate the Copilot key in Windows 11? It looks like Microsoft's bringing in the option to remap it to do nothing — if you feel that's more useful

By Darren Allan Published 24 July 26

Think nothing is better than Copilot? Microsoft is going to let you prefer the former over the latter in a very literal sense, with the ability to remap the Copilot key to do nothing.

Businessman staring at laptop with frightened face in the dark

'Science fiction that happened': experts explain why OpenAI's 'mind-blowing' cyberattack should worry us all

By Darren Allan Published 24 July 26

This might be our first true glimpse of how dangerous AI could be in the future in terms of making hacks much more commonplace.

Own an LG monitor and tired of seeing that McAfee pop-up? Microsoft has banished it from Windows 11 — but wider issues need to be addressed here

By Darren Allan Published 24 July 26

Microsoft kills McAfee ad served via LG monitor app in Windows 11 — but there are wider problems to deal with in Windows Update.

The RAM crisis just forced Framework into a nasty price hike — and Apple's rumored solution to the memory crunch is renting Macs to cash-strapped consumers

By Darren Allan Published 23 July 26

Apple's plan to sidestep the RAM crisis could be renting Macs, iPhones and iPads to consumers.

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'Apple is entering 'the touchbar phase' again': MacBook OLED could be on track to launch in a few months, but skeptics still hate that rumored touchscreen

By Darren Allan Published 23 July 26

New report details Apple's Mac plans, including that a MacBook OLED remains on track for a possible release later in 2026.

Nvidia tries again to get gamers to accept DLSS 5 — and doesn't entirely succeed

By Darren Allan Published 22 July 26

Nvidia shows how DLSS 5 gives developers control — but many gamers remain skeptical and accusations of 'Slopvidia' abound.

Brace yourself for more RAM misery: DDR5 is now getting pricier — and there's a rumor that CPUs will be more expensive next year

By Darren Allan Published 22 July 26

It looks like the memory crisis isn't going anywhere, between DDR5 RAM price hikes and a new rumor about more expensive CPUs.

DIY 3D-printed Companion Cube style case for Steam Machine

Ill-fated Companion Cube case for Steam Machine returns as a 3D-printed effort — and it's not the only striking DIY project around Valve's gaming PC

By Darren Allan Published 21 July 26

Got a 3D printer? You can make your own alternative Companion Cube case for the Steam Machine.

Dell XPS 17 laptop in use on a wooden desk

Microsoft fixes Windows 11's nasty bugs with Dell laptops — and shows there's a catch to jumping the update queue

By Darren Allan Published 20 July 26

Want all Windows 11 features as soon as they're available? Be aware that there's a side effect to an option that some people like to exercise in Microsoft's OS.

The MacBook Air M5 sky blue showing the lockscreen featuring rice fields from above.

I'm worried about the future of MacBooks — and these M7 chip rumors are to blame

By Darren Allan Published 19 July 26

Is Apple wise to be doubling-down on AI with its M7 and M8 chips? This rumored new strategy is worrying if you ask me.

Nvidia RTX 5000 Super GPUs rumored to be ready — but they're on hold, and the reason why makes me nervous about pricing

By Darren Allan Published 17 July 26

These Super refreshes are still coming, by all accounts, but they could make quite the dent in your bank balance.

Moonshot reveals new AI model, and it's a big surprise — here's why Kimi K3 is a threat to the likes of OpenAI

By Darren Allan Published 17 July 26

Kimi K3 model is a threat to the likes of OpenAI for two key reasons: its open nature, and apparently sterling coding skills.

What is the Codex Micro? OpenAI's first hardware gadget explained

By Darren Allan Published 17 July 26

Confused about what the point of the Codex Micro is? Here's everything you need to know, including how it's been received by the target audience of coders.

Young woman using laptop, looking annoyed

Firefox vs Edge: fresh shots fired in browser wars as Mozilla report accuses Microsoft of using 'harmful design' to undermine choice in Windows 11

By Darren Allan Published 16 July 26

'Microsoft continues to deploy harmful design to undermine people's browser choice': Mozilla report concludes that Windows still isn't a level playing field.