Darren Allan

Darren is a freelancer writing news and features for TechRadar (and occasionally T3) across a broad range of computing topics including CPUs, GPUs, various other hardware, VPNs, antivirus and more. He has written about tech for the best part of three decades, and writes books in his spare time (his debut novel - 'I Know What You Did Last Supper' - was published by Hachette UK in 2013).

Articles by: Darren Allan

Skeleton of an office worker waiting for their laptop to boot

Windows 11 could finally get a finished dark mode – but I can't believe how long it's taken

By Darren Allan published

Fed up with Windows 11's dark mode remaining unfinished? Here's some good news.

Mac Pro

Apple could be working on its fastest ever Mac if this Mac Pro with M4 Ultra rumor is true

By Darren Allan published

A Mac Pro for 2025? It may arrive with an M4 Ultra CPU, despite what the naysayers think.

Mature man using laptop in a cafe, looking annoyed

Microsoft stuffs more AI into Windows 11 - but the only feature I really want comes with a big catch

By Darren Allan published

Sick of AI in Windows 11? I am too, but there's one feature I want - and the kicker is I'm not going to get it.

Teenage Engineering Computer 2-case

Building a new PC and looking for a good case? You can get one for free – with a couple of catches

By Darren Allan published

There's no such thing as a free lunch - but you can get a new PC case for nothing.

Shocked woman worker looking at laptop screen

Microsoft exec's vision of Windows 12 and beyond could terrify some of you

By Darren Allan published

The 'computer can actually look at your screen and is context aware' - are we heading towards a computing utopia, or a data dystopia?

Sad business man and laptop

Tearing your hair out because you can't sign up for Windows 10 extended updates? New patch fixes annoying bug and makes support to October 2026 available for all

By Darren Allan published

New Windows 10 update brings extended support offer to all PCs – and fixes a bug that was preventing some people from signing up.

blue laptop on table

Epic delivers on promise to fix anti-cheat games so they work on laptops with Snapdragon X CPUs – starting with Fortnite

By Darren Allan published

Laptop gamers, rejoice: One of the biggest reasons to avoid a Copilot+ PC with a Snapdragon X CPU has been banished.

girl using laptop hoping for good luck with her fingers crossed

Latest Windows 11 update packs a great new feature - but I hope I never have to use it

By Darren Allan published

As well as Quick Machine Recovery, the August update delivers an important fix for PC gamers - and more AI tricks.

Windows 10's grave

Microsoft is being sued for killing Windows 10 - here are 5 reasons why the lawsuit could actually force its hand to extend support further

By Darren Allan published

Lawsuit turns up the heat on Microsoft over Windows 10 End of Life - and I think the pressure is really on to find a solution.

Woman disgusted by her laptop

Sorry, Microsoft: your latest attempt to get people to switch over to Edge in Windows 11 is crossing a line

By Darren Allan published

Windows 11 could get another pop-up nagging you to use Edge - and make you wonder exactly what Microsoft is snooping on in the OS.

Up-close MagSafe and ports on 13-inch MacBook Air M4 in Sky Blue

A $599 MacBook could actually be coming – and even as a hardened Windows fan, I'd be tempted to take the plunge

By Darren Allan published

There's more chatter about a cheap MacBook, and rumored $599 price would indeed 'shake up the notebook market' - to put it mildly.

The branding along the top of an AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT

Desperate for a cheap GPU? AMD's RX 7400 just arrived – but I'd forget about that, and start hoping the rumored Intel B380 is real

By Darren Allan published

I wouldn't bet on the new AMD RX 7400 being your budget GPU savior – that might be Intel's B380 instead.

Mature man using laptop in a cafe, looking annoyed

Microsoft reveals a surprising catch to extended support for Windows 10 that's going to seriously annoy some people

By Darren Allan published

Microsoft has been cracking down on local accounts with Windows, and this could be seen as another push in that direction.

Apple MacBook Pro 14 M4 (2024) REVIEW

MacBook Pro with OLED display rumored for late 2026 launch — and Samsung could make the screen

By Darren Allan published

Keen to get your hands on a MacBook Pro OLED? You should be able to buy one late in 2026, the rumor mill keeps insisting.

A PC gamer in a racing-style gaming chair

Microsoft's Gaming Copilot AI is now in Windows 11's Game Bar - and I can't decide whether this is a good or bad thing

By Darren Allan published

Microsoft's Gaming Copilot is now in Windows 11's Game Bar - and it looks nifty, but I'm worried about the AI on handhelds.

Angry woman using a laptop

Microsoft finally fixes one frustrating Windows 11 pop-up – just as a more irritating one arrives to take its place

By Darren Allan published

Microsoft just minimized the annoyance with one Windows 11 nag – then put in a much worse one.

Ai tech, businessman show virtual graphic Global Internet connect Chatgpt Chat with AI, Artificial Intelligence.

Can you run OpenAI's new gpt-oss AI models on your laptop or phone? Here's what you'll need and how to do it

By Darren Allan published

We look at the gpt‑oss‑20b and gpt‑oss-120b AI models, their system requirements, and how you can install them on your PC.

PC gamer looking at PC in anger and disbelief

Report suggests Windows 10's Game Bar is crashing with some high-end AMD Ryzen CPUs - and I hope Microsoft will investigate soon

By Darren Allan published

The Game Bar has a crucial feature for some Ryzen X3D CPUs - and it's now broken, which is seriously bad news.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 on wooden desk, viewed front on with screen open.

Microsoft teases the future of Windows: 'The computer will be able to see what we see, hear what we hear, and we can talk to it'

By Darren Allan published

Windows in 2030 will be about sophisticated AI and voice commands according to a Microsoft executive's prediction.

Angry woman using a laptop

Confused about why you can't upgrade to Windows 11? Microsoft has some new advice that might help... including a trick I wasn't aware of

By Darren Allan published

Preparing for your upgrade to Windows 11? Microsoft has some new advice that could be very handy.

The Asus Vivobook S 15 Copilot+ in silver pictured on a wooden desk.

Windows 11's taskbar could be next for an AI overhaul – but I just don't see the point

By Darren Allan published

Windows 11's taskbar could be infused with AI – but do we really need more AI agents in the OS?

A woman getting frustrated by her laptop

Don't trust Windows 11's Recall feature? A new report will only harden your resolve to never use the AI-powered search

By Darren Allan published

Recall is under fire again as a report points out security slips that are distinctly worrying.

Bing

Microsoft's up to its old tricks, this time pushing Copilot AI in your face when searching on Bing - and this is getting tiresome

By Darren Allan published

Microsoft dips into its underhand promo playbook (again), this time pushing Copilot AI via Bing.

Microsoft Surface Laptop SE

Microsoft has all but given up on Windows 11 SE – and it looks like the war against Chromebooks has been lost

By Darren Allan published

Microsoft has long been gunning for Chromebooks, but its latest effort to secure a piece of the low-cost laptop market has failed dismally.

Woman using a Windows computer with Microsoft Edge

Chrome stretches its lead over the floundering Edge - and I'm not convinced Microsoft's big Copilot AI promises will save the browser

By Darren Allan published

Edge has dropped in popularity - is Copilot AI going to save the browser, or does Microsoft just need to chill with its overzealous promos?

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