PC Sales Show Biggest Quarterly Decline Ever

via allthingsd.com

Sales of personal computers were very nearly twice as bad as previously expected and experienced their worst year-on-year decline ever in the first quarter of 2013, according to the market research firm IDC, in a report released this afternoon.

Worldwide PC shipments came in at 76.3 million units in the first quarter of the year, amounting to a decline of nearly 14 percent. That’s much worse than the firm’s forecast, which called for a decline of 7.7 percent.

The findings also amount to the fourth consecutive quarter in which sales declined compared to the previous quarter. Neither new versions of Windows from Microsoft nor faster chips from Intel spurred new interest among consumers or businesses. Meanwhile, mini-notebook sales hurt the low end of the market.

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5 Tips to Clean and Speed Up Your Filthy PC

via mashable.com

Our computers rarely run as fast as we want or expect them to. Whether you're a Mac or Windows user, it's maddening to sit in front of a taunting hourglass or spinning circle of death, especially when you have work to do.

In the spirit of spring cleaning, we invite you to clean the dust bunnies out of your PC (literally and digitally). Here are five easy ways to get started.

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Build the Best PC For Your Buck

via gizmodo.com

We all know that, generally speaking, buying the newest top-end part gets you the most performance. But in most cases, the premium you pay for that part covers a whole lot of other stuff as well that has no bearing on frame rates or video encoding times. We're talking about the added cost of covering research and development, product marketing, lower production yields, etc. That high price also includes a vanity tax, if you will-the extra charge incurred by folks who simply want to have the latest hardware, hot off the fab, for bragging rights.

Splashing out on the very latest gear is all well and good, if you're rolling in cabbage. But for most of us, the job of choosing what part to buy is much more nuanced. The object is to find the hardware that offers the greatest value-the best price-to-performance ratio.

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Automatically Shut Down or Restart Your PC – or Do it Remotely From Your Phone

via howtogeek.com

So, you want to head to bed… time to power down the PC and call it a night. But wait… that download hasn’t finished yet. You could stay up and wait for it to finish, but then you will miss out on sleep. You could leave it running, but that’s a waste of electricity. Or you could do is turn to Shutter, which gives you a couple of alternative options.

This is a free tool that may not look like anything special, but it has a few tricks up its sleeve that make it well worth checking out. Used at its most basic Shutter could be configured to automatically shut down your computer in an hour’s time, or however long you think it’s going to take for your download to complete.

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There can only be one: Smartphones are the PCs of the future

via extremetech.com

In 10 years, tablets computers will be archaic and obsolete. You will look back at the early 2000s, perhaps with an inquisitive child sitting on your knee, and laugh at how you carried around a cumbersome, neck-straining, gorilla arm-inducing, larger-than-pocket-size computer. “It made sense at the time…”

Desktops and laptops too, having already begun their slide into outmoded antiquity, will soon be nothing more than dusty cupboard-dwelling relics and museum exhibits.

The one form factor that will remain — the last and only bastion of consumer computing — will be the smartphone.

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15 PC Keyboards With Cool Design

via hongkiat.com

Monitors have gotten a serious makeover from boring block-like structures to slim, sleek and sexy designs; the good news is, so have keyboards. They have transformed from being just a plate of alphanumeric keys to become more user-friendly, ergonomic, stylish and more comfortable to use.

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Video: The evolution of PC games

via theverge.com

From the earliest text-based adventures to the latest modern shooters, Reverse Enginears has created a stunning musical composition featuring only sounds and music from PC games.

Reverse Enginears is a digital creative agency that specializes in A/V re-sequencing. AKA "remixes." Their remixes have been featured in advertising campaigns for Disney, Marvel and GM, and have been watched millions of times on YouTube and elsewhere.

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30 Awesome Gaming Devices for PC Gamers

via hongkiat.com

Gaming is serious business. The game industry alone is worth US$74 billion (yes, with a b) in 2011 and the numbers are rising. Chances are, you have several games going on on your smartphone and you have one or two consoles at home equipped for some heavy gaming sessions. But if you want to talk about extreme gaming pieces – let’s just limit it to PC this time – then you will definitely love today’s showcase.

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How to Make Your PC Wake From Sleep Automatically

via howtogeek.com

When you put your PC into sleep mode, it normally waits until you press a button before it wakes from sleep – but you can have your PC automatically wake from sleep at a specific time.

This can be particularly useful if you want your PC to wake and perform downloads in off-peak hours or start other actions before you wake up in the morning — without running all night.

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How to Play Classic Arcade Games On Your PC

via howtogeek.com

New games with their fancy textures, 3D modeling, and immersive environments have their charm, sure, but what if you crave some old-school arcade gaming? Read on to see how you can turn your computer into an virtual arcade cabinet.

Vintage games ran on hardware significantly less powerful than that found in modern desktop computers. With the right software, a joystick or two (if you want to make experience feel more authentic), and a little digging online to find your favorite games, it’s easy to play the arcade hits of your childhood.

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How to Download Hulu Videos to Your PC for Offline Viewing

via howtogeek.com

If you have ever tried to download videos from the Hulu website, you will have probably noticed that most methods don’t work because of the protocol that Hulu uses. Here’s how to download any video you want from the Hulu website.

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How to Use an Xbox 360 Controller On Your Windows PC

via howtogeek.com

The keyboard and mouse might be a good fit for many native computer games, but it feels downright weird to play emulated games that way. Whether you want to play Super Mario with a proper gamepad or try out a new PC title like Diablo III in comfort, we’ve got you covered.

Today we’re taking a look at how you can take a Microsoft Xbox 360 controller and configure it to work with everything from your favorite emulators to old and new PC games. Whether you want the authentic feel of a controller in your hand when you play old school games or you’re looking for a gentle-on-the-wrists way to play modern games, it’s easy to set up.

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What Is The Future Of PCs?

via businessinsider.com

Apple's new MacBooks represent a nice step forward in the personal computing world. The Air is as light as can be, and the Pro boasts a better-than-HD screen.

But what comes next?

We asked 15 tech hotshots what the future holds for the personal computer.

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The Best Application Launchers and Docks for Organizing Your Desktop

via howtogeek.com

Is your desktop so cluttered you can’t find anything? Is your Start menu so long you have to scroll to see what programs are there? If so, you probably need an application launcher to organize your desktop and make your life easier.

We’ve created a list of many useful application launchers in different forms. You can choose from dock programs, portable application launchers, Start menu and Taskbar replacements, and keyboard-oriented launchers.

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How To Access Your Computer From Anywhere Using An iPad

via businessinsider.com

Splashtop is a handy app for your iPad, that lets you access your desktop computer from anywhere.

As long as your desktop/laptop has an Internet connection, you can turn your iPad into a remote control.

Splashtop especially comes in handy if you forgot a file on your computer at home and need to access it or even send something to yourself.

Even better, if you want to get around Apple's Flash limitation, you can stream video from your computer to your iPad or iPhone remotely.

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Upgrading a new PC to Windows 8 will cost you... $14.99

via reviews.cnet.com

Those who shell out for a Windows 7 PC in the coming months will receive a discounted upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just $14.99, according to sources speaking to Paul Thurrott.

The deal could start as early as the first week in June at around the same time as the company gears up for its final preview of the next version of Windows.

The paid upgrade will apply to any new PC buyer with Windows 7 Home Basic or higher installed.

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HP reclaims top spot in PC sales, market as a whole climbs 21 percent

via engadget.com

Well, Apple's reign atop the list of the world's top PC makers was short lived. After clawing its way into the lead, if you counted the iPad as a PC, HP is back atop the heap -- even with Cupertino's tablet-inflated numbers. According to Canalys, the Palo Alto company shipped 15.8 million units in the first quarter of 2012, barely sneaking passed Apple by 40,000 computers. Of course, remove Apple's 11.8 million iPads, and it's not even a competition. Lenovo, Acer and Dell rounded out the top five, with the total market shooting up 21 percent over the same time last year. However, there is plenty of reason to believe we won't see client PC fly out the door at such an incredible rate. Amazingly, according to Canalys, tablets accounted for 40 percent of all PC shipments in the US. For more details check out the PR after the break.

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The Greatest PC Mysteries - Solved!

via pcworld.com

PC owners know that every computer has a unique assortment of components, applications and peripherals. Nevertheless, certain things--including a host of common PC problems and mysteries--are part of the shared experience of computer ownership. The editors at PCWorld have seen and solved hundreds of PC mysteries, ranging from balky printers to diffident video players to persnickety file attachments. Most of the answers to these tech questions are simple and straightforward, so we've taken the liberty of compiling some of the most frequently encountered PC mysteries into a single list that we'll update regularly. Following each question we provide a short response that summarizes what we know. For a more detailed explanation and some helpful tips, click the links in each answer.

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How Do You Customize Your Computer? - Web Poll

via howtogeek.com

Whether you spend your energy customizing via case mods or leave the box stock and re-skin the OS, we’re interested in hearing all about how you customize your computing experience and make the machine yours.

This week we want to hear about the OS tweaks, skins, modifications, and other tweaks you’ve applied to your computer to personalize it. Whether it’s minor tweaks at work because IT has the machines locked down or massive custom-built boxes at home that show off your love for your favorite Sci-Fi show, it’s time to share your favorite tools, tricks, and tips for customizing your computing experience–even better, share some screenshots or photos in the comments below.

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How to Know Why Your PC is Slow

via explorefeed.com

Have you got DSL or dial-up internet but simply not have the determination or time for you to let your pc run so slow? In some cases you just need to be realistic and believe that your pc just is not the quickest on the planet.

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