All posts tagged: Desktop

Rediscover desktop power with this grade “A” refurbished Lenovo ThinkCentre desktop on sale for 0

Rediscover desktop power with this grade “A” refurbished Lenovo ThinkCentre desktop on sale for $180

Published by skeptic

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › Just when you thought desktop computers were a thing of the past, you discover that certain tasks are simply beyond the capacity of even the most advanced laptops. Despite their convenience and portability, laptops often fall short of the reliability and power that desktops usually deliver. If you find yourself in need of a desktop but can’t quite swing a hefty investment, consider a refurbished Lenovo ThinkCentre M900, available at a steal price. The very definition of tiny but mighty, this desktop computer packs a powerful CPU with generous RAM and SSD, all while remaining portable and mountable. For a limited time, its refurbished version can be yours for less than $200. Before anything else, it’s worth mentioning that while this computer is refurbished, it boasts a grade-A rating, meaning that it’s in near-mint condition. Performance-wise, it’s as good and powerful as new despite being a 2015 model. It packs an Intel Core i5 processor that …

Don’t like your Linux desktop? Here’s how to install an alternative

Don’t like your Linux desktop? Here’s how to install an alternative

Published by skeptic

Jack Wallen/ZDNET Linux is all about choice. From my earliest experiences with the OS, this has been the case. If you’re coming from Windows, you’re probably accustomed to being able to switch your web browser, office suite, and other applications. What you can’t do on Windows is change the desktop environment. The same thing holds true for MacOS.  But with Linux, there’s always a choice from the top down, including the desktop environment. In the past, I’ve used a single distribution with multiple desktop environments to choose from: GNOME, KDE Plasma, Pantheon, Enlightenment… the list goes on and on. Also: The first 5 Linux commands every new user should learn If you find yourself unhappy with the desktop environment installed on your current distribution, never fear because your package manager is here to help you out. Before we dive into this, know that I’m not going to cover every desktop environment for every distribution. The aim here is to give you a general idea of how it’s done. You can then take it from there …

Spotify Miniplayer Launched For Desktop Premium Users

Spotify Miniplayer Launched For Desktop Premium Users

Published by skeptic

Spotify is launching a new player for desktop users who are Premium subscribers called Spotify Miniplayer and the feature has been available on both Microsoft’s Windows Platform and Apple’s macOS platform. The Miniplayer is like that super cool friend who knows exactly how to keep the party going, whether you’re all about music or can’t get enough of podcasts. It’s got this fantastic balance of video and audio content and even throws in a picture-in-picture mode for those video podcasts you can’t miss. Picture this: you’re working on something important, but you also want to catch up on your favorite show. The Miniplayer has got you covered. Its video player is not just slick; it’s also resizable and floats on top of your other apps, so you can keep an eye on your show without it getting in the way of your work. But here’s the kicker: this little gadget is designed to make your life easier. You know how it can be a bit of a hassle to switch between tracks or podcasts on …

Spotify’s Miniplayer Desktop App Wants to Aid Productivity

Spotify’s Miniplayer Desktop App Wants to Aid Productivity

Published by skeptic

Want to listen to music and podcasts while using other apps? Streaming music service Spotify is rolling out a miniplayer for desktop which enables you to do just that. The new player, which is set to “always on top,” enables Premium users to change tracks, choose playlists, control volume and watch videos and podcasts. Spotify says the player, which resembles the MiniPlayer for Apple Music, has been one of the service’s most requested features, and describes it in a press release as a “perfect productivity companion.” The player follows last week’s introduction of music videos for eight different countries, though there’s no word of when that feature will extend to the United States. To open the miniplayer press the icon on the right of the volume bar Ty Pendlebury/CNET Spotify is the world’s largest music streaming service with over 236 million subscribers, and it also includes up to 15 hours of audiobooks a month as part of the $11 subscription fee. To open the miniplayer, press the window icon to the right of the volume slider. …

3D printed full-size retro Apple Macintosh desktop computer

3D printed full-size retro Apple Macintosh desktop computer

Published by skeptic

Kevin Noki has successfully completed a project where he designed and 3D printed a full-size, functional replica of the retro Apple Macintosh, which he calls the “Brewintosh.” This custom-built machine is modeled after the Macintosh Plus and incorporates a variety of modern and salvaged components to mimic the original’s functionality. The backbone of the Brewintosh is a Linux-based thin client, a compact and efficient computer that drives the whole system. Noki has skillfully used a Mini vMac emulator, a program that mimics the old Macintosh, to bring the vintage experience to life on this modern setup. This combination of a simple operating system and emulation software is what makes the Brewintosh feel like you’re stepping back into the 1980s, but with the reliability of today’s technology. The journey to create the Brewintosh started with a detailed study of the original Macintosh Plus. Noki took great care to replicate its iconic look and size, transforming these details into a blueprint for 3D printing. The actual printing took more than two days, showing the level of detail …

Proton Encrypted Mail Desktop App Now Available for Mac

Proton Encrypted Mail Desktop App Now Available for Mac

Published by skeptic

Swiss-based privacy startup Proton today announced the availability of its end-to-end encrypted desktop mail app for macOS and Windows, with a Linux version in beta. According to the company, the Proton Mail desktop app has been optimized to integrate with Macs, which means it can sync themes with the desktop’s light or dark mode, display notifications natively, and offer instant switching between mail and calendar. The new Proton Mail desktop app inherits from a decade of security enhancements we built for our web application. That means Proton Mail for Windows and macOS maintains our commitment to security and privacy with several key features: zero-access encryption and end-to-end encryption, protection against trackers and phishing attempts, and our high-security account protection program, Proton Sentinel. Proton says the ability to use a separate app from a browser for accessing email and calendar also offers additional security benefits, such as protecting emails or events from rogue browser extensions and allowing automatic updates without relying on a browser. The app also includes an Easy Switch tool that enables users to …

Proton Mail desktop app officially launches, but remains for premium subscribers only

Proton Mail desktop app officially launches, but remains for premium subscribers only

Published by skeptic

Proton Mail, the end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) email service from Swiss company Proton, is now officially available via a dedicated desktop app some three months after debuting in beta. However, despite previous claims that the client would be available to all Proton Mail users in early 2024, the company has decided to restrict it to paying users. “After a highly positive response during the beta phase, we’ve decided to keep the desktop app exclusive to premium subscribers to ensure the best service quality, given the significant infrastructure and maintenance demands,” a spokesperson explained to TechCrunch. Proton Mail desktop app Image Credits: Proton In related news, Proton is also making its email service available via a standalone Linux desktop app, launching today in beta. It’s worth noting that while Proton Mail has been available to desktop users from the company’s inception, initially through the browser and more recently a “bridge” which opened up access to Proton Mail through third-party desktop clients such as Apple Mail and Outlook, today’s news brings a dedicated Windows and MacOS app to the …

Has Windows Subsystem for Linux Helped Linux Gain Desktop Market Share?

Has Windows Subsystem for Linux Helped Linux Gain Desktop Market Share?

Published by skeptic

Since desktop Linux has existed, fans and detractors alike have either hoped for or laughed about the “year of the Linux desktop.” Now it seems that desktop Linux is starting to slowly gain market share, but why? Do we have Microsoft and the Windows Subsystem for Linux to thank for introducing Linux to more people and getting them interested in it? Is Microsoft creating its own competition? Desktop Linux Is (Finally) Gaining Market Share While many people assumed the year of the Linux desktop is far away and may never come, the little operating system that could has gotten closer than ever before. While it still has a long way to go, Linux reached a desktop market share of 4% at the end of February 2024. This is the biggest slice of the pie that the operating system has ever had. Of course, while this pales in comparison to Windows, it does raise the question of why. There are plenty of reasons why Linux could catch up to Windows, at least theoretically, but these new …

ChatGPT can now speak to you on desktop in a selection of voices

ChatGPT can now speak to you on desktop in a selection of voices

Published by skeptic

Have you ever wished you could change the voice of ChatGPT to something that suits your conversation style a little better? Now, this speech feature, which was once only available on mobile devices, has made its way to desktop users. This means you can now have conversations with ChatGPT that sound just the way you want it to, making your interactions feel more natural and tailored to your personal taste. Simply ask ChatGPT a question and then press the speaker button labelled “Read Aloud” at the end of the results for it to be spoken to you in your chosen voice. A selection of different voices are available in the ChatGPT settings menu. When you start customizing the AI voices on your desktop ChatGPT, you’ll find it’s a breeze. Dive into the settings menu, and you’ll discover a variety of voices, each with its own distinct character. You might prefer a voice that carries a sense of authority or perhaps one that seems friendlier. The power to choose is in your hands. You might be …

This near-mint Lenovo desktop refurb is 9.99

This near-mint Lenovo desktop refurb is $119.99

Published by skeptic

TL;DR: As of March 11, get this near-mint condition Lenovo refurb with 16GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a keyboard and mouse for only $119.99.  Searching for refurbished tech isn’t quite the same as finding something brand-new for more reasons than one. Of course, refurbished machines have slightly older hardware and quality varies, but supply also varies a lot because many machines aren’t actively being manufactured anymore.  That’s why you may want to jump on a deal when you find it, like this near-mint condition Lenovo ThinkCentre. It has 16GB RAM, comes with a mouse and keyboard, and it’s still only $119.99, but there aren’t many left.  Limited quantity — act fast This Lenovo ThinkCentre refurb is compact, powerful, and may not even look refurbished. The “A” rating means it’s in near-mint condition, but you might notice some very faint cosmetic signs of use, but they don’t change how well this little machine works.  This refurbished computer comes equipped with an Intel Core i3-2100 processor, 16 GB DDR3 RAM, and a 256 GB SSD. Windows …