desktop

Microsoft responds to 'extreme' Windows 8 criticism

Microsoft appreciates the feedback on Windows 8. Up to a point.

"There is a trend to the extreme," Frank X. Shaw, corporate vice president of corporate communications at Microsoft, wrote on The Official Microsoft Blog on Friday, addressing some of the harsher attacks.

Here's a fuller quote:

In this world where everyone is a publisher, there is a trend to the extreme -- where those who want to stand out opt for sensationalism and hyperbole over nuanced analysis. In this world where page views are currency, heat is often more valued than light. Stark black-and-white caricatures are … Read more

Review: Expand your desktop onto other mobile devices using iDisplay Desktop for Mac

Whether you want to increase your screen space, enable a secondary display, or just mirror your desktop to other mobile devices, this app can help you out. With the ability to support up to 36 devices connected to your computer, the iDisplay Desktop for Mac promises and delivers an extremely powerful desktop enhancement. However, the app is quite difficult to set up and requires a high level of computer literacy.

The installation of this application appeared to be easy. The app even comes with its own uninstaller so you can remove it effortlessly if you no longer need it. During … Read more

Google adds remote desktop Hangouts to Google+

Some people are simply more tech savvy than their friends and family and often end up offering advice on the ins and outs of computer use. But, this can be difficult when people don't live in the same city.

Google is attempting to help out folks in these situations with a new Google + Hangout feature. The Web giant announced Thursday that it is rolling out a Hangouts remote desktop, which is powered by the same technology as the Chrome Remote Desktop. The feature lets users video chat while troubleshooting.

"Hangouts Remote Desktop lets you help others by controlling … Read more

Who gets the keys to your Facebook account?

CNET Update gives you access:

In this edition of Update:

- Learn a new trick to getting access to your Facebook account when locked out.

- Know what it means when someone with Glass winks at you.

- Get tag-happy with your Instagram photos.

- Take control of someone else's computer with a Google+ Hangout.

- Save money on e-books by walking into a brick-and-mortar Barnes & Noble store.

- Compare your slingshot skills on the new Angry Birds Friends app.

CNET Update delivers the tech news you need in under three minutes. Watch Bridget Carey every afternoon for … Read more

Remote Desktop app lends a hand to Google+

Google has ported Chrome's Remote Desktop app to Google+ Hangouts to simplify the life of the tech support guru, a Google developer said in a Google+ post on Wednesday.

The Hangouts Remote Desktop app lets you offer tech help to friends and family by controlling their computers from afar. Google engineer Daniel Caiafa said that one of the benefits of Hangout Remote Desktop is that it allows you to see and talk with the person you're helping during the remote desktop session because it's being hosted in Hangouts.

The app requires the permission of your friend or … Read more

Does it make sense to buy a PC with a touch screen?

Smartphones with touch screens? Great! Tablets with touch screens? Duh. But PCs with touch screens? Meh.

Recently I purchased a Lenovo IdeaPad U310 ultrabook, my first-ever touch-screen-equipped computer. I didn't necessarily want the feature, but figured I might as well give Windows 8 the benefit of the doubt. It was, after all, designed to be touched -- which explains why using it with a mere mouse and keyboard is such a dreadful experience. Plus, it was priced only about 50 bucks higher than its non-touch-screen sibling.

Having worked with the system for a couple weeks now, I'm ready … Read more

CrashPlan for Mac 3.5.2 Review

Finding outside storage to back up computer files is critical in the event of a technical problem. CrashPlan for Mac is a well-designed program and cloud service that performs its function as a data storage application.

CrashPlan for Mac is available as a free application, but the cloud backup service is free for 30 days. After that time, users must sign up for a subscription service based on the amount of storage needed and the number of computers they'd like to run the app on. The program's native installer quickly set up the program. The program's main … Read more

Get an HP quad-core desktop for $399.99

Message received loud and clear: You folks still love desktops! I'll definitely add more to the rotation as I find them. In fact, yesterday's deal was so popular it sold out, so I'm following up with another today.

Available until midnight (ET), and while supplies last, Sellout.Woot has the refurbished HP Pavilion P7-1447C quad-core desktop for $399.99, plus $5 for shipping.

That's a full $200 less than yesterday's Dell. So, how do the two systems compare? This one's a refurb, so it has only a 90-day warranty. I've had extremely good … Read more

Get a decked-out Dell desktop for $599.99

Laptops, ultrabooks, and tablets are all well and good if you're a mobile person -- or you have a small desk -- but if you want serious horsepower for things like games, video editing, 3D modeling, and big ol' CAD drawings, your best bet is usually a desktop.

A desktop also gives you a lot more expansion options, whether it's adding a second hard drive or swapping in the latest and greatest video card. Something to consider.

For a limited time, and while supplies last, DealFisher has the Dell XPS 8500 desktop for $599.99, shipped. It is … Read more

Windows 8.1 'boot to desktop' rumor: Wishful thinking?

A Windows 8.1 option to boot to desktop? That seductive rumor has been making the rounds over the weekend.

What could be a reflection of wishful thinking, a post at WinBeta (via Neowin), cites a Russian-language Web site as the source.

Apparently, there is Windows 8.1 code that disables the Metro Start Screen and sends you "to the desktop automatically."

That is a feature that more than a few Windows 8 users would undoubtedly take advantage of since the tiled Metro screen is of questionable utility for some.

Market researcher IDC, among others, has been making the case over the past month or so … Read more