Chris Hoffman

Boston

Managing Editor at The Intelligence (Android and Windows Intelligence)

✉️ I write Windows Intelligence! Sign up here: https://t.co/7QlBnMaYKf ➡️ Also: @PCWorld, @Computerworld, @PCMag, & more 👀 Past: Editor-in-Chief of @HowToGeek

Articles

Windows vs. SteamOS will be the next great console war. I can't wait

1 week ago | pcworld.com | Chris Hoffman

Have you seen the news? Microsoft has signaled that future Xbox consoles will run Windows, which points to one big possible future: gaming PCs may soon be taking the living room by storm. It sounds like the next Xbox will run Steam games, too. Meanwhile, at CES 2025, Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais told PCWorld that going beyond handhelds to living room PCs was one of Valve’s long-term goals. Remember when Steam Machines launched back in 2015?
Copilot finally has a feature that beats ChatGPT on Windows PCs

1 week ago | computerworld.com | Chris Hoffman

There’s no denying it: When it comes to Windows and AI chatbots, ChatGPT leads the pack. Microsoft invested more than $13 billion in OpenAI, after all. And while the company has pinned Copilot to the taskbar on Windows PCs and placed a Copilot key on new laptops, its Copilot system is still built atop the same large language model (LLM) technology at ChatGPT’s core. That means the system will always be similar to ChatGPT until Microsoft releases its own AI models.
Framework's Laptop 12 lets me tinker, but I wish it had more power

1 week ago | pcworld.com | Chris Hoffman

At a glanceA repairable and customizable 2-in-1 laptopSwappable portsReasonable performance for its classA microphone shutoff switch!Battery life is on the lower sideNot quite a budget priceNo keyboard backlightNo biometrics for Windows HelloThe Framework Laptop 12 delivers a capable 2-in-1 laptop with extreme customizability and repairability. However, battery life is a little on the low side due to the previous-generation CPU.
Diese 7 Antiviren-Mythen sind völlig falsch

1 week ago | flipboard.com | Chris Hoffman

23 hours agoWindows 11: Den wohl unbeliebtesten Teil des Startmenüs könnt ihr bald einfach abschaltenIn Windows 11 24H2 führt Microsoft bald eine lang ersehnte Funktion ein: die Möglichkeit, den »Empfohlen«-Bereich im Startmenü komplett zu …9 hours agoWindows: So nutzen Sie den Protected Print-ModusDie proprietären Treiber der Druckerhersteller sind Microsoft bereits seit längerer Zeit ein Dorn im Auge.
I found the ultimate gaming machine in the Alienware 16 Area-51

2 weeks ago | pcworld.com | Chris Hoffman

At a glanceHigh GPU and CPU performanceCompetitive price for the hardwareMechanical keyboardLots of high-end touchesNo HDR for gamesCopilot key is rather large“Liquid Teal” color scheme may be divisiveLow battery life (obviously)The Alienware 16 Area-51 delivers serious gaming performance in an excellent package, complete with a mechanical keyboard and other high-end touches. It’s competitively priced for the hardware, too.
VR gaming isn't dead yet! Valve's Deckard headset is our last hope

3 weeks ago | pcworld.com | Chris Hoffman

I’ve always loved the idea of VR gaming. It’s a fascinating technology, and there are some experiences that just can’t be had without a VR headset. But VR gaming as an industry is struggling in 2025. Gamers and game developers are largely reliant on Meta’s Quest platform, and Meta is neglecting VR gaming while in pursuit of the metaverse. The only plausible challenger? Valve, who breathed life into the handheld PC gaming space with the Steam Deck.
VR gaming isn't dead yet! Valve's Deckard headset is our last hope

3 weeks ago | flipboard.com | Chris Hoffman

1 day agoAmazon Is Going All In, This PlayStation VR Bundle With Horizon Call of the Mountain Now Costs PeanutsIt’s ten times cheaper than the Apple Vision Pro and still feels very real for VR.
Microsoft is finally fixing app updates on Windows

3 weeks ago | computerworld.com | Chris Hoffman

Windows 8 might have made waves for its short-lived removal of the beloved Start button, but the platform’s launch of an ill-fated storefront for streamlined app management was arguably Microsoft’s biggest blunder of all. With the Windows 8 Store, the company attempted to shrug off traditional Windows desktop software and leap toward an overly ambitious vision that almost immediately collapsed.
I hate bright LED indicators, so I cover them with $5 dimming stickers

3 weeks ago | pcworld.com | Chris Hoffman

Do you keep any electronics in your bedroom? All the experts say you aren’t supposed to. But my bedroom often doubles as my office, and that means lots of electronics with distracting LED status lights and indicators. In fact, I face the problem of annoyingly bright LEDs all throughout my home, especially in my entertainment center.
My desk was a mess. This simple $16 upgrade decluttered it instantly

4 weeks ago | pcworld.com | Chris Hoffman

A great pair of headphones is critical for any full-blown PC setup, but you have to put them somewhere when they aren’t on your head. Are you just tossing them on your desk? That might be convenient, but it’s a waste of desk space and leaves them vulnerable to accidental damage. My preferred solution is to use an under-desk headphone hook, and the AnchorPro by Elevation Lab is the best of its kind.