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CONTENTS

DECEMBER 2017

» DEPARTMENTS » FEATURES

7 News

33 Reviews & Ratings

111 Razer Phone hands-on

125 Here’s How

142 Tech Spotlight 119 What the Kaspersky anti-virus hack really means

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 3


MASTHEAD

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Matt Egan


EDITOR IN CHIEF, CONSUMER BRANDS Jon Phillips
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EXECUTIVE EDITORS Melissa Riofrio, Gordon Mah Ung
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FOUNDER David Bunnell
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4 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


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DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 5


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News TECH NEWS AND TRENDS THAT WILL
AFFECT YOU TODAY AND BEYOND.

The last free Windows 10


upgrade path for consumers will
shut down by December 31
The so-called ‘assistive loophole’ is rather broad. BY MARK HACHMAN

T
here’s still one way consumers 8.1 users an entire year after the launch of
can upgrade to Windows 10 for Windows 10 (until July 31, 2016) to upgrade to
free—and Microsoft will shut it Windows 10 for free. But there was one
down on December 31, even exception: those who used assistive
though a majority of the world’s PC users still technology (go.pcworld.com/assi), such as
use older versions of Windows. screen readers, got an indefinite extension.
Microsoft gave Windows 7 and Windows According to a Microsoft support page (go.

IMAGE: MICROSOFT DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 7


NEWS WINDOWS 10 UPGR ADE PATH

pcworld.com/supo),
the deadline for those
users to upgrade to
Windows 10 for free
expires by the end of
the year, as noted by
Slashgear (go.pcworld.
com/slge). After that,
consumers will have to
pay the full price for a
Windows license, which
costs about $75 from
Amazon for a “system Go to Microsoft’s assistive support page to download the Window’s 10
builder” license for upgrade tool.
Windows 10 Home, and
more for retail Home or Professional versions. technology. And with the improved assistive
You might think that users who don’t use technologies that are built into the Windows
assistive technologies would be excluded 10 OS, those who truly need assistance will
from this loophole. But Microsoft is making its benefit from the free upgrade.
upgrade path extremely generous: “We are
not restricting the upgrade offer to specific Why this matters: Cynics will see Microsoft’s
assistive technologies,” the company says. “If “wink, wink” approach to the assistive loophole
you use assistive technology on Windows, as one that benefits the company: Windows 10
you are eligible for the upgrade offer.” All you users only represent about 30 percent of all PCs,
need to do is visit the assistive support page according to NetMarketShare (go.pcworld.
(go.pcworld.com/supo) in question, assert com/netm), compared to a Windows 7 share of
that you use assistive technologies, and then about 49 percent. Of course, Microsoft’s using
download the upgrade tool to Windows 10. the stick, too: AMD’s latest Ryzen chips won’t
Granted, the assistive loophole deliver official drivers for Windows 7 (go.
represents a morally gray area, especially for pcworld.com/widr), part of Microsoft’s plan to
those who normally wouldn’t need to use restrict modern hardware to Windows 10 (go.
assistive technology. But you might argue pcworld.com/plan). Unless Microsoft extends
that if you’ve ever tried out the Windows the program in some other form, a great freebie
Narrator tool, you’ve used an assistive is going away.

8 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


Windows 10: Insider Build 17035
gives the first peeks at the next
major Redstone 4 update
The first big update to the Windows 10 Redstone 4 update cycle. BY MARK HACHMAN

M
icrosoft’s latest Windows 10 first code releases for what’s been referred to as
Insider build for the “Redstone “Redstone 4,” or the update cycle following the
4” update cycle tries to do Fall Creators Update. If Microsoft holds to its
away with the “sneakernet” current schedule, Redstone 4 should be due in
with a feature called Near Share, as well as a the spring.
phone-like autosuggest feature for text typing. Until then, however, Windows Insiders are
Microsoft recently launched Windows 10 part of the testing team trying out new
Insider build 17035 for the Fast Ring, one of the features: Near Share, better tab muting in

IMAGE: MICROSOFT DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 9


NEWS WINDOWS 10 INSIDER BUILD 17035

Edge, a new Audio settings menu, the something more recent). You’ll need to turn
ability to configure update bandwidth, and Bluetooth on, then make sure that the Near
a few more. Share button in the Action Center is toggled
on. After that, every time you see the Share
Why this matters: Microsoft’s free updates icon, you’ll have the option to share the file
to Windows 10 continue. Now, however, we’re or URL with a nearby device. The recipient
beginning a new, blank slate. Will there be a will get a note in the Action Center to either
theme to Redstone 4? What will be the key accept it or decline.
apps? These are early days, and we’re still (Note: most people don’t “name” their
getting a few scattered, though useful, utilities. PCs, and instead use the generic PC name
Windows assigns. You’ll need to check with
HOW TO USE NEAR SHARE the recipient to confirm the name of their PC.)
It’s pretty easy to just haul out a USB key and
copy a file over—if you have one handy. Near EDGE IMPROVEMENTS:
Share replaces that with Bluetooth, however. BETTER TAB MUTING,
Within Windows 10, you can share just about ePUB SAVING
any file to email, Facebook, and more. Now While the Fall Creators Update added nifty
your PC can seek out nearby PCs and offer features such as ebook annotations and
to share a file, too. PDF improvements, this new update cycle
You’ll need to have the current Insider allows you to save free ePUB books that
build 17035 (or, as new builds are launched, you’re reading online to your local hard

With Edge, you can either toggle the tab into a mute state, or right-click it.

10 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


While the Fall Creators Update added nifty features such as ebook
annotations and PDF improvements, this new update cycle allows
you to save free ePUB books that you’re reading online to your
local hard drive.
drive. Because, well, they’re free. Likewise, because people rarely babysit a major app
if you click a book in the Book pane, you download (such as a game like Gears of War
can pin it to the Start menu or just remove it 4), instead focusing on other things, like web
from the device. browsing.
A more useful addition is the ability to The new Windows 10 Insider Build 17035
mute tabs right from the tab itself. Typically, also migrates the main Audio settings (with
web browsers (including Edge) will show a the ability to set Windows sounds, and so
small speaker icon next to a tab that’s playing forth) into the Settings menu, and out of the
audio. Muting that tab, though, often requires Control Panel.
right-clicking it and selecting a mute option. Windows’ touch keyboard includes a
While that option is still there, the speaker couple of improvements, with an “Acrylic”-
icon is now a toggle, so that a tab can be themed look to the keyboard, as well as
muted just by clicking the icon. expanding the touch keyboard’s reach to
more than 190 new foreign-language layouts.
LIMIT UPDATE
BANDWIDTH,
AUTOSUGGEST
While the Fall Creators
Update allowed you to
adjust the bandwidth used
by Windows updates, the
new build extends that
same functionality to
“foreground updates”—
basically downloads you
kick off, like apps you
download from the Store.
That’s handy, if only The Acrylic UI has now been added to the touch keyboard.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 11


NEWS WINDOWS 10 INSIDER BUILD 17035

Windows 10’s autosuggest works with your standard hardware keyboard.

Microsoft has also begun to add generally on the Show Text Suggestions As I Type On
useful technologies, such as eye tracking and Hardware Keyboard setting.
dictation, as assistive technologies for If you do use pen to write using the soft
differently abled people. To this list Microsoft keyboard, you’ll see an improved “space”
has added an optional autosuggest feature— gesture (a vertical line) for adding a space
not autocorrect, but autosuggest. As you between words, and improved handwriting
type, Microsoft will pop up suggestions for recognition.
the next word. It’s a feature typically found on Finally, Japanese users will see something
phones, that now is included in Windows. special: Text suggestions from the Japanese-
The kicker, though, is that you don’t need language AI chatbot Rinna, who will now
to use the soft or touch keyboard to enable suggest phrases as you type. Unfortunately, given
autosuggest—it works with your standard the Tay debacle in the United States (go.pcworld.
hardware keyboard. To enable it, go to com/tayd), don’t look for the same feature to
Settings > Devices > Typing and then toggle come to American users anytime soon.

12 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


Intel and AMD team up:
A future Core chip will have
Radeon graphics inside
Intel will ship a chip powered by AMD’s Radeon graphics next year to bring top-tier,
triple-A games to the thin-and-light notebook market. BY MARK HACHMAN

I
t sounds crazy, but it’s true: Arch-rivals will be an “evolution” of Intel’s 8th-generation,
AMD and Intel have teamed up to H-series Core chips, with the ability to power-
co-design an Intel Core manage the entire module to preserve battery
microprocessor with a custom AMD life. It’s scheduled to ship as early as the first
Radeon graphics core inside the processor quarter of 2018.
package, aimed at bringing top-tier gaming Though both companies helped engineer
to thin-and-light notebook PCs. the new chip, this is Intel’s project—Intel first
Executives from both AMD and Intel told approached AMD, both companies
PCWorld that the combined AMD-Intel chip confirmed. AMD, for its part, is treating the

IMAGE: INTEL DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 13


NEWS INTEL AND AMD TEAM UP

Radeon core as a single,


semi-custom design, in the
same vein as the chips it
supplies to consoles like the
Microsoft Xbox One X and
Sony PlayStation 4. Some
specifics, though, remain
undisclosed: Intel refers to it
as a single product, though
it seems possible that it
could eventually be offered
at a range of clock speeds.
The linchpin of the
Intel-AMD agreement is a
tiny piece of silicon that Intel
began talking up over the Intel showed a reference notebook of the sort that will be enhanced
by the AMD-Intel partnership. The large, black blank space is
past year: the Embedded designed to be used for drawing with the stylus and for other digital
Multi-die Interconnect content creation.
Bridge (go.pcworld.com/
mbed), or EMIB. Numerous EMIBs can The story behind the story: You heard right:
connect silicon dies, routing the electrical This is AMD and Intel, working together.
traces through the substrate itself. The result is Shaking hands on this partnership represents
what Intel calls a System-in-Package module. a rare moment of harmony in an often bitter
In this case, EMIBs allowed Intel to construct rivalry that began when AMD reverse-
the three-die module, which will tie together engineered the Intel 8080 microchip in 1975.
Intel’s Core chip, the Radeon core, and But in graphics, the two are more cordial:
next-generation high-bandwidth memory, or Intel’s low-end, integrated cores own the
HBM2 (go.pcworld.com/hbm2). majority of the notebook PC market, while
AMD is pinched between Intel and Nvidia’s
Editor’s Note: Some people are beginning to high-end chips. Intel is no friend to Nvidia,
refer to this chip as the Kaby Lake G, a name having paid out $1.5 billion in licensing fees
that Intel representatives said they will not (go.pcworld.com/fees) since 2011. The
confirm. A spokeswoman referred to it as enemy of my enemy is my friend—that’s one
“rumor and speculation.” explanation for how the deal came about.

14 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


A WIN-WIN FOR ALL package. Intel had originally developed the
CONCERNED EMIB as an alternative to what’s known as a
According to Chris Walker, vice president of silicon interposer, the “floor” or “foundation”
Intel’s Client Computing Group, Intel had a of a multichip module. The problem with an
problem: AAA gaming PCs were selling, interposer is that, like a floor, it needs to cover
customers were interested in VR, but the entire space underneath the module,
notebooks with the graphics horsepower to making it expensive to manufacture. EMIBs
run them were thick and heavy. Customers, are more like small connectors that dip into
though, were seeing growth in two-in-one the substrate. Intel found that they worked for
PCs and even thinner thin-and-light PCs. its Altera programmable logic line as well as
This was what Walker called Intel’s its more mainstream PC microprocessor
“portability obstacle:” How could it bring designs. In fact, this is the first consumer use
top-tier performance to notebooks that of EMIB, executives said.
didn’t weigh a ton? Intel’s EMIBs, though, allowed another
The answer, as it turned out, was the important advantage: modularity. Originally,
EMIB, a small sliver of silicon to bridge Intel positioned EMIBs as a tool to mix and
discrete logic cores within a single chip match chips using different process

This slide, taken from an Intel presentation, shows how Intel believes its Embedded Multi-die
Interconnect Bridge is more cost-effective for connecting chips than methods that use an interposer, and
far higher in performance than Multi-Chip Package designs.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 15


NEWS INTEL AND AMD TEAM UP

An example of the space savings Intel achieved by moving the CPU, Radeon GPU, and HBM inside the
processor package.

technologies. When designing a SOFTWARE, DRIVERS


programmable chip, adding in third-party ARE CRITICAL FOR
logic cores is somewhat common. Within MANAGING POWER
integrated logic as complex as a That’s important, because heat naturally
microprocessor’s, though, it’s nearly unheard becomes more of an issue as notebooks
of. The EMIB allowed for a compromise, become thinner. Intel added what it calls a
placing CPU, GPU, and memory in close new power-sharing framework to the module,
proximity without being part of the same consisting of a new connection between the
actual design. processor, GPU, and memory. Just as a system
That paid off almost immediately. Intel’s can manage the processing workload
still being cagey on all the benefits of the between the three components, the new
Core-Radeon module that EMIB enabled, but power framework can do the same for power
the company revealed two. According to management.
Walker, the module stripped out a whopping Here, Intel’s software team plays a critical
1900 square millimeters (2.9 sq in.) from a role, both in managing power as well as
more traditional motherboard, where the ensuring that the right drivers are in place for
processor, discrete GPU, and memory were optimizing performance.
laid out next to one another. (Put another way, “If I look at this as one system with one
the EMIB layout consumes just half of the driver package, with one Intel-delivered
typical board space, Intel says.) Second, the driver set, we’re able to apply things like our
module uses about half the memory power of Dynamic Platform Framework,” Walker said,
a traditional design. referring to a set of Intel-designed thermal

16 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


management technologies that can manage however, enjoyed a rare profit of $71 million
the CPU, GPU, and memory simultaneously. on $1.64 billion revenue for the just-
The Dynamic Platform Framework will completed third quarter, helped by sales of its
allow the system to tweak and balance the Ryzen processors and Vega graphics chips.
three platform components dynamically, AMD’s semi-custom business, which usually
based on workload, system state, the sells chips to game consoles, could use a
temperature of the PC chassis, and more. boost: It reported flat sales year-over-year.
Naturally, tasks like movie playback will still be (AMD also said it closed an unspecified
routed to the Core chip’s existing, integrated patent licensing transaction “which positively
graphics core, Walker said. The integrated impacted revenue,” though officials
8th-gen Core chips (go.pcworld.com/8gen) confirmed that the Intel deal wasn’t it.)
already contain dedicated, optimized logic to It’s possible that the Core-Radeon
play back 4K video using the HEVC or VP9 (Core-R, perhaps?) deal may yield a
codecs chosen by streaming content longer-term relationship. But right now,
companies like Netflix and Amazon, while AMD seems to be positioning it as a single
using minimal power. contract with a customer, like any other.
One interesting wrinkle: Intel will be “We’re constantly looking at different
responsible for supplying the drivers for the things inside AMD, but this is really Intel’s
Radeon GPU, though company engineers project,” said Scott Herkelman, the corporate
won’t write the original code. An
Intel representative said they’re
working closely with AMD’s
Radeon business to supply “day
one” drivers for new games, when
those drivers become available.

INTEL’S GRAPHICS
BUSINESS IS ALIVE
AND WELL
Speculation that Intel might license
or outright buy AMD’s Radeon
business has circulated for years,
especially as AMD has struggled to Intel has dominated the PC graphics market, thanks to the inte-
achieve profitability. AMD, grated graphics cores inside its Core processors.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 17


NEWS INTEL AND AMD TEAM UP

vice president and general manager within and how does it compare to existing chips?
the Radeon Gaming business unit within How much memory is inside the package?
AMD. “It’s completely semicustom...I Will the new Core-Radeon modules
wouldn’t say that we’re going to take this and incorporate AMD-specific features such as
learn something from it. This is Intel’s project, VSR, Eyefinity, and Async Compute? And,
and we’re helping them execute on it.” of course, how much will it all cost?
Last January, speculation rose that Intel The latter two questions can be answered
and AMD had signed a Radeon licensing deal in broad strokes. The idea, according to an
(go.pcworld.com/deal), prompting talk that AMD representative, is that these notebooks
Intel might be preparing to lay off or won’t be priced in the value segment at all,
otherwise get rid of its own integrated but in the neighborhood of $1,200 to $1,400
graphics development teams. Walker denied apiece. Meanwhile, Intel executives say that
it. “Not at all,” he said. notebook PCs based on the new H-series,
“As we drive mainstream thin and light to Core-Radeon modules will move gaming-
15mm and lower, the Intel UHD solution is still class graphics down from systems 26mm
the market leader in terms of how graphics thick, to thin-and-light PCs at 16mm and
gets delivered on a PC platform,” Walker even 11mm thick—that’s slimmer than the
added. Nor has Intel licensed the EMIB original 13-inch Apple MacBook Air, and
technology to AMD, he said. priced accordingly.
AMD representatives went further, stating An AMD representative also said that
that there is no patent or IP licensing in place there’s nothing prohibiting any AMD graphics
between the two firms at all. technology like VSR from being included in
the Core-Radeon chip—but that in terms of
WHAT’S NEXT? specifics, it’s up to Intel to decide.
ANSWERING THE According to Intel representatives, we’ll
QUESTIONS get more of those answers closer to launch. For
Unfortunately, we still don’t know the answers now, however, there’s the simple surprise that
to several basic questions: How fast will these the two sides came together to make this
new cores run? How many variants of these happen. For those who have watched the
new Core-Radeon chips will there be? What acrimonious AMD-Intel relationship play out in
Intel Core architecture—Kaby Lake, or Kaby court, in the market, and behind closed doors
Lake-R—are they based upon? Does HBM2 for several decades, even a limited contract
memory confirm that the Radeon core is seemed out of the realm of possibility. But now,
based upon the AMD “Vega” architecture, who knows what the future holds?

18 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


Intel hires Radeon boss Raja
Koduri to challenge AMD, Nvidia
in high-end discrete graphics
Forget low-end integrated graphics cores: Intel just declared war on the graphics
market by hiring AMD’s graphics chief. BY MARK HACHMAN

I
ntel dropped a bombshell recently, leaving AMD led to speculation that he
confirming that the company has hired would head to Nvidia or Intel, the other two
AMD’s former graphics guru, Raja leaders in the PC graphics space. What
Koduri, heading up a new group to wasn’t known, though, was whether he
design high-end discrete graphics for “a would be involved in PC graphics, or
broad range of computing segments.” something tangential, such as AI.
Koduri, who will start in December, will Intel, though, apparently hasn’t given up
head up the newly-formed Core and Visual on the PC. Intel representatives declined to
Computing Group, Intel said. Koduri’s confirm whether Koduri’s new role as head of

IMAGE: INTEL DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 19


NEWS INTEL HIRES R ADEON BOSS

the Core and Visual Computing Group will have a very strong graphics team and will
specifically include PC graphics, but his new continue our focus on building great
title certainly implies it. products,” an AMD spokesman said in a
“We have exciting plans to aggressively statement to VentureBeat. “We also have
expand our computing and graphics industry-leading graphics [intellectual
capabilities and build on our very strong and property] IP and, if necessary, will
broad differentiated IP foundation,” said vigorously defend it.”
Murthy Renduchintala, Intel’s chief In addition, an AMD spokesman told
engineering officer, in a statement. “With PCWorld: “It is standard practice for all AMD
Raja at the helm of our Core and Visual employees to sign an agreement that
Computing Group, we will add to our includes post-employment confidentiality and
portfolio of unmatched capabilities, advance non-solicitation obligations. Other companies
our strategy to lead in computing and are familiar with this requirement and they
graphics, and ultimately be the driving understand their legal obligation to protect
force of the data revolution.” and maintain the confidentiality of AMD’s
Koduri has 25 years in the graphics information and ensure compliance with
business, most recently leading AMD’s non-solicitation obligations. AMD fully
effort to develop its own high-end anticipates that any well-represented and
graphics chip, known as “Vega” well-advised company would not seek to
(go.pcworld.com/vega). taint their own intellectual property by
“I have admired Intel as a technology attempting to use or access AMD’s
leader and have had fruitful collaborations confidential information or IP. The industry
with the company over the years,” Koduri said is well aware that AMD has industry-leading
in a statement. “I am incredibly excited to join graphics IP and, if necessary, we will
the Intel team and have the opportunity to vigorously defend it.”
drive a unified architecture vision across its
world-leading IP portfolio that help’s What this means for you: Oh, wow. Oh,
accelerate the data revolution.” WOW. Nvidia and AMD just got some new
AMD, who will now have to find a competition in the graphics space. What
replacement for Koduri, seemed to imply that isn’t known in whether this will include the
the newfound spirit of detente that began PC, but it could. Color us really, really,
with a joint Intel Core-AMD Radeon chip (see excited—but let’s hope that the
page 13) may be over. Now, the two competition happens in the marketplace,
companies could be back at it in court. “We and not the courtroom.

20 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


Google Chrome will start
blocking noisy autoplay
videos in January
Sites you watch videos on often won’t be affected. BY BRAD CHACOS

G
oogle is taking aim at one of data, consume power, and make unwanted
the biggest scourges of the noise while browsing,” Google wrote in a
modern web. Starting in blog post (go.pcworld.com/auto). “To
January 2018, the Chrome address this, Chrome will be making autoplay
browser will automatically block noisy more consistent with user expectations and
autoplay video on webpages. will give users more control over audio.”
“One of the most frequent user concerns In Chrome 64, autoplaying videos will
is unexpected media playback, which can use be blocked by default unless they’re muted,

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 21


NEWS CHROME TO BLOCK AUTOPL AY VIDEOS

or if “the user has


indicated an interest
in the media.” That
means autoplay will
be allowed for a site if
you’ve frequently
played a video on it
or added the site to
your mobile
homepage. You
won’t need to
manually play every
YouTube video or
Twitch stream you
select, in other words. Autoplay will also be To activate page-muting when Chrome
enabled if you “clicked somewhere on the 63 goes live, load the website you want to
site during the browsing session”. disable audio for, click on the Page Info
If you want to start blocking unwanted bubble to the left of the URL, and look for
audio from autoplay videos today, try Avram the Sound option.
Piltch’s Silent Site Sound Blocker extension
(go.pcworld.com/sssb) for Chrome. Apple’s The story behind the story: Noisy autoplay
Safari 11 browser has also allowed users to videos aren’t the only online bane in
easily stop autoplay videos (go.pcworld. Google’s sights. Native ad-blocking
com/stau) since it launched with macOS capabilities (go.pcworld.com/nabc) are
High Sierra on September 25. coming to Chrome soon. “We plan to have
Chrome stop showing ads (including those
MUTE WEBSITES owned or served by Google) on websites
IN CHROME that are not compliant with the Better Ads
Google’s paving the path for the wonderful- Standards (go.pcworld.com/bett) starting
sounding feature by adding the ability to in early 2018,” Google’s Sridhar
completely mute all audio for a given website Ramaswamy announced earlier this year.
in Chrome 63, which is currently in the testing Chrome’s ad-blocker won’t eliminate all
phase. The disabling will continue between ads—only the most distracting and
browsing sessions. burdensome ones.

22 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


KRACK Wi-Fi attack threatens
all networks: How to stay safe
and what you need to know
Update all the things. BY BRAD CHACOS AND MICHAEL SIMON

A
devastating flaw in Wi-Fi’s WPA implementations—and “works against all
(go.pcworld.com/wipa) modern protected Wi-Fi networks,”
security protocol makes it according to Mathy Vanhoef (go.pcworld.
possible for attackers to com/vanh), the researcher that discovered it.
eavesdrop on your data when you connect to That means that if your device uses Wi-Fi,
Wi-Fi. Dubbed KRACK, the issue affects the KRACK likely impacts it. Fortunately, major
Wi-Fi protocol itself—not specific products or tech companies are moving quickly to patch

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 23


NEWS KR ACK WI-FI AT TACK

the issue. key can be resent multiple times during step


Read on for what you need to know about three, and if attackers collect and replay those
the KRACK Wi-Fi vulnerability, from how it retransmissions in particular ways, Wi-Fi
works to how to best protect yourself against security encryption can be broken.
it. That starts with updating to iOS 11.1 (go. That’s the CliffsNotes version. For a
pcworld.com/os11) and macOS 10.13.1 (go. more technically detailed explanation,
pcworld.com/os13) for Apple users, and check out Mathy Vanhoef’s KRACK attacks
installing the Android November security website (go.pcworld.com/atta).
patch for Pixel and Nexus devices.
WHAT DEVICES ARE
HOW DOES KRACK BREAK AFFECTED BY KRACK?
WI‑FI SECURITY? If your device uses Wi-Fi, it’s likely vulnerable
KRACK (short for, uh, Key Reinstallation to the KRACK Wi-Fi security flaw to some
AttaCK) targets the third step in a four-way degree, though some get it worse than
authentication “handshake” performed when others. We go into greater detail about how
your Wi-Fi client device attempts to connect particular devices are affected by KRACK in a
to a protected Wi-Fi network. The encryption dedicated section further below.

24 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


WHAT HAPPENS WHEN exploited in the wild,” Vanhoef says.
WI-FI SECURITY IS BROKEN? US-CERT’s advisory didn’t include any
For starters, the attacker can eavesdrop on all information about whether KRACK is being
traffic you send over the network. “This can exploited in the wild, either.
be abused to steal sensitive information such
as credit card numbers, passwords, chat
messages, emails, photos, and so on,” “The impact of exploiting these
Vanhoef explains. For a deeper look at the vulnerabilities includes
potential impact, check out PCWorld’s decryption, packet replay, TCP
article on what an eavesdropper sees connection hijacking, HTTP
when you use an unsecured Wi-Fi hotspot content injection, and others.”
(go.pcworld.com/unse). It’s a few years
old, but still illuminating. Now for some somewhat settling
The United States Computer Emergency news: Iron Group CTO Alex Hudson says
Readiness Team also issued this warning as (go.pcworld.com/iron) an attacker needs to
part of its KRACK security advisory, per Ars be in range of your Wi-Fi network to carry
Technica (go.pcworld.com/secu): “The out any nefarious plans with KRACK. “You’re
impact of exploiting these vulnerabilities not suddenly vulnerable to everyone on the
includes decryption, packet replay, TCP internet,” he says.
connection hijacking, HTTP content injection,
and others.” HTTP content injection means HOW TO PROTECT
the attacker could sneak code into the YOURSELF FROM
websites you’re looking at to infect your PC KRACK’S WI-FI FLAW
with ransomware or malware. Keep your devices up to date! Vanhoef says,
So yeah, it’s bad. Keep your security “implementations can be patched in a
shields active, just in case. PCWorld’s guide backwards-compatible manner.” That
to the best antivirus software (go.pcworld. means your device can download an update
com/soft) can help you select a reliable that protects against KRACK and still
solution if needed. communicate with unpatched hardware
while being protected from the security flaw.
IS WI-FI SECURITY BEING Given the potential reach of KRACK, patches
BROKEN IN THE WILD? are coming quickly from many major
“We are not in a position to determine if this hardware and operating system vendors.
vulnerability has been (or is being) actively Up-to-date Windows PCs, for example, are

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 25


NEWS KR ACK WI-FI AT TACK

already protected.
Until those
updates appear
for other devices,
consumers can still
take steps to
safeguard against
KRACK. The
easiest thing
would be to
simply use a wired
ethernet
connection, or
stick to your
cellular
connection on a phone. That’s not always can help you pick out a trustworthy
possible though. provider. And again, keep your antivirus
If you need to use a public Wi-Fi hotspot— software (go.pcworld.com/s0ft) up to
even one that’s password-protected—stick date to protect against potential code
to websites that use HTTPS encryption. injected malware.
Secure websites are still secure even with Going forward, the Wi-Fi Alliance
Wi-Fi security broken. The URLs of (go.pcworld.com/a11i) will require testing for
encrypted websites will start with HTTPS, the KRACK WPA2 vulnerability in its global
while unsecured websites are prefaced by certification lab network, so new devices will
HTTP. The Electronic Frontier be protected out of the box.
Foundation’s superb HTTPS Everywhere
browser plug-in (go.pcworld.com/http) can DEVICE AND ROUTER WI-FI
force all sites that offer HTTPS encryption to SECURITY FAQ
use that protection. Alternatively, you can Is my phone at risk?
hop on a virtual private network (VPN) to KRACK is a different sort of attack than
hide all of your network traffic. Don’t trust previous exploits, in that it doesn’t go after
random free VPNs, though—they could be devices, it goes after the information you use
after your data as well. PCWorld’s guide to the them to send. So while the data stored on
best VPN services (go.pcworld.com/serv) your phone is safe from hacking, whenever

26 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


you use it to send a credit card number, promptly roll out to Pixel and Nexus devices.
password, email, or message over Wi-Fi, But it could take weeks or even months for
that data could be stolen. Android hardware makers and cellular
providers to validate and deploy the patch
So my router is vulnerable? to other phones and tablets. Many devices,
That’s closer, but still not totally accurate. especially older ones, may never receive
It’s not the device that’s at risk, it’s the the update.
information, so the sites you visit that
aren’t HTTPS are most vulnerable. So are my iPhone and Mac safe?
Safer than Android, but still not entirely safe.
So I should change my Wi-Fi password? Apple rolled out fixes for KRACK in iOS,
Well, you can, but it’s not going to stop the macOS, watchOS, and tvOS over the
likelihood of attack. The exploit targets past month.
information that should have been encrypted
by your router, so the attacker doesn’t need What about Windows PCs?
to crack your password to implement it. In They’re safe if you stayed updated. Microsoft
fact, it has no bearing on the attack. released a Windows patch (go.pcworld.com/
patc) to protect against KRACK on October
So all devices are at risk? 10, before the vulnerability was made public.
Now you’re getting it. However, while any
device that sends and receives data over I run Linux. Am I impenetrable to attack?
Wi-Fi is at risk, the researchers who uncovered Not quite. Researchers actually found that
the attack said Android devices were more at Linux machines were the most vulnerable
risk than other mobile phones. desktop devices, with a similar bug to the
one found in the Android code. Now for
Great, I have an Android phone. But I’m the good news: An upstream Linux patch (go.
running Nougat so I’m safe, right? pcworld.com/upli) is already available, as are
Unfortunately, no. Newer phones running
Android 6.0 or later are actually more at risk
since there is an existing vulnerability in the Researchers actually found that
code that compounds the issue and makes it Linux machines were the most
easier to “intercept and manipulate traffic.” vulnerable desktop devices,
Google expected to have a security patch with a similar bug to the
ready by mid-November, which would one found in the Android code.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 27


NEWS KR ACK WI-FI AT TACK

KRACK-blocking
updates for Ubuntu
(go.pcworld.com/
untu), Gentoo (go.
pcworld.com/ntoo),
Arch (go.pcworld.
com/chli), and Debian
(go.pcworld.com/
bian) distributions.
A patch is also available
for OpenBSD (go.
pcworld.com/open).

I have automatic
updates turned on.
How do I know if my
mobile device has been updated? the coming weeks, with some already being
The quickest way is to check the system’s implemented.
Software Update tab in your Settings app to Netgear (go.pcworld.com/netg), Intel
see when the most recent version has been (go.pcworld.com/inte), Eero (go.pcworld.
updated. More helpfully, Owen Williams is com/eer0), and business-focused networking
keeping a running list of companies that have providers already have KRACK router patches
distributed patches on his Recharged blog available. Eero’s is rolling out automatically as
(go.pcworld.com/char). It’s a stellar resource. an over-the-air update. The popular DD-WRT
open router firmware has designed a patch
What about my router? (go.pcworld.com/dwrt), but it isn’t available
First, you should check to see if your router to download yet. Expect it soon.
has any pending firmware updates. Most
people aren’t as vigilant in updating their So should I turn off Wi-Fi?
routers as they are with their phones or PCs, That’s probably not a viable option for most
so log in to your admin page and install any people, but if you’re completely panic-
waiting updates. If there aren’t any, it’s a good stricken, then the only way to be completely
habit to check back every day, since safe is to avoid using Wi-Fi until you know
companies will be rolling out patches over your router has been patched.

28 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


RIP Windows phones: New
Windows 10 Mobile hardware
and features ‘aren’t the focus’
But its spirit still lives on in iOS and Android. BY BRAD CHACOS

W
indows phones are really, security updates, etc.,” Joe Belfiore wrote on
truly dead. This weekend, Twitter (go.pcworld.com/belf), in response
Microsoft’s VP of operating to a conversation sparked by a user asking
systems confirmed the whether it’s time to move on from the
writing on the wall. “Of course we’ll continue Windows Mobile platform.“ But building new
to support the platform [with] bug fixes, [features and hardware] aren’t the focus.”

IMAGE: MICROSOFT DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 29


NEWS RIP WINDOWS PHONE

It’s the first time a senior Microsoft


employee has said that flat-out, but it’s not the
first time one has been so blunt about
Microsoft’s mobile hardware prospects. “If
you wanted to reach a lot of phone
customers, Windows Phone isn’t the way to
do it,” Windows chief Terry Myerson told the
Verge (go.pcworld.com/tery) in 2016, while
essentially putting Windows Phones on hold
(go.pcworld.com/hold) for the year. That
hiatus now appears more permanent.
The downfall of Windows 10 Mobile
seems to stem from our biggest gripe with
the platform: The near-absolute lack of apps.
“We have tried VERY HARD to incent app
devs,” Belfiore writes (go.pcworld.com/
devs). “Paid money...wrote apps [for] them...
but volume of users is too low for most HP Elite X3
companies to invest.”
Belfiore’s Twitter posts come mere days the company reported “negligible revenue
after HP told The Verge (go.pcworld.com/ from phones” (go.pcworld.com/negl) after
hpto) that it no longer plans to develop an years (go.pcworld.com/yers) of laying off
extended line of devices around its Elite X3 former Nokia employees (go.pcworld.com/
handset, the last great Windows Phone nkia). This announcement has been coming
flagship (go.pcworld.com/flag). Earlier this for a long time.
year, the Windows 10 Creators Update cut So what’s a die-hard Windows Phone
off 40 percent of Windows phone owners enthusiast to do? At an event in August (go.
(go.pcworld.com/cu40) from upgrades, and pcworld.com/augu), Joe Belfiore said that he
uses the Samsung Galaxy S8 Microsoft
Edition (go.pcworld.com/mied), and even
The downfall of Windows 10 Bill Gates runs Android now (go.pcworld.
Mobile seems to stem from our com/bill). “As an individual end-user, I
biggest gripe with the platform: switched platforms for the [app and
The near-absolute lack of apps. hardware] diversity,” Belfiore said in a

30 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


follow-up tweet (go.pcworld.com/flup). available platform. Office, OneNote,
“We will support those users too! Choose Outlook, and even Xbox can be found on
what’s best [for you].” both iOS and Android; we’ve even done a
feature on using Microsoft apps on Android
WHY MICROSOFT IS KILLING phones (go.pcworld.com/miap). Android’s
WINDOWS PHONES core interface doesn’t resemble the unique
There’s a reason for those defections. look and feel of Windows phones
Windows phone hardware may be on the way whatsoever, but if you load one up with
out, but Microsoft’s mobile ambitions aren’t Microsoft’s apps, you’ll get a damned fine
obsolete. They’ve just shifted to software. experience nonetheless.
During Satya Nadella’s reign as Microsoft Just last week, Microsoft released a
CEO, the company has shifted gears from beta version of Windows 10’s Edge
focusing on mobile Windows hardware to browser for mobile devices (go.pcworld.
bringing Microsoft’s key software to every com/mode), along with the Microsoft
Launcher for Android.
Both will intertwine
deeply with the
Windows 10 Fall
Creators Update (go.
pcworld.com/fa11),
allowing you to
seamlessly pick up what
you were working on
regardless of whether
you’re using your phone
or your PC. The physical
body may be dead, but
the spirit of Windows
phones lives on—
though you have to
wonder what this means
for the future of universal
Windows apps (go.
Microsoft’s Edge browser on iOS and Android. pcworld.com/univ).

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 31


YOUR CLOTHES
THAT ARE TOO
SMALL CAN DO
BIG THINGS FOR OTHERS.
YOUR DONATIONS TO GOODWILL® HELP
FUND JOB PLACEMENT AND TRAINING
FOR PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

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TO FIND YOUR NEAREST DONATION CENTER GO TO GOODWILL.ORG


Reviews & Ratings
TESTED IN PCWORLD LABS
WE PUT HARDWARE & SOFTWARE
THROUGH RIGOROUS TESTING

Intel 8th-gen Core i7: What


happens when thin laptops
get quad-core speed
Don’t buy a new ultraportable laptop or MacBook Air until you read this story (seriously).
BY GORDON MAH UNG

I
ntel’s ntel’s 8th-generation Core CPUs ground breaking 8th-gen mobile CPU.
solve a problem for the superlight Quad-cores once confined only to much
(sub-three-pound) laptops that are larger and heavier laptops can now be stuffed
becoming increasingly popular. Up into a tiny laptop, or so the company claims.
to now, these laptops could handle only But can the 8th-gen CPUs actually give
dual-core CPUs, because quad-core CPUs you the performance you expect and you’re
created more heat than their slimmer profiles paying for? Or this is this just a cynical
could manage. That’s all changing with Intel’s attempt to sell you on some quasi-

IMAGE: INTEL DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 33


REVIEWS INTEL 8TH- GENER ATION CORE I7

”quad‑core” for you next laptop? much more powerful quad‑core CPUs and
To find out, read on. GPUs inside. That’s right, we’re pitting
smaller, lighter laptops with lower‑power
LAPTOP CPU REVIEWS 15‑watt TDP CPUs against large laptops with
AREN’T EASY: HOW WE 45‑watt TDP CPUs, but they’re all quad‑core.
DID IT One last important important point we’ll
Unlike desktop CPUs, laptop CPU make: All of the laptops here were updated
performance has always been a tricky task, with the latest version of Windows 10
as isolating the CPU is nigh impossible. available to them, as well the latest drivers
Different laptop manufacturers will set the and BIOSes. This is actually a very critical step
CPU to run at different speeds based on how for trying to dive into direct CPU
much cooling they stuff into it, or how loud comparisons, because drivers and BIOS
they want the fans to run at. versions can have huge impacts on
Basically, trying to compare an 8th‑gen performance. A laptop can launch and six
Dell XPS 13 to a 7th‑gen Acer or HP months later, the OEM could decide to
introduces so many variables out of your increase or decrease the performance based
control that it can be difficult to render a final on customer complaints about temperature,
decision. There is one way to get you closer, fan noise or performance.
though: Compare the same laptop models With that said, only the XPS 13 laptops
made by the same manufacturer.
That’s exactly what we did this time, using
Dell’s newest XPS 13 with a Core i7‑8550U
inside ($1,300 and up on Dell.com (go.
pcworld.com/xp13)). To this, we compared
a Dell XPS 13 with a 7th gen Core i7‑7500U.
For context we also lumped in the original
Broadwell‑based XPS 13 from 2015.
Although outfitted with “only” a Core i5,
we included it because it was also the
model that first ushered in the zero‑bezel
“Infinity bezel” design.
And because we all want to know how the
8th gen hangs with “real” quad‑core CPUs, Intel’s 8th-gen Core i7 promises to bring quad-
we also include two Dell XPS 15 models with core performance to ultra-portable laptops.

34 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


Intel Core Intel Core Intel Core Intel Core Intel Core
i7-8550U i7-7500U i5-5200U i7-6700HQ i7-7700HQ
processor processor processor processor processor

Essentials

Product collection 8th Gen Intel 7th Gen Intel 5th Gen Intel 6th Gen Intel 7th Gen Intel
Core i7 Core i7 Core i5 Core i7 Core i7
processors processors processors processors processors

Vertical segment Mobile Mobile Mobile Mobile Mobile

Status Launched Launched Launched Launched Launched

Launch date Q3 17 Q3 16 Q1 15 Q3 15 Q4 17

Lithography 14nm 14nm 14nm 14nm 14nm

Recommended $409 $39 $281 $378 $378


customer price

Performance

Number of cores 4 2 2 4æ 4

Number of threads 8 4 4 8 8

Processor base 1.8GHz 2.7GHz 2.2GHz 2.6GHz 2.8GHz


frequency

Max turbo frequency 4GHz 3.5GHz 2.7GHz 3.5GHz 3.8GHz

Cache 8MB 4MB 3MB 6MB 6MB


SmartCache SmartCache SmartCache

Bus speed 4GT/s OPI 4GT/s OPI 5GT/s DMI2 8GT/s DMI3 8GT/s DMI

TDP 15W 15W 15W 45W 45W

Configurable 2GHz 2.9GHz


TDP-up frequency

Configurable 25W 25W


TDP-up

Configurable 800Hz 800Hz 600Hz


TDP-down frequency

Configurable 10W 7.5W 7.5W 35W 35W


TDP-down

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 35


REVIEWS INTEL 8TH- GENER ATION CORE I7

had Windows 10 Fall Creators Update in the newest XPS 15, but no, it’s the new
installed. Microsoft, it appears, did not deem Core i7-8550U in the XPS 13.
the XPS 15s worthy. Okay, what’s really going on here? Well, if
you look at the detailed specs in the Intel ARK
CINEBENCH R15 chart (or click go.pcworld.com/c0mp to see
PERFORMANCE them) you can see that the new Core
Our first test is Cinebench R15. It’s a popular i7-8550U has a higher turbo boost speed of
test built by Maxon and is based on the 4GHz, compared to the 3.8GHz boost speed
engine that runs its professional Cinema4D of the Core i7-7700HQ. Cinebench R15
3D rendering engine. The test concentrates clearly shows that boost speed can pay off.
on the CPU and is heavily
multi-threaded.
Cinebench R15.038
The results speak for Multi-core performance
themselves. Anyone who
Dell XPS 15 9560
714
thought Intel couldn’t pull off a Core i7-7700HQ

Dell XPS 15 9550


quad-core in a 2.5-pound Core i7-6700HQ
675
laptop has to eat their wordss Dell XPS 13 9360
611
Core i7-8550U
as the Core i7-8550U simply Dell XPS 13 9360
333
destroys the 7th-gen Core i7 Core i7-7500U

Dell XPS 13 9343


dual-core CPU, and for the Core i5-5200U
248

most part hangs surprisingly LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E

well with the much hotter


45-watt quad-core chips in the
two XPS 15 laptops. What does
Cinebench R15.038
this mean? It simply means that Single-core performance
Intel’s new 8th gen is fast.
Dell XPS 13 9360
157
Cinebench R15 also allows Core i7-8550U

Dell XPS 15 9560


us to test performance of the Core i7-7700HQ
147
application in single-threaded Dell XPS 15 9550
139
Core i7-6700HQ
tasks, so we threw the switch Dell XPS 13 9360
136
and ran all five laptops through Core i7-7500U

Dell XPS 13 9343


the same task. The real surprise Core i5-5200U
108

is the winner. You’d think it LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E

would be the Core i7-7700HQ

36 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


Given that the vast majority of applications moved to x86, of course, and it’s still a valid
people use rely far more on single-threaded performance benchmark. Like Cinebench, it
performance than multi-threaded focuses on the CPU. We again see the
performance, this result is more important 8th-gen quad-core Core i7-8550U easily
than it might seem. blowing away the older 7th-gen dual-core
and hanging with the much hotter 45-watt
POV-RAY PERFORMANCE quad-cores. Like Cinebench, the POV
Next we ran POV-Ray, a ray-tracing application benchmark can use a single compute thread.
that literally dates back to the days of the The result places the new 8th-gen Core
Commodore Amiga. It’s been updated and i7-8550U in a good place, just behind the
Core i7-7700HQ in the XPS 15.
Note how the 6th-gen quad-
POV Ray 3.7
Multi-threaded performance core Core i7-6700K actually
falls in line just behind the
Dell XPS 15 9560
1,578
Core i7-7700HQ dual-core Core i7-7500U.
Dell XPS 15 9550
Core i7-6700HQ
1,435 Because both CPUs have the
Dell XPS 13 9360
1,238 same boost clock of 3.5GHz,
Core i7-8550U

Dell XPS 13 9360


we’re not surprised. This
763
Core i7-7500U
is, again, a very good
Dell XPS 13 9343
Core i5-5200U
545 showing for the 8th-gen Core
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
i7-8550U chip.

GEEKBENCH 4
POV Ray 3.7 PERFORMANCE
Single-threaded performance While both POV Ray and
Cinebench hone in on CPU
Dell XPS 15 9560
391
Core i7-7700HQ performance while rendering
Dell XPS 15 9550
Core i7-6700HQ
386 or ray tracing, Geekbench 4
Dell XPS 13 9360
365 tends to be a little more
Core i7-8550U

Dell XPS 13 9360


general and relies on a large list
359
Core i7-7500U
of algorithms that its maker,
Dell XPS 13 9343
Core i5-5200U
271 Primate Labs, considers
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
relevant to processor
performance. While

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 37


REVIEWS INTEL 8TH- GENER ATION CORE I7

Geekbench has been controversial at times speak well for the 8th gen Core i7-8550U. It
(go.pcworld.com/cont), it’s mostly only when runs dead even with the 6th-gen quad-core
enthusiasts try to point to it as proof that a Skylake chip. And yes, it simply leaves the
tablet chip is as fast or faster than a desktop dual-core chips in the dust.
chip. We won’t rehash all of that, but we will Moving on to Geekbench’s single-core
say the test is far more relevant when it’s kept performance test, we again see the spunky
on the same CPU microarchitecture. That is, XPS 13 hanging with the XPS 15. For the most
of course, what we do here, as we stick solely part, the test puts all of the Core i7 CPUs in
to testing XPS 13 and XPS 15 laptops. the same neighborhood. We’d tend to agree
The results in Geekbench’s multi-core test with that assessment, too because you’d be
hard-pressed to tell the
difference between a 7th-gen
Geekbench 4.10
Multi-core performance Core i7 and an 8th-gen Core i7
when using, say, Outlook.
Dell XPS 15 9560
Core i7-7700HQ
14,584
Dell XPS 15 9550
Core i7-6700HQ
13,684 7-ZIP
Dell XPS 13 9360
Core i7-8550U
13,679 PERFORMANCE
Dell XPS 13 9360
As another sanity check on the
8,334
Core i7-7500U
performance results we saw from
Dell XPS 13 9343
Core i5-5200U
5,869 the previous tests, we also ran
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
the internal benchmark for 7-Zip,
a free file compression utility. (If
you’re still using Window’s build
in compression/decompression
Geekbench 4.10
Single-core performance utility, go download 7-Zip now.
It’s much, much faster.) The
Dell XPS 15 9560
4,695
Core i7-7700HQ results from this real-world
Dell XPS 13 9360
Core i7-8550U
4,495 application pretty much mirrors
Dell XPS 15 9550
4,399 what we’ve seen already: a
Core i7-6700HQ

Dell XPS 13 9360


complete dusting of the 7th-gen
4,208
Core i7-7500U
Core i7 by the 8th-gen Core i7.
Dell XPS 13 9343
Core i5-5200U
3,273 7-Zip also allows for a
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
single-threaded or single-core
test. The results again mirror

38 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


single-threaded scores from other
7Zip 9.20 benchmarks.
Multi-threaded compression performance
Dell XPS 15 9560
Core i7-7700HQ 20,930 VERACRYPT
Dell XPS 13 9360
20,613
PERFORMANCE
Core i7-8550U
We tried another internal
Dell XPS 15 9550
18,646
Core i7-6700HQ benchmark, this one from the
Dell XPS 13 9360
Core i7-7500U 10,811 VeraCrypt free encryption program
Dell XPS 13 9343
7,872 that’s a fork of the departed
Core i5-5200U
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
TrueCrypt. For the most part, both
of the XPS 15s are dead even. No
surprise, the 8th-gen Core i7 is just
a step back from those quad-core
7Zip 9.20 laptops. And yes, dual-core, call us
Single-threaded compression performance
up when you cross the finish line.
Dell XPS 15 9560
Core i7-7700HQ 4,403
Dell XPS 15 9550
Core i7-6700HQ 4,109 HANDBRAKE
Dell XPS 13 9360
3,953
PERFORMANCE
Core i7-8550U
Although the performance of the
Dell XPS 13 9360
3,754
Core i7-7500U 8th-gen Core i7-8550U looks
Dell XPS 13 9343
Core i5-5200U
3,292 downright spectacular, one thing
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E we wanted to know is whether it
could hold its performance on
workloads that didn’t last 5
Vera Crypt seconds or 50 seconds. Laptop
Encryption performance (50MB AES Mean) CPUs are especially sensitive to
Dell XPS 13 9360
5.4 thermal limitations, and long
Core i7-8550U

Dell XPS 15 9560 5.3


workloads generally means less
Core i7-7700HQ
performance. Our Handbrake test
Dell XPS 15 9550 5
Core i7-6700HQ is thus perfectly suited to see what
Dell XPS 13 9360 2.7 kind of performance you can
Core i7-7500U

Dell XPS 13 9343 1.9 expect on a very long task. On a


Core i5-5200U
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
dual-core, it can take an hour and a
half to complete, for example. On

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 39


REVIEWS INTEL 8TH- GENER ATION CORE I7

very challenged laptops, we often see pretty quad-core XPS 15 laptops, though having a
large hits to performance as it heats up. larger, beefier laptop with a much larger
The results here are, frankly, impressive. cooling system remains an advantage. Still,
We say that because the Core i7-8550U has a for the size of the XPS 13, its performance in
processor base frequency of 1.8GHz. That’s Handbrake is very, very respectable.
basically the minimum clock speed the CPU
would run at under the worst-case scenario, GAMING PERFORMANCE:
and certainly something we thought it would SAME OLD, SAME OLD
hit with a long workload. The 8th-gen Core i7-8550U’s gaming
Instead, the 8th-gen Core i7-8550U performance is nothing to write home about.
inside the XPS 13 again surprises us by And it shouldn’t be, as it’s very much the
destroying the 7th-gen dual-core Core same graphics core as the previous chip. We
i7-7500U. For the most part, it hangs with the ran 3DMark’s Skydiver 1.0 test and then
focused on the graphics
performance results. This ignores
Handbrake 0.9.9
Encode (sec) the extra x86 cores it has, so
consider it a pure test of the
Dell XPS 15 9560
2,743
Core i7-7700HQ graphics subsystem. The 8th-gen
Dell XPS 15 9550
Core i7-6700HQ
3,033 chip’s UHD 620 graphics core
Dell XPS 13 9360
3,567 come out slightly ahead of the
Core i7-8550U

Dell XPS 13 9360


7th-gen’s HD 620 graphics core,
5,876
Core i7-7500U
but for the most part they’re pretty
Dell XPS 13 9343
Core i5-5200U
7,934 close. Intel basic IGP is adequate
S H O R T E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
for entry-level or low-ambition
gaming. Don’t expect much more
without stepping up to an Iris
Plus-based CPU or discrete
3DMark Skydiver
1.0 graphics graphics chip.

Dell XPS 13 9360


Core i7-8550U
4,297
BATTERY
Dell XPS 13 9360
Core i7-7500U
4,019 PERFORMANCE
Dell XPS 13 9343
3,321 The battery life results are a lot
Core i5-6200U
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
more difficult to interpret. Keep in
mind that our battery rundown

40 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


from the results. For kicks, we
4K Video Run Down also found a 7th-generation
(minutes) Core i7-7200U with a similar-
Dell XPS 15 9560
828 resolution screen to the current
Core i7-7700HQ

Dell XPS 15 9550


8th-gen model we’re testing.
Core i7-6700HQ
751
The results are pretty promising:
Dell XPS 13 9360
Core i7-8550U
681 While the 7th-generation XPS 13
Dell XPS 13 9360
Core i7-7500U
595 with the same resolution screen
Dell XPS 13 9343 gives us about 11 hours of
Core i5-5200U
431
battery life, the 8th-gen laptop
Dell XPS 13 9343
361
Core i5-5200U finishes at about 12 hours,
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E second only to the much older
Broadwell XPS 13.
If you’re wondering why the
test is not a CPU test. It’s a video rundown Broadwell-based XPS 13 does so we well
test. We charge the laptop’s battery to full, despite having a smaller battery our guess
then unplug it and run a 4K movie (Tears of is the amount of RAM and the SSD, as well
Steel) repeatedly until the laptop dies. The as any differences from the CPU and
laptop’s brightness is set to 250-260 nits, motherboard. That particular XPS 13 has
audio is on, earbuds are used, and airplane only 4GB of RAM instead of the 8GB the
mode is engaged. The video, for the most 8th-gen and 7th-gen XPS 13 models have.
part, runs entirely within the media engine of System RAM does eat power, so having
the CPU, so whether it has four cores or two double the amount of RAM could be a drag
cores shouldn’t matter that much. on battery. We also suspect the SATA-based
Although the last few generations of XPS M.2 SSD and its rated active power
13s look the same on the outside, internal consumption of 190 milliwatts, vs. the
differences in screen resolution, touch 4-watt power consumption of the Toshiba
support, and other components can play a XG5 NVMe SSD in the 8th-gen XPS 13,
huge part in the results. For example, the make a difference.
8th-gen XPS 13 has a 1920x1080 non-touch And if you’re wondering how much of a
screen, while the 7th-gen XPS has a 4K hit you take from a higher-resolution, touch
3840x2160 panel with touch. Higher- screen, just look at the bottom of the chart
resolution screens tend to suck a lot of power. below to see how well the touch-based,
Still, there is something to be gleaned higher-resolution laptops did.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 41


REVIEWS INTEL 8TH- GENER ATION CORE I7

has a turbo boost


rating of 4GHz vs. the
3.8GHz of the Core
i7-7700HQ and the
3.5GHz of the Core
i7-6700HQ.
To see how the
clock speeds react
under loads, we again
looked what the
various laptops hit 10
seconds into a
Cinebench R15 run.
You can see just how
Running Cinebench, the 8th-gen Core CPU excels at light loads. much of a clock speed
advantage the 8th-gen
THE 8TH-GEN CAN BE Core i7-8550U holds over all others on those
FASTER ON LIGHTER LOADS light loads just a few seconds into a test.
We’ve been playing with Cinebench’s Note: In the chart opposite, we’ve focused on
ability to vary the thread load to try to clock speeds from 2GHz to 4GHz to make it
simulate just what kind of performance you easier to read.
get as you slide the load on the CPU from one But the thing is, once you warm that tiny
to eight threads. XPS 13, it’s not going to sit at those ultra-high
Running Cinebench on the laptops, we clock speeds for long. So we decided to
can see the latest 8th-gen Core i7 surprisingly record the clock speed the various XPS
has a performance advantage on very light models would hold for the entire benchmark
workloads. At the far right side of the chart run. On a single-threaded workload, the
though, the 15-watt chip can’t keep up with 8th-gen Core i7-8550U has no problems
the 45-watt chips, falling into third place. running at 4GHz. Once we move it to two
The good news is fourth place is not even threads and then three threads, the chip
in this race. This is a good show for the burns through its very high burst mode faster
8th-gen quad-core Core i7. than a nerd eats Doritos.
The 8th-gen Core i7-8550U’s biggest In fact, the quad-core 8th-gen Core
advantage lies in clock speeds. Remember, it i7-8550U pretty much matches the dual-core

42 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


7th-gen Core i7-7500U on two and three though, so until the company can prove it,
threads and then falls below it on four and prove it in laptops people might want to
threads. It also falls below Kaby Lake and buy, we’ll have to wait and see.
Skylake quad-core CPUs.
So yes, a 45-watt TDP with better CONCLUSION
cooling is going to be faster than a 15-watt There’s only one way to describe our
one in a smaller, thinner laptop. experience with the Core i7-8550U inside the
Dell XPS 13: Impressed. No wait, damned
WHAT ABOUT RYZEN 7 impressed would be a better way to couch it.
MOBILE VS 8TH GEN For years Intel’s CPUs in Ultrabooks have
CORE i7? improved mostly incrementally, from 4th-gen
There is one question left outstanding, and Haswell to 5th-gen Broadwell, to 6th-gen
that’s AMD’s recent announcement of its Skylake. Sure, 7th-gen Kaby Lake represented a
Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 mobile CPUs (go. healthy bump over Broadwell, but not like this.
pcworld.com/mcpu). AMD says Vega The 8th-gen Kaby Lake refresh, as it’s
goodness plus Zen goodness will equal a called, is a quantum leap forward for ultra-
new mobile CPU to give 8th-gen laptops a portable laptops. You’ve simply never been
serious run for the money while using similar able to get this kind of performance from
or less power. We haven’t seen these new something so small before. Yes, it’s that good.
Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 laptops up close yet, Remember that this is just one example.
Unlike desktops, where the
variance from CPU to CPU is
minuscule, laptop cooling
designs and decisions on
fan noise and thermals will
likely have a huge impact on
the new 8th-gen CPU’s
performance.
But in this Dell XPS 13,
the 8th gen Core i7 simply
rocks. A full review of the
laptop is forthcoming, but
As the test progresses and we add more threads, the 8th-gen CPU’s as you’ve already seen, this
clock speed drops precipitously. thing is fast.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 43


REVIEWS

The best free Microsoft Office


alternatives of 2017
Battle of the free office suites. BY MICHAEL ANSALDO

M
icrosoft Office is the king of license. The ribbon interface, introduced a
office productivity suites, but decade ago, has many fans, but others pine
it doesn’t inspire warm, fuzzy for the static menus of the early aughts. And
feelings in all users. Parsing then there’s Office’s hefty price tag.
the ever-expanding list of features can feel like Fortunately, alternatives abound, ranging
stepping into a cockpit without a pilot’s from web apps to freemium and open source

44 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


desktop installations, many of which are Interface: The way you access an office
compatible with Microsoft Office docs. suite’s features matters as much as the features
We compared six of the most popular free themselves. Polarized opinions about Office’s
office suites to see how well they replicate ribbon toolbar underscore this. Make sure
the most commonly used features of you’re comfortable with the way a suite lays
Microsoft Office. out its tools and that you don’t have to dig too
deeply for those you’ll use a lot.
WHAT TO LOOK Collaboration capability: The irony that we
When evaluating Office alternatives, don’t still rely on “office” suites when many of us
look to replicate every feature, just the ones no longer work in physical offices means the
you need and use most. Depending on your ability to collaborate remotely with others is
situation, that could be robust spreadsheet now a required feature. If you don’t want to
calculations and dynamic presentation design have to email documents back and forth for
or the ability to access files from anywhere editing—which can play havoc with version
and share them with remote team members. control —you’ll need an alternative that
Keep these considerations in mind: includes cloud support for sharing files and
ideally the ability to co-author (i.e. make edits
The big three: Though Microsoft Office has and comments on a document) in real time.
expanded over the years to include
programs like Outlook, Access, and Publisher, APACHE OPEN OFFICE
its bread and butter is still its original trio of Price: Free
programs: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
That’s because nearly everyone uses these
three apps regardless of the nature of their Open Office (go.pcworld.com/opff) was the
work. For many of us, they are the only first legitimate free contender to Microsoft
three we need in a suite. Office, though it has ceded that spotlight in
Office compatibility: Most of the working recent years to alternatives like Google Docs,
world will continue to use Microsoft Office Sheets, and Slides, and its own spinoff
long after you’ve jumped ship. That means product LibreOffice. The open source suite
you’ll still have to work with official Office includes word processing (Write),
files. Look for a suite that can cleanly read and spreadsheets (Calc), presentation (Impress),
write Microsoft Office formats, from the and database management (Base) programs,
current DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX file types to along with drawing and math apps that don’t
legacy formats. have a direct Microsoft corollary.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 45


REVIEWS FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE ALTERNATIVES

Open Office has excellent compatibility with Office formats and can export to PDF from all three apps.

Open Office works with most Microsoft and it can read and write existing Word,
formats including DOCX, XLS, PPT, and XML. Excel, and PowerPoint files. It does so
flawlessly most of the time, even with
Hands on complexly formatted documents like resumes
If you still remember how Microsoft Office and multi-column newsletters. Occasionally, it
looked circa 2003, Open Office’s interface will hiccup as when it removed all the
will seem eerily familiar. The component embedded images from a Word doc I had
programs make no concessions to the trendy open. But those instances usually only require
ribbon interface, using only old-school menus minor tweaks to correct. You can also export
and toolbars. That’s good news if you’re still files to PDF from all three programs.
sore over Microsoft’s decade-old UI Where Open Office diverges from
makeover, but it can take some readjusting if Microsoft’s productivity suite is in
you’re now accustomed to tabbing around collaboration. MS Office’s tight integration
your document and spreadsheet programs. with OneDrive and Outlook allows you to
By default, Open Office uses the Open easily share and work on files with others
Document standard for native files, but you without leaving the respective program.
can change it to save to Microsoft formats, Open Office supports document review

46 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


features like
commenting and
track-changes, but
it has no native
cloud storage or
email program. It
does, however,
offer an extension
that lets you
connect to dozens
of third-party cloud
storage providers
including Box and Google Docs collaborative editing features tower above all other suites.
Google Drive, and
the Open Office programs can be configured GOOGLE DOCS,
to work with select open source email clients SHEETS, AND SLIDES
like Mozilla Thunderbird. Price: Free, or $5-$25 per user per year as
part of GSuite for businesses.
Standout features Platform: Online
• Excellent Microsoft Office compatibility
• Familiar, Microsoft-like interface Once considered merely a lightweight
web-based alternative to Microsoft Office,
Missing features Google’s trio of office apps (go.pcworld.
• Native cloud storage and email support com/gdss) has grown into a worthwhile
• Mobile apps productivity suite in its own right. Though its
capabilities still aren’t quite as robust as most
Apache Open Office is best for: desktop office suites, its tight ties to other
If you just need to work with Microsoft Office Google products and extendability through
formats, and you don’t mind a dated a growing market of Chrome extensions
interface, Open Office has all the make it a powerful, cost-effective option for
comprehensive formatting and functionality students and workers.
you need. If you need to collaborate with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are free
others on those files, though, there are other to use by anyone with a web browser, a
office alternatives that make it much easier. Google account, and an internet connection.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 47


REVIEWS FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE ALTERNATIVES

The subscription-based G Suite, which adds The suite still shines brightest as a
more business-oriented features, is available collaborative tool for written documents,
in three pricing tiers for organizations. thanks to features like real-time commenting,
revision tracking, and deep integration with
Hands on Google Drive cloud storage. It’s also
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides maintains a intimately connected to Google search,
consistent look across its three component allowing you to search for information
apps. Elegant and unadorned, the interface relative to what you’re working on from
has clearly labeled menus with intuitive within the individual apps.
toolbar icons. All three apps also have a
healthy set of hotkeys—accessible by typing Standout features
Ctrl-/ on a PC or Command-/ on a Mac—for • Excellent collaboration tools
those who prefer to keep their fingers on the • Tight integration with other Google
keyboard. products
Any files you work on in the suite have to • Simple, fast interface
be stored in Google Drive, the search giant’s
popular cloud storage. New Docs, Sheets, Missing features
and Slides files are automatically created in • Extensive formatting options
your Drive account, and you can also upload • Offline editing capabilities
Microsoft Office files for editing. All your
changes are saved to Drive as long as you’re Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides is best for:
online; you can install a Chrome browser Road warriors, collaborative teams, and
extension (go.pcworld.com/chbe) to edit anyone else who needs the flexibility to work
files offline, but it requires some configuring from multiple locations will get the most out
and it only works with native Docs, Sheets, of Google’s office suite. If your needs run to
and Slides files. creating large, intricate documents; mail
The respective apps do an admirable job merges; or serious number crunching, you’ll
of importing Word and PowerPoint files, likely find the suite’s capabilities limited and
though you sometimes have to tweak should look elsewhere.
elements in the latter. Importing Excel files to
Sheets is more of a mixed bag, with KINGSOFT WPS
spreadsheets containing basic functions OFFICE 2016
translating more faithfully than larger, more Price: Free with ads, or $30 per year without
complex ones. Platform: Windows, Linux

48 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


Kingsoft touts WPS Office (go.pcworld.com/ banish them for good, you can purchase the
wpso) as “your dream solution for a low- Premium version for a modest $30 per year.
budget, no-commitment, free productivity WPS Office is available for Windows and
office suite,” and it’s not just hyperbole. The Linux and offers companion apps for iOS
suite—comprised of the self-explanatory and Android.
Writer, Spreadsheets, and Presentation
apps—replicates most of the essential Hands on
Microsoft Office features and adds a few As Office alternatives go, none adhere as
unique extras. It also comes with 1GB of faithfully to the Microsoft suite as WPS Office.
online storage, called WPS Cloud, for Its ribbon interface is nearly identical to
sharing documents. Microsoft Office’s, with tabs and tools in
If getting all this for free sounds to good to roughly the same spots in all three of its apps.
be true, there is a small caveat. The free Never really dug that look? Don’t worry—the
version requires you to view ads to gain interface is customizable so you can turn
time-limited access to certain features like back the clock to an Office 2003-style static
printing and exporting to PDF. The ads are menu interface with the click of a button.
short, around 10-seconds, but if you want to You customize each app’s interface

You can customize WPS Office’s interface to use a ribbon toolbar or static menus a la Office 2003.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 49


REVIEWS FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE ALTERNATIVES

independently, so you can mix it up if different co-authoring is not supported.


UIs work for you in different programs.
A few features you won’t find in Microsoft Standout features
Office make working with documents even • Customizable interface
easier. All three apps support tabbed • Excellent Office compatibility
documents, eliminating the hassle of toggling • 1GB cloud storage for sharing files
between multiple document windows. WPS
Writer includes a feature called Paragraph Missing features
Layout that lets you adjust line and paragraph • Real-time co-authoring
spacing and indents with a drag-and-drop
tool. And Section Navigation lets you quickly WPS Office is best for:
jump around large documents. If you love everything about Microsoft Office
Compatibility with Office files is excellent except the price, you’ll likely love WPS Office.
across all three apps, with Presentation While it doesn’t support real-time
standing out for accurately translating collaboration, neither do most desktop Office
PowerPoint files better than any other non- alternatives; if that’s a priority you’ll have to
Microsoft product we tested. There’s also look to Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides or
scads of templates—over 100 in Writer Microsoft Office Online. Otherwise, this suite
alone—for all kinds of personal and has everything else you could ask for in an
business documents. Office alternative, and if the ads ever become
WPS Office has limited collaboration an annoyance, you can always upgrade to the
capabilities. Document-reviewing features premium version for a very modest fee.
like commenting and track changes are
included, and you can share files with others LIBREOFFICE 5
via link through WPS Cloud, but real-time Price: Free
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux

Document-reviewing features LibreOffice (go.pcworld.com/liof) came to


like commenting and track be when the community developing Open
changes are included, and you Office jumped ship several years back and
can share files with others via created their own suite on the same code.
link through WPS Cloud, but Without going in to the details of the divorce
real-time co-authoring is not (go.pcworld.com/di00), suffice it to say
supported. LibreOffice has fared better than its ancestor,

50 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


both in terms of
development and
popularity. Like
Open Office,
LibreOffice includes
six programs: Write
(word processing),
Calc (spread-
sheets), Impress
(presentation), Base
(database
management),
Draw (vector
graphics) and Math LibreOffice seamlessly translates Office formats, including complex documents.
(mathematical
formulae). with Microsoft Office, but you can beef it up
with downloads from LibreOffice’s Extensions
Hands on and Templates library.
Because LibreOffice was forked off Open There’s no native cloud integration, but
Office, there are, unsurprisingly, many LibreOffice does have a Remote Files feature
similarities between the two. LibreOffice has that allows you to access files outside servers
the same Office 2003-style static menu look like Google Drive and OneDrive. That can
with easily navigated icons and toolbars. The facilitate sharing files for group review—track
only real difference is that it adds a splash of changes and commenting are supported—
color akin to the current version of Microsoft but no real-time authoring.
Office and generally feels more polished.
LibreOffice uses open document format Standout features
as its native format, but it can also read and • Fantastic compatibility with Microsoft
write a range of Microsoft Office formats Office formats
including the newer DOCX, PPT, and PPTX • Familiar Office-like interface
files. In our tests, it better handled the more
complex documents that Open Office Missing features
struggled with. The installed template • Integrated cloud storage
selection pales compared to what you get • Real-time co-authoring

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 51


REVIEWS FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE ALTERNATIVES

LibreOffice is best for: trusty PC version of Word, you can open a doc
LibreOffice should be the choice of open in the web version of the app—no conversion
source enthusiasts. Having relative feature required—and dive right in. As these apps are
parity with Open Office, it comes down to the made for down-and-dirty editing, you’ll notice
release frequency of new features and fixes, some omissions on the tool ribbon—the
and LibreOffice wins that race hands down. Designs, References, and Mailings tabs are
As of this writing, Open Office’s last update gone from Word, for example—but all the basic
was a year ago; LibreOffice’s latest release functionality is accounted for.
came last month. That makes LibreOffice the As with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides,
obvious choice for businesses, schools, and Office Online works right inside your browser.
anywhere else security is important. And if Also like the Google suite, it requires your
you’re a Linux user, you may already be using documents be uploaded to the cloud—in this
LibreOffice as it’s now included with many case to Microsoft OneDrive—before you can
Linux distributions. edit them. If you lose internet access, there’s
no way to work on those files offline without
MICROSOFT OFFICE ONLINE one of Microsoft’s paid Office products.
Price: Free These slimmed down-versions of the big
Platform: Online three productivity apps are aimed primarily at
home users, so you won’t find pivot tables,
Not to be outdone by Google’s free online fancy formatting options, or more advanced
office suite, Microsoft offers its own gratis business-oriented capabilities. Many file
web-based apps in Microsoft Office Online formats that are supported in the desktop
(go.pcworld.com/mioo). The suite includes versions of the apps—.csv files, as one
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote and example—are not supported here. You can,
is accessible to anyone with a desktop however, collaborate in real-time in any of the
browser. There are mobile versions of each apps with other Office users, including taking
app for iOS and Android, and a dedicated
extension for Google’s Chrome browser.
As with Google Docs, Sheets,
Hands on and Slides, Office Online works
The app interfaces for Office Online look and right inside your browser. Also
navigate pretty much like their desktop like the Google suite, it requires
counterparts, and therein lies the appeal. If your documents be uploaded to
you’re on the road or otherwise away from your the cloud...

52 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


Office Online offers slimmed-down versions of Microsoft’s desktop programs, so not all features are
supported.

advantage of Skype integration. Microsoft document formats if you have


modest needs or you’re on the road and just
Standout features need to quickly view a file and make some
• Familiar Office interface simple edits. But as it was really made to
• Works with native Office formats, no complement rather than replace desktop
conversion required Office installations, it doesn’t have the
• Allows real-time collaboration with other advanced functionality business users
Office users require to make it your main tool.

Missing features SOFTMAKER


• Offline editing FREEOFFICE 2016
• Many of Office’s advanced capabilities Price: Free
• Doesn’t support some popular file types Platform: Windows, Linux

Microsoft Office Online is best for: If you believe less is more, SoftMaker’s
Office Online is an excellent way to work with FreeOffice (go.pcworld.com/freo) may the

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 53


REVIEWS FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE ALTERNATIVES

Office alternative for


you. FreeOffice is the
no-charge version of
SoftMaker Office 2016
and offers its versions of
Microsoft’s big three
productivity apps in
TextMaker (Word),
PlanMaker (Excel), and
Presentations
(PowerPoint). It contains
most of the features of FreeOffice can read—but not save—files in DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX formats.
the commercial
product, but omits some key ones you can However, newer Office formats including
only get by upgrading to either SoftMaker DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX can only be opened—
Office Standard 2016 for $69.95 or not saved—in the free version of the suite.
SoftMaker Office Professional 2016 for All three apps include advanced features
$99.95. It’s available for Windows and Linux similar to those of their Microsoft
and has an Android companion app. counterparts, including PDF creation, pivot
tables, and interactive presentation
Hands on capabilities, to name a few. Some other
FreeOffice employs a static-menu interface desirable features—tabbed documents, a
that should feel comfy to users who preferred thesaurus function, the ability to save modern
the pre-ribbon Office look. Tools are Office formats—are reserved for the pay
intuitively organized and all three apps have a product, though.
clean-and-light feeling about them. It’s more As with most free desktop suites,
than cosmetic, too, as FreeOffice is collaboration is where FreeOffice falls short
exceptionally fast, even when working with of Office. It includes track-changes and
data-dense spreadsheets. commenting features, but with no cloud
FreeOffice provides excellent support you can’t co-edit documents
compatibility with Open Document format, as with others in real time.
used by LibreOffice and OpenOffice, as well
as the full spectrum of Microsoft Office Standout features
formats, including password-protected files. • Clean, fast interface

54 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


• Excellent compatibility
with lots of
Office formats
• Pivot tables and
conditional formatting
(PlanMaker)
• Animations and
slide transitions
(Presentations)

Missing features
• Cloud support WPS Office offers the best Office-like experience.
• The ability to save
modern Office formats that can be tailored to your preference for
either the ribbon toolbar or the static menus
FreeOffice is best for: of Office 2003. It’s also the only desktop
In terms of both format compatibility and suite in our roundup that included integrated
features, FreeOffice is a fantastic Office cloud storage for easily sharing and
alternative for anyone concerned with just collaborating on files.
the three core programs. But the inability to
save files in DOCX, XLSX, or PPTX formats RUNNER UP: GOOGLE
keeps it from being a truly viable Office DOCS, SHEETS, AND SLIDES
replacement. If that’s a deal breaker, you Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides simply
can still purchase one of the paid versions can’t be beat for collaboration. Its
for a full Office-like experience. document review features and integration
with Google Drive make it our go-to
WINNER: KINGSOFT solution for anyone who routinely needs to
WPS OFFICE 2016 co-author documents with others in real
Kingsoft’s WPS Office 2016 delivers the most time. It also has tight ties with other Google
Office-like experience of all the suites we products, including, of course, search,
tried. Built around its own versions of Word, giving it capabilities you won’t find in any
Excel, and PowerPoint, it offers excellent other office suite. Its relatively spartan
compatibility with all Microsoft Office interface is a welcome respite from Office’s
formats and features a customizable interface busy toolbars, too.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 55


REVIEWS

Best antivirus: Keep your


Windows PC safe from spyware,
Trojans, malware, and more
You need more than just prayer and luck to stay safe. BY IAN PAUL

A
ntivirus software ranks nearly as You could visit your favorite website when
crucial as a PC’s operating it’s unintentionally displaying malicious ads.
system. No matter how careful You may accidentally click on a phishing
you are, some threats can’t be email (it happens!). You could also get caught
prevented without the additional help of an by a zero-day threat, where an undisclosed
antivirus program—or a full antivirus suite. bug in Windows, your browser, or an installed

56 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017 IMAGE: ROB SCHULTZ


program allows hackers to install other HOW WE TEST
malware on your machine. First, we take a look at the interface to
Sure, PC security software isn’t fool-proof. determine how easy or complicated it is.
Antivirus software often can’t do much to stop Does the interface make it easy to get at
zero-day exploits, for example. But it can detect essential tools like PC scans and password
when the undisclosed vulnerability is used to managers, for example, or is everything
install other nasty bits on your machine like buried under multiple clicks? Are there
ransomware. In general, the average user actively elements that look like they should be
using email, clicking on links, and downloading clickable but aren’t? Are alerts interactive or
programs will benefit from an antivirus suite. purely informational, and does that make
So what should you pick? Our sense in context?
recommended suggestions strike a balance We also examine the features on offer.
between excellent protection, a worthwhile Every good antivirus suite should have the
selection of features, and minimal impact on basics like scanning and real-time protection,
your PC’s performance. but many vendors offer elements that go
beyond basic security like password
WHAT TO LOOK FOR managers or firewalls. We try to discern
There are three basic requirements that an whether any of these extra features are
antivirus suite needs: particularly useful, or just frills that look nice
but don’t serve a practical purpose.
• High detection rate for malware and To test the suite’s demand on system
other threats resources, we run two benchmarks. The first is
• Low impact on system resources PCMark 8’s Work Conventional test, which
• An easy-to-use interface simulates a variety of workloads including
editing spreadsheets, browsing the web, and
That’s not all to consider, however. These running video chat.
days, many security suites come with extras We run the benchmark before the
such as a backup service for your most security suite is installed. Then we install the
essential files, Android apps for mobile software, have it run a full scan on our
security, a more advanced firewall, family Windows 10 test machine, and start a
protection (read: child restriction) features, second run of the benchmark at the same
and the right to use the program on multiple time. Then we compare the overall scores
PCs. Whether you need those extras depends to see if the decline between the two
on your personal situation. benchmarks is significant.

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As a harsher stress test, we also use Premier for $80 (go.pcworld.com/avap),


Handbrake to transcode a video before and which comes filled with features. Though it
after installing the A/V. On most home PCs, only offers two additional extras compared to
this encoding task utilizes 100 percent of the Avast’s $60 Internet Security product (go.
CPU. We then compare transcoding times to pcworld.com/avis), those particular features
see if there’s any significant decline. are potentially useful for those who want
Our test machine is an Acer Aspire E15 them.
with an Intel Core i3-7100U, 4GB RAM, and a The first is Data Shredder, which deletes
1TB hard drive. Each security suite is tested on files by immediately overwriting them so they
a clean install of Windows 10 Home. are not recoverable. The second is Software
As for the antivirus suite’s detection Updater, which automatically updates third-
capabilities, we’ll rely on the opinions of party programs, plug-ins, and utilities on your
security researchers dedicated to this task. PC. Both are nice features, however, you can
We’ll take into consideration reports from use free programs to perform the same
outlets such as A-V Comparatives, A-V Test functions—like FileHippo App Manager (go.
and SE Labs. pcworld.com/fihi), which monitors and
We’ll also take pricing into account and automatically updates your programs.
what you get for it. Whenever possible we’ll Despite being packed with features,
review security suites using a free trial to get Avast manages to not overwhelm the user
a sense of what consumers see when they with a messy interface. The program uses a
first try out a new product. fairly standard design that includes a left rail

AVAST PREMIER
Price: $80

Avast is one of the more


popular free, third-party
antivirus programs. For
anyone willing to pay for more
advanced features,
however, Avast’s premium
products also have a lot to
offer. At the top of the
company’s line-up is Avast Avast Internet Security’s “Status” section.

58 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


with a pop-out menu, and a
main screen that displays
the settings and primary
interface for each feature.
The program also uses
color effectively to help
convey important
information. The program’s
primary background is a
bluish gray, with the active
section in the left rail
highlighted in purple.
Avast Premier features Avast’s “Protection” options.
four main categories:
Status, Protection, Privacy, and Performance. monitors specific folders for ransomware
The Status section is pretty simple with a basic threats), the aforementioned software
green check mark when all is well. The main updater, and a sandbox to wall off suspect
interface has one button to run a quick scan files from the rest of your PC.
for viruses. This is also the section where you The Privacy section includes Avast’s
can get direct links to Avast’s catalog of built-in password manager, Data Shredder,
Android and iOS apps. and Sensitive Data Shield. The latter probes
Protection is where you can
run antivirus scans, as well as
get access to a roster of other
security features. There’s
Rescue Disk, which puts a
version of Avast Antivirus on a
CD or USB stick to more
effectively scan and remove
stubborn malware. You’ll also
find Avast’s firewall settings, a
Wi-Fi inspector, Real Site
phishing protection,
Ransomware Shield (which Avast Internet Security’s “Performance” section.

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your machine for important


documents, and then it
adds extra monitoring and
protection to those files to
guard against malware. It
also acts as a quick access
list of your important files.
There’s also a link to
SecureLine VPN, but VPN
service is not part of the
Avast subscription. Instead,
your prompted to pay extra
for the VPN. Avast Internet Security wants to install Google Chrome for those who
Finally, there’s the don’t have it.
Performance section with
only two features. The first is Cleanup, which against. In the case of our test PC, it was
is similar to programs like CCleaner that scan Google Chrome. On a system with Chrome
your system for extra files, temporary folders, already installed, Avast offered to install its
and caches that can be cleared. Although it own secure browser, SafeZone. Later on, I
looks like it’s included, Cleanup only scans noticed that Avast installed two Chrome
your PC for free. To actually cleanup your PC, extensions: Avast Online Security and Avast
you need to shell out cash for Cleanup SafePrice. I don’t recall explicitly agreeing to
Premium. install either of them.
Performance also houses the settings for Avast makes it easy to opt-out of this
Avast’s gaming mode. This feature download, but it’s also easy for users to get a
automatically detects when you’re playing a surprise Chrome install if they’re not paying
game and forces Avast and Windows to close attention.
reduce its resource footprint—allowing you to
play your game unencumbered. Performance
Installing Avast Premier is very easy and As one of the top security firms, Avast
using the free trial does not require you to performs very well. In A-V Test’s June test of
register with the company. Ironically, Avast zero days, web, and email threats, Avast
tries to install extra software at installation— scored a perfect 100 percent. Regular
something a security suite should guard malware scans also did well, scoring 100

60 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


In our more-punishing
Handbrake test, our test PC
typically takes one hour,
fifteen minutes, and 30
seconds to transcode a
3.8GB MKV file using the
Android Tablet preset. With
Avast installed the file took
one hour, fifteen minutes,
and five seconds.
We also looked at how
Avast’s Sensitive Data
Avast Internet Security’s Data Shredder feature. Shield performed, since
that feature is likely to be
percent against more than 10,000 samples. intriguing to most users. It did a good job,
Avast performed similarly high during A-V though there were a high number of false
Comparatives’ evaluation. It scored 100 positives. For example, it included many
percent in the organization’s malicious URL Word documents in the “Employee
test and 99.8 percent against nearly 38,000 documents” section likely because they were
malware samples. In A-V Comparatives’ my old articles with company names in the
offline test, that detection number dropped title. Avast also inspected folders that weren’t
slightly to 98.8 percent. even on my PC via the Keybase.io desktop
SE Labs gave Avast a AAA rating, noting program for Windows (go.pcworld.com/
that it and AVG were the most effective free keyb). That is admittedly an edge case as
products. Avast and AVG did fail to stop five Keybase is a niche program. Nevertheless, if
targeted attacks in SE Labs’ tests. you are a Keybase user, turn off the program
During our benchmarks, Avast had no before scanning for sensitive documents.
drop in performance. When we ran PCMark
8’s Work Conventional test—a simulation of Conclusion
web browsing, video chat, word processing, Avast Premier is a very well-designed program
and spreadsheet editing—without Avast with all kinds of extra features that will appeal
running, our test PC netted a score of 2517. to security conscious users looking for more
With Avast running, it got 2515, which is than just antivirus protection. But if you don’t
well within the standard margin of error. mind the inconvenience, you can get an

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alternative that is almost equally as good for its Internet Security program (go.pcworld.
$20 less—Avast’s $60 Internet Security com/insp). Priced at $70, it’s one step down
product is easily supplemented with free from the company’s flagship product, AVG
software to replace Avast Premier’s Data Ultimate, and lacks a number of Ultimate’s less
Shredder and Software Updater features. crucial features. For example, you don’t get
AVG’s PC tune up package or third-party
AVG INTERNET SECURITY desktop software updater. That’s hardly a loss,
Price: $70 though, as you can find free programs to
dump cached folders taking up too much
AVG has a big advantage in the free antivirus space or monitor software updates. The
space since it owns both Avast (acquired in important security features are all included in
2016 (go.pcworld.com/ac16)) and its the $70 security suite, however, including
homegrown product, AVG Free. The hope is antivirus, firewall, and phishing protection.
you’ll love the free stuff so much that you’ll Unlike Avast, AVG opted not to include a
upgrade to one of its paid products. password manager as part of its various
In the case of AVG, most people go with security packages. Instead, you have to fork

AVG Internet Security’s primary dashboard and menu.

62 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


(encrypted folders), and a file
shredder feature that overwrites
deleted data to make it harder to
recover.
Overall, the settings could be
better organized and made clearer.
Most of the key settings you’ll want
to access, for example, are under
Menu > Settings > Components.
From there you can tweak your
firewall and play with the spam
scanning settings.
Reinforcing my point about
AVG Internet Security’s Components settings. organization is how the options are
laid out. Each part of the
over an extra $20 per year to make that a part component settings is hidden under a
of your security set-up. That’s not a bad price, downward facing arrow. Click that arrow and
though for a few bucks more you can get an you reveal each section’s panel, but all you’ll
annual subscription to LastPass. see is an explanation of the feature and an
When you first open up AVG, it offers a option to uninstall individual parts of the
similar aesthetic to its corporate counterpart security suite. To actually get deeper into
Avast. The app largely has a gray background those firewall settings, you have to click the
with bright green to highlight important Customize link in each tile, which is never
information. You’ll first see a status dashboard hidden.
that lets you know which AVG security To access other options, like subscription
features are active. information, you’ll have to go back to the
This dashboard is not intuitive, though. main dashboard. In the upper left hand
Almost nothing is clickable in the main part of corner is an arrow—when you click on it, it
the screen. To tweak most options, you have opens another window where you can add
to click on the Menu hamburger icon at the another device to your subscription, as well
top right of the window. There you can get as download and subscribe to other AVG
into the nitty gritty of the application’s products such as PC TuneUp, Secure VPN,
settings, including general options, controls and Password Protection. This window is very
for ransomware protection, a data safe reminiscent of Norton Security.

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meanwhile, AVG scored


100 percent as well with
three false positives out
of 329 samples. When
pitted against A-V
Comparatives’ malware
protection test, AVG
scored 99.8 percent in
an online scan against
nearly 38,000 samples
and 98.8 percent offline.
SE Labs gave AVG an
AVG Internet Security’s secondary dashboard. AAA rating, saying that
both it and Avast were
AVG’s overall interface is not a deal the most effective free software in its tests, but
breaker, and once you get used to the logic AVG did fail to detect five targeted attacks. All
of the application, it’s not hard to navigate. three organizations used the free versions of
However, during testing I often kept AVG’s antivirus, which doesn’t have the
thinking about its Avast counterpart, which I ransomware, firewall, or phishing protection.
found to be far more intuitive with items AVG also did well in our performance
more readily accessible and not buried benchmarks. When we ran PCMark 8’s Work
under a mountain of clicks. Conventional test (a simulation of everyday
One thing that AVG Internet Security does tasks like word processing, web browsing,
make very easy is the ability to scan your PC, and video chat), our initial score was 2521.
as the Scan Computer button is the most With AVG running in the background, that
prominent item on the primary dashboard. score was 2524—a tiny enough difference
that the improvement could be chalked up to
Performance margin of error.
Like many of the mainstream security Our Handbrake test, which puts much
programs, AVG got very high marks for more stress on a system, showed no
antivirus and malware protection. A-V Test’s significant performance dip. Our Windows 10
August tests gave AVG 100 percent detection PC takes an average of one hour, 15 minutes,
in its 0-day and malware tests. In A-V and 30 seconds to transcode a 3.8GB MKV
Comparatives’ real-world protection test, file using the Android Tablet preset. With AVG

64 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


installed, Handbrake transcoded the same file
in one hour, 15 minutes, and 25 seconds.

Conclusion
AVG leaves a lot to be desired when it comes
to app design, especially compared to Avast.
Given that the same company owns both
development teams, we hope to see some
improvement. Nevertheless, AVG gets high
marks for security, has enough features to
satisfy most users, and doesn’t drag on your
performance. Comodo wants to change your default homepage
and search engine.
COMODO INTERNET
SECURITY PRO 10 Certainly, some users might like all that.
Price: $40 Comodo Secure DNS is a popular choice
among security enthusiasts who don’t want
When we previously looked at Comodo’s to use their ISP’s default service. Other
Internet Security Pro, the company had a security suites also route your DNS through
habit of bundling software with its security their services. As for the browser, Comodo
suite—and that trend hasn’t changed with Dragon is a Chromium-based browser that
Internet Security Pro 10. Underneath the some users might enjoy, and I guess there’s
hassle of warding off extra installs, however, is nothing wrong with Yahoo if you ignore
a security suite that does a good job of that whole appalling security issue (go.
detecting threats. pcworld.com/apse).
When you install Internet Security Pro 10, But here’s the thing: Most people will click
you have to read every screen very carefully. If through the install screens without reading
you don’t, the program will attempt to set them, and software companies count on that.
your browser’s homepage and search engine It’s just...unseemly. Plus, the attempt to switch
to Yahoo, change your DNS provider to your search engine and homepage makes all
Comodo (go.pcworld.com/dnsp), set the other extra software look hostile. This
Comodo Dragon (go.pcworld.com/cmdr) as approach is just not a good idea, even when
your default browser, and import all the data acknowledging that companies are trying to
from your current default browser. make a buck. There has to be a better way.

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As for the app software is currently running; and a listing of


itself, Comodo suspect files. That last feature isn’t particularly
Internet Security Pro great, given that Comodo treated the EXE
has some nice files for two common and popular services—
features. Comodo’s CrashPlan and Slack—as suspect.
interface comes in The widget also has quick access to
three parts: the Comodo’s four basic operations: scan,
main application unblock applications, update, and secure
window, a widget shopping. Finally, you’ll see the symbols for
that sits in the upper all of your installed browsers if you’re using
right corner of your any of the big four: Internet Explorer,
desktop, and the Chrome, Firefox, and Opera, plus Comodo
Comodo Internet
Security Pro’s desktop system tray icon. Dragon. There isn’t an icon for Edge on
widget in Windows. That’s a lot, but Windows 10 PCs.
you can close the If you open any of these browsers from the
main window and get rid of the widget quite widget, they launch in a security container—
easily, leaving only the system tray icon. The one of those virtualized environments that are
widget, though, might be appreciated by sandboxed from the rest of the PC. When you
some users as it has easy access to Comodo’s run a browser in one of these containers, the
primary features. entire window will be outlined in green.
At the very top there’s a status icon telling Oddly, Edge has a tab inside the Internet
you the state of your PC. (Before
running your first scan, it’s
yellow.) Below that is a counter
informing you of your current
bandwidth usage for both up
and down streams.
Then there’s a mini-
dashboard shows the status of
Comodo’s containment tasks (a
feature that lets you run
untrusted apps as well as
browsers in a virtualized space);
the number of tasks the security Comodo Internet Security Pro 10’s basic view after first launch.

66 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


Explorer container that is
supposed to launch the
newer browser. It doesn’t
work, however. As for other,
lesser known browsers like
Vivaldi, Comodo ignores
them.
This containers feature is
supposed to keep you more
secure, and it does seem to
be a fine feature. However,
during one test, my PC
became unusable after Comodo Internet Security Pro 10’s advanced view.
enabling Internet Explorer in
a secure container. Comodo’s secure launch in incognito mode. The idea is to
shopping feature also inexplicably ate up 25 create a secure space where you can do
percent of my CPU resources even though I online shopping.
hadn’t activated it, and I had to restart my PC. Overall, the basic look of Comodo
Comodo’s main application is really just a Internet Security Pro is clean and easy to
bigger version of the widget. It has the same understand. If it’s too basic, however, there’s
four main options: scan, unblock applications, also an advanced view that provides a lot
update, and secure shopping. more at-a-glance data. It includes firewall
Scan opens a second window where you details, a list of enabled services, blocked
can choose carry out a full scan, quick scan, a applications or network intrusions, and other
“rating scan” for commonly infected areas, or information. Personally, I prefer the advanced
a customized scan. Unblock Applications is view since it behaves like a security
where you can re-enable any desktop dashboard for your system. It also has a nice
programs that Comodo may have prevented drag-and-drop area to scan files for viruses.
from running. Update lets you manually
check for new virus definitions. Secure Performance
Shopping, meanwhile, is a virtualized, Comodo has a reputation for being
sandboxed desktop environment where you something of a resource hog. That perception
can only access Windows File Explorer and a is less deserved these days, but we still found
select number of installed browsers that some truth to it.

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running, that same file conversion took one


hour, forty-one minutes, and 31 seconds.
That 34.4 percent increase in time is the
worst Handbrake result of the antivirus
suites we’ve tested thus far.
As for virus detection, A-V Test rated
Comodo’s Internet Security Premium quite
high, with 100 percent detection against
real-world threats like malware attacks and
web and email threats. Virus detection,
meanwhile, was equally high at 99.9 percent.
Comodo Internet Security Pro 10’s Wi-Fi A-V Comparatives did not test Comodo’s
connection assistant. performance—the organization only tests
security suites that are submitted to it by the
During our first performance test, which vendor—nor did SE Labs.
checks how an antivirus program affects
system resources during lighter tasks, Conclusion
Comodo held its own against the Comodo’s antivirus and malware detection is
competition. When we fired up PCMark 8’s fine, but it has some of the lowest-scoring
Work Conventional benchmark, the synthetic benchmark performance results we’ve seen
simulation of word processing, spreadsheet so far. However, this program does have a
editing, web browsing, and video chat very nice price of $40 per year for three
churned out a score of 2507. After starting an devices. If you don’t mind the slip in
antivirus scan, the second score for PCM8 performance for resource-intensive
was 2535—ever so slightly within Comodo’s operations, then Comodo is a fine choice. For
favor, though not significant because the those with mid-range PCs, however, you’d do
number falls within normal margin of error. well to look elsewhere.
However, when we moved on to our more
strenuous Handbrake benchmark, Comodo NORTON SECURITY
caused a notable drop in performance. On PREMIUM
our test PC, Handbrake v0.9.9 typically takes Price: $55
an hour, fifteen minutes, and thirty seconds to
transcode a 3.8GB MKV file to MP4 using the Norton is one of the oldest names in PC
Android Tablet preset. With Comodo security—and despite some ups and downs,

68 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


it’s still one of the best. Currently, Symantec browser-based password manager once
offers several versions of its long-lived you’re up and running.
antivirus software: The current flagship One of Norton’s standout aspects is its
product is Norton Security Premium (go. unobtrusiveness. Outside of a small cluster
pcworld.com/nosp), which costs $110 per of  notifications when you first install it, the
year. Following that are Norton Deluxe (go. program doesn’t inundate you with constant
pcworld.com/node) ($90/year), Norton pop-ups. The interface is also very clean and
Security Standard (go.pcworld.com/noss) easy to use, though the settings for each
($70/year), and Norton Antivirus Basic (go. category aren’t immediately obvious. (You’ll
pcworld.com/noab) ($50/year). have to click on a downward-facing arrow
This review covers the top dog among the on the far right side of the screen.)
set, Norton Security Premium. Downloading Norton Premium’s dashboard is divided
and installing it is simple enough, and the into four main categories: Security, Identity,
program doesn’t try to add a lot to your Backup, and Performance. There’s also a fifth
system outside of the program itself. It does, section that houses account management,
however, encourage you to enable its own access to extra features, and ads for more

Norton Security’s interface is clean and organized.

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Norton services and


apps. Like many antivirus
programs, Norton
Security uses a color-
coded scheme where
green means you’re
protected, yellow means
caution, and red means
you’re not protected.
The Security section
is the most important
section for PC users, as it
houses the settings for
regular PC scans. By Norton’s security scans settings.
default Norton will do a
quick scan, but there are also options for full encrypted incremental backups. When you
and customized scans. There’s also a feature activate the feature, Norton monitors your
called Power Eraser that is supposed to documents, pictures, contacts, and other
eliminate “difficult-to-detect threats.” items by default. It will not, however, backup
The Identity section, meanwhile is about your videos by default or any email databases
protecting you. You’ll find the anti-phishing you may have.
settings here, as well as Norton’s “Identity Performance, meanwhile, is the least
Safe,” which is the desktop version of the useful of the categories, since its features are
built-in password manager. Like other mostly redundant. You’ll find options like a
services, the safe can house your username, file cleanup utility, disk defragmenter, and a
passwords, addresses, credit card tool for restricting startup programs—all tools
information, and secure notes. Norton does that come built into Windows. If you want to
have a nice tags feature to help you better stop programs from starting up at boot, for
organize your data, which you won’t always example, the Task Manager in Windows 8.1
find in all password managers. will work just fine. The Backup section does
Backup is where Norton lets you setup have a graph that details the current
and manage the 25GB of free cloud storage processor usage of Norton and Windows,
that comes with the suite. You can use it to as well as recent security events and alerts
upload files or folders to Norton’s servers via from Norton.

70 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


Performance Those are all great results. The only
Norton Premium 22.9 received high marks concerning aspect would perhaps be the
from both A-V Test and A-V Comparatives for offline detection rate, though you could
malware detection. In June, A-V Test threw ameliorate it with other tools such as
10,252 samples of malware at Norton and the Windows Defender periodic scanning or
software came back with a 99.9 percent Malwarebytes. (Or just never go
detection rate. A-V Test also put Norton up offline—kidding!)
against 202 samples of zero-day, web, and Norton did not have an appreciable drain
email threats for which Norton came back on resources. When we ran PCMark 8’s Work
with a 100 percent rating. Conventional benchmark, which simulates
A-V Comparatives got a similar result of basic tasks like spreadsheet editing, web
99.8 percent in March using nearly 38,000 browsing, and video chat, our test PC scored
samples. However, that was with an active 2538 without Norton installed. When we
Internet connection: Offline, that detection installed Norton Security Premium, started a
rate fell to 86.8 percent. SE Labs, meanwhile, full scan, and then ran PCMark 8 again, the
gave Norton a AAA rating. second score was 2526. That’s a drop of less

Norton’s built-in report card feature.

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than one percent and within the PCMark 8 appeared under various names, but currently
benchmark’s typical margin of error. it’s known as Windows Defender Security
We also didn’t see any real difference in Center (go.pcworld.com/wdsc) (WDSC).
performance during our Handbrake test, What started out as a basic antivirus detection
which puts far more stress on a system. It took feature has slowly grown into something that
our test PC one hour, fifteen minutes, and 30 resembles a security suite. It doesn’t have
seconds to transcode a 3.8GB MKV file. With anything close to the features you’d see in a
Norton installed, the time was twenty-two third-party suite, but it does a fair job at
seconds faster at 1:15:08. antivirus and malware scanning.
Briefly, however, WDSC has five sections:
Conclusion Virus & threat protection, Device performance
Norton is extremely user friendly and well & health, Firewall & network protection, App
organized, and it doesn’t interfere too much & browser control, and Family options.
with users’ day-to-day activities. That last part The crucial section is Virus & threat
is key since security programs work best protection. This is where you can manually
when they stay out of your way. The software start a full scan, enable real-time protection,
also has some handy extras, like the online or carry out an offline scan for removing
backup and password manager that make it particularly nasty bits of malware.
an all-in-one security suite. Device performance & health, meanwhile,
You certainly have to pay for the privilege, just gives your PC a general health report card
however. Symantec will give you a
really nice discount for your first
year—45 percent off—but don’t
be fooled, as you’ll ultimately be
paying $110 for the privilege of
running Norton Security Premium.

WINDOWS
DEFENDER
Price: Free

In 2006, Microsoft added built-in


security software to Windows for
the first time. Since then, it’s Windows Defender’s primary dashboard.

72 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


including Windows
Update status, driver
status, and so on. It
does not report on any
potential security
weaknesses, short of
lagging updates.
Firewall & network
protection is fairly
self-explanatory, while
App & browser
control houses all of
your PC’s SmartScreen
settings for Edge,
downloads, and the
Windows Store. Windows Defender’s device performance and health report.
You can dive a little
deeper into WDSC beyond this, but not by samples. SE Labs, for its part, gave Defender a
much. If I had to guess, Microsoft plans to AA overall rating in the period of April
expand its functionality over time, and right through June. (The highest that an antivirus
now we’re just seeing the basic scaffolding can score with SE Labs is a AAA rating.)
being built. That’s just speculation, however. During its testing, Defender failed to protect
against six targeted attacks and four web-
Performance based attacks.
Windows Defender stacks up alright in anti- As for the drain on your PC’s resources,
virus detection. A-V Test gave Defender a 99 that’s a little harder to measure than with
percent detection rate for real-world testing third-party software. WDSC is built right into
against 0-day, web, and email threats. For the operating system and starts up
run-of-the-mill malware, meanwhile, Defender automatically. To counteract that, we turned
scored very highly against more than 10,000 off the entirety of Windows Defender (both
samples at 99.7 percent detection. the scanning tool and the overall program)
A-V Comparatives found a similarly high using the registry. Then we fired up our first
performance level for real-world protection, benchmark: PCMark 8’s Work Conventional
with about 9 false positives out of 329 test benchmark, which simulates everyday tasks

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 73


REVIEWS BEST ANTIVIRUS SOFT WARE

like video chatting, web browsing, and word average user, however, should look for a more
processing, and recorded the score. feature-rich third-party solution.
Afterward, we switched WDSC back on and
started a full system scan before running BEST OVERALL ANTIVIRUS
PCMark 8 again. SUITE: NORTON SECURITY
The results fell in line with the best third- PREMIUM
party options: Windows Defender had no real Norton Security Premium is an old name in
effect on performance. Running Windows 10 security, but it has an easy-to-use interface,
with Defender off garnered a PCMark score of highly-rated protection, and a number of
2498. Once it was back on, the score went helpful extra features. It’s on the higher end
up to 2516—right within the margin of error of the price spectrum at $110 per year (your
for PCMark 8 results. first year is discounted to $55), but you can
That story also held true in our install it on up to 10 devices.
Handbrake performance benchmark, which
puts far more strain on system resources. BEST BUDGET ANTIVIRUS
With Windows Defender turned off, we were SUITE: AVG INTERNET
able to transcode a 3.8GB MKV file on the SECURITY
Android Tablet preset in one hour, 14 AVG Internet Security does an excellent job of
minutes, and 21 seconds. With Windows protecting your PC, but it’s interface could be
Defender turned on, it took one hour, 15 a lot better. Nevertheless, with unlimited
minutes, and 30 seconds. That difference is installs for $70 per year, it’s hard to beat this
so small it’s insignificant. popular security solution.

Conclusion
Windows Defender is a fine
basic security solution. For
advanced users who are
hyper-aware about all the
various threats out there, this
free option might be enough if
they also periodically scan their
systems with something like the
free version of Malwarebytes
(go.pcworld.com/mlwb). The

74 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Ti:
The best 1440p graphics card
in weird graphics card times
We review the EVGA GTX 1070 Ti SC Black Edition and Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1070 Ti
Founders Edition vs. Radeon Vega. BY BRAD CHACOS

T
his GeForce GTX 1070 Ti review launch of the GeForce GTX 1070 (go.
probably exists only because pcworld.com/gt70) and GTX 1080 (go.
AMD’s Radeon Vega 56 exists. pcworld.com/gt80) in May, 2016. The more
Nvidia’s GTX-10 series powerful card received price cuts since
debuted nearly a year and a half ago with the then—to $500, theoretically (go.pcworld.

IMAGE: BRAD CHACOS DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 75


REVIEWS NVIDIA GEFORCE GT X 1070 TI

com/theo)—but we never heard a whisper 2,432 CUDA cores active. By comparison,


about a GeForce GTX 1070 Ti designed to the base GTX 1070 packs 15 SMs and just
slot between the two. Until AMD’s Radeon RX 1,920 CUDA cores.
Vega graphics cards (go.pcworld.com/rxvg) The GTX 1070 Ti’s clock speeds swipe
launched. aspects from both sides. Nvidia’s new
The disappointing Vega 64 ran hot and graphics card ships with a 1,607MHz base
loud while failing to best the GTX 1080. But clock and 1,683MHz boost clock. By
the (theoretically (go.pcworld.com/rv56)) comparison, the GTX 1070 clocks at
$400 Radeon Vega 56 proved much more 1,506/1,683MHz, and the GTX 1080 hums
appealing—and its performance outpunches along at 1,607/1,733MHz—at least on paper.
the GTX 1070 in many games. Surprise! Two In reality, Nvidia’s GPU Boost 3 technology
months later the $450 GeForce GTX 1070 Ti runs these cards as fast as they’ll go while
appears, at a price just below what the $470
Vega 56 is actually selling for on the street.
But the quest to beat AMD puts the new The only truly surprising
hardware uncomfortably close to the GTX technical feature of the GeForce
1080—and Nvidia surprisingly restricted the GTX 1070 Ti is how little Nvidia
card’s clock speeds to keep the GTX 1070 Ti pared down its year-and-a-half-
from cannibalizing its bigger sibling. Well, old “GP104” GPU compared to
kind of. Find out all in our Nvidia GeForce the GTX 1080.
GTX 1070 Ti Founders Edition ($450 on
Nvidia (go.pcworld.com/70fe)) and EVGA staying within optimal heat and power limits,
GTX 1070 Ti SC Black Edition ($470 on especially in custom cards with powerful
Amazon (go.pcworld.com/70be)) review. cooling solutions. But there’s an interesting
twist to custom GTX 1070 Ti cards, which
SPECS AND FEATURES we’ll get into when we look at EVGA’s GTX
The only truly surprising technical feature of 1070 Ti Black Edition in just a bit.
the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti is how little Nvidia Nvidia built the GTX 1070 Ti Founders
pared down its year-and-a-half-old “GP104” Edition to overclock well, despite some
GPU compared to the GTX 1080. The full (slightly) misguided early rumors that
version of GP104 inside the GTX 1080 suggested clock speeds would be locked
consists of 20 streaming multiprocessors down. It’s equipped with the same vapor
(SMs) with 2,560 CUDA cores, while the GTX chamber cooler and five-phase dual-FET
1070 Ti’s chip has 19 SMs and a whopping power design as the GTX 1080 has, both of

76 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


which aren’t found in the GTX 1070 vanilla.
Graphics processing 4
clusters But the GTX 1070 Ti’s memory subsystem
mirrors the baseline GTX 1070’s, ditching the
Streaming multi- 19
processors GTX 1080’s speedy GDDR5X memory for
CUDA cores 242
standard GDDR5 VRAM over a 256-bit bus.
(single precision) Like the vanilla version, the GTX 1070 Ti offers
Texture units 152 256GBps of overall memory bandwidth,
versus the GTX 1080’s 320GBps.
ROP units 64
The Founders Edition card draws its 180W
Base clock 1607MHz TDP through a single 8-pin power connector,
Boost clock 1683MHz and sports three DisplayPorts, an HDMI 2.0b
port, and a dual-link DVI connection. The GTX
Memory clock 4006MHz
1070 Ti also supports Nvidia’s GeForce
Memory data rate 8Gb/s Experience software, including GFE’s stellar
L2 cache size 2048K Ansel and ShadowPlay Highlights tools (go.
pcworld.com/ansh)—features that actively
Total video memory 8192MB GDDR5
makes your gaming experience more fun.
Memory interface 256-bit Nvidia’s aiming to eradicate the Radeon
Total memory 256GB/s Vega 56’s lead in yet another way. While
bandwidth customized RX Vega graphics cards have yet
Texture rate (bilinear) 244.3GigaTexels/s to appear, months after AMD’s GPU released,
a full range of custom GTX 1070 Ti cards will
Fabrication process 16nm
be available at launch.
Transistor count 7.2 billion We’re also reviewing the EVGA GTX 1070
Connectors 3x DisplayPort, 1x Ti SC Black Edition, which costs $20 more
HDMI, 1x Dual-Link DVI
than Nvidia’s Founders Edition. The GTX
Form factor Dual slot 1070 Ti SC Black Edition carries over the
design from EVGA’s other Black Edition
Power connectors One 8-pin
cards. In addition to a fancy LED logo and a
Recommended 500 Watts
power supply 5+1 power phase configuration that noses
out the Founders Edition’s setup, it sports
Thermal design 180 Watts
power the same ACX 3.0 cooler that impressed us
so much on the EVGA GTX 1080 FTW
Thermal threshold 94˚ C
(go.pcworld.com/ft80).

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 77


REVIEWS NVIDIA GEFORCE GT X 1070 TI

EVGA’s custom ACX 3.0 cooling solution.

Here’s how we described ACX 3.0 in Ti lineup—including the beefy, high-end $500
that review: FTW2 model (go.pcworld.com/ftw2)—lists
the exact same clock speeds. And if you look
“The new generation of EVGA’s vaunted at the clock speeds on custom GTX 1070 Ti
custom-cooling solution features a pair of graphics cards from other manufacturers, they
massive 100mm fans that shut off in low all do too. What gives?
power scenarios and contain double ball- Simple: Nvidia isn’t allowing customized
bearings that help them last up to four times GTX 1070 Ti cards to be overclocked out of
longer than competing cards, EVGA claims. the box—presumably to keep overclocked
Those sit over a full-sized set of heat sink fans, versions of this step-down card from
with the GPU itself covered by a large copper challenging the top-end GTX 1080. Here’s
plate with six heat pipes of various sizes what Nvidia’s Bryan Del Rizzo said when I
snaking out of it.” asked about it.

You’ll see how effective ACX 3.0 performs “GeForce GTX 1070 Ti lives in the small
later in our review. But perhaps the most price band between the GTX 1070 and GTX
interesting part of the EVGA GTX 1070 Ti SC 1080. Given the number of products in this
Black Edition’s spec sheet is its clock speed category we are aiming to simplify the
rating: 1,607MHz base/1,683MHz boost stack-up, and let gamers get the extra
“plus.” In fact, every card in EVGA’s GTX 1070 performance through manual overclocking.”

78 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


Massive, massive bummer. But as he says, The packaging for the EVGA GTX 1070 Ti
manual overclocking is still allowed, and SC Black Edition (and its other GTX 1070 Ti
because of that the restriction isn’t stopping models) includes a slip of paper with a QR
Nvidia’s hardware partners from developing code emblazoned on it, directing you to the
workarounds to drive their graphics cards to company’s Precision XOC software. You’ll
faster speeds. have to register with your name and email
address to use the software, and the auto-
HOW TO USE EVGA’S GTX overclocking process requires you to input
1070 TI AUTO- your card’s serial number, in case Q.A. help
OVERCLOCKING TOOL winds up being required. You can find the
EVGA’s Precision XOC software is typically serial number on a sticker on the back of the
used by enthusiasts to overclock their EVGA GTX 1070 Ti SC Black Edition as well
GeForce graphics cards manually. But EVGA as on the card’s box.
developed a new version of its Precision XOC Precision XOC will automatically detect
(go.pcworld.com/px0c) overclocking and your GTX 1070 Ti the first time it launches and
monitoring software with “an exclusive feature offer to “Run EVGA Precision XOC scanner” on
for the GTX 1070 Ti”: an auto-overclocking it—that’s the auto-overclocking tool. Agree and
tool that scans your card and automatically you’ll be presented with three options. The
applies an “optimal overclock” with no quick scan cycles through preset overclocking
technical know-how needed on your end. ranges appropriate to your card, and takes 15
to 20 minutes. A full scan
thoroughly tests your
hardware to create a custom
overclock more precisely
tuned to your particular
graphics card, but it can take
up to an hour. Finally, as
always, you can manually
overclock the EVGA GTX
1070 Ti SC Black Edition.
I ran the quick scan on
my model, as I’m guessing
The Precision XOC tool lets EVGA work around the GTX 1070 Ti’s clock that’s what most people will
speed lockdown, and the packaging materials make sure you know it. do—and it was dead simple.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 79


REVIEWS NVIDIA GEFORCE GT X 1070 TI

Using Precision XOC’s auto-overclocking tool for the EVGA GTX 1070 Ti SC Black Edition is easy.

The EVGA Precision XOC Scanner ran for 17 to the SC Black Edition’s 217W. Cooling and
minutes, and then applied a solid +101MHz available power can play a major difference
overclock to the card. In practice, that in overclocking.
resulted in clock speeds of 1,924MHz to If you accidentally close the Precision XOC
1,949MHz running The Division at 4K Scanner or want to run the auto-overclocking
resolution, and up to 1,974MHz at 1440p. tool again, you can do so by clicking the
You could no doubt push performance yellow arrow icons in the software’s interface
higher by manually tinkering with the card’s until you’re on the Basic OC Scanner page,
power target, overclock, and memory then clicking Run. It’ll restart the process.
speeds, but a 101MHz boost is respectable Whew, that was a long diversion—but a
indeed, and we used EVGA’s configured necessary one if you buy a custom GTX 1070
overclock to test the GTX 1070 Ti SC Black Ti. Let’s dig into how this hardware handles!
Edition in our performance benchmarks. A
card like the EVGA GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 ($500 OUR TEST SYSTEM
on Amazon (go.pcworld.com/70ti)) could We tested the GTX 1070 Ti and EVGA’s GTX
presumably hit even higher marks, as it 1070 Ti Black Edition on PCWorld’s dedicated
includes EVGA’s revolutionary iCX cooling graphics card benchmark system (go.
technology (go.pcworld.com/icxt) and a pcworld.com/dedi). Our testbed’s loaded
235-watt maximum power draw, compared with high-end components to avoid

80 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


bottlenecks in other parts of the system and pcworld.com/gt80), we’re testing those as
show unfettered graphics performance. well. All of the cards are reference models
except the EVGA GTX 1070 Ti SC Black
• Intel’s Core i7-5960X with a Corsair Hydro Edition (obviously), which we tested in both
Series H100i closed-loop water cooler its out-of-the-box configuration as well as with
($110 on Amazon (go.pcworld.com/596x)). Precision XOC’s new one-button overclock
• An Asus X99 Deluxe motherboard. feature. We discussed the details of our
• 16GB Corsair’s Vengeance LPX DDR4 overclock in the previous section.
memory ($195 on Amazon (go.pcworld. Each game is tested using its in-game
com/cove)). benchmark at the mentioned graphics
• EVGA Supernova 1000 G3 power supply presets, with VSync, frame rate caps, and all
($190 on Amazon (go.pcworld. GPU vendor-specific technologies—like AMD
com/10g3)). TressFX, Nvidia GameWorks options, and
• A 500GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD, FreeSync/G-Sync—disabled. Given the
PCWorld’s pick for the best SSD (go. capabilities of these particular cards, we’re
pcworld.com/bssd ($150 on Amazon) (go. testing at 1440p and 4K resolutions alone.
pcworld.com/sa85). They’d all scream at 1080p. Every card was
• Corsair Crystal Series 570X case, tested using the most current drivers
deemed Full Nerd’s favorite case of 2016 available from AMD and Nvidia.
(go.pcworld.com/favc) ($180 on Amazon
(go.pcworld.com/cocr)). GEFORCE GTX 1070 TI
• Windows 10 Pro (go.pcworld.com/wi10) BENCHMARKS
($190 on Amazon (go.pcworld.com/c570)). The Division
The Division ($50 on Amazon (go.pcworld.
We’re comparing the GTX 1070 cards com/divi)), a gorgeous third-person shooter/
against AMD’s Vega duo (go.pcworld.com/ RPG that mixes elements of Destiny and Gears
rxvg), the $399 Radeon RX Vega 56 and of War, kicks things off with Ubisoft’s
$499 air-cooled RX Vega 64. Both were Snowdrop engine. We test the game in
benchmarked using the Balanced power DirectX 11 mode.
profile on the stock BIOS. Of course, because The GTX 1070 Ti Founders Edition
the GTX 1070 Ti was designed to slot essentially draws even with the Radeon Vega
between the (theoretically (go.pcworld.com/ 56 here, and splits the performance
theo)) $350 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 (go. difference between the GTX 1070 and GTX
pcworld.com/gt70) and $500 GTX 1080 (go. 1080. Out of the box, the EVGA GTX 1070 Ti

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 81


REVIEWS NVIDIA GEFORCE GT X 1070 TI

SC Black Edition does the same,


but with Precision XOC’s auto- The Division
overclock applied, it squeezes out Ultra: blue = 4K, green = 1440p (average fps)
a 4.5-percent frame rate increase Nvidia GTX 1070 60.3
at 1440p resolution. (Reference)
34.4

Radeon RX Vega 56 68.4


39.6
Ghost Recon: Wildlands
70
Next up: Ghost Recon: Wildlands Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti
(Reference) 39.7
($60 on Amazon (go.pcworld. 70.9
EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC
com/ghre)), a stunningly beautiful Black Edition 40.1

and notoriously punishing game EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC 73.2


Black Edition OC 40.1
based on Ubisoft’s Anvil engine.
Nvidia GTX 1080 75.1
Not even the GTX 1080 Ti can put (Reference) 44.9
in a decent showing at Ultra 79.1
Radeon RX Vega 64
graphics settings at 4K, so we test 45.6

at Very High, which “is targeted to LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E

high-end hardware.” It’s a game


that includes some Nvidia
GameWorks features, but again,
we test with those disabled.
Ghost Recon: Wildlands
Very High: blue = 4K, green = 1440p (average fps)
This strenuous game
challenges all of these cards at 4K Nvidia GTX 1070 57.35
(Reference)
33.47
resolution. While the Radeon Vega
Radeon RX Vega 56 58.47
56 barely surpassed the original 34.89
GTX 1070 in performance, the GTX 63.41
Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti
1070 Ti pushes straight past it, (Reference) 36.86

though once again the difference EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC 64.03


Black Edition 37.27
is less noticeable at 4K resolution.
EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC 65.14
Once again, Nvidia’s GTX 1070 Ti Black Edition OC 38.18
Founders Edition falls in between Nvidia GTX 1080 68.23
its cousins. EVGA’s custom card (Reference) 40.75

doesn’t provide much uplift in this Radeon RX Vega 64 65.88


40.6
game even with the auto-applied
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E

overclock, but this game’s a beast.

82 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Now it’s time for another
High: blue = 4K, green = 1440p (average fps) graphically punishing game, but
Nvidia GTX 1070 55.5
this one favors AMD hardware.
(Reference)
28.4 Deus Ex: Mankind Divided ($15 on
Radeon RX Vega 56 66.5 Amazon (go.pcworld.com/deus))
34
replaces Hitman in our test suite
62.7
Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti
(Reference) 32.2
because its Dawn engine is based
63.4 upon the Glacier Engine at
EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC
Black Edition 32.5 Hitman’s heart. We dropped all the
EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC 64.3 way down to the High graphics
Black Edition OC 33.2
preset for this one and still
Nvidia GTX 1080 67.7
(Reference) 35.1
struggled at 4K. We tested in
75.5 DirectX 12 as that mode lifts all
Radeon RX Vega 64
39.6 performance boats regardless
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
of  which brand’s GPU sits at
the heart of your graphics card.
Like I said: Deus Ex heavily
favors AMD hardware, to the
Rise of the Tomb Raider extent that the GTX 1080 barely
1440p: blue = very high, green = high (average fps)
stays ahead of even the Radeon
Nvidia GTX 1070 89.46 Vega 56 at 1440p. That said, the
(Reference)
82.96
GTX 1070 Ti puts up admirable
Radeon RX Vega 56 89.94
81.83
numbers versus its AMD rival,
103.44 which flat-out pummels the
Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti
(Reference) 94.94 vanilla GTX 1070.
EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC 103.83
Black Edition 96.63
Rise of the Tomb Raider
EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC 106.42
Black Edition OC 98.38 Rise of the Tomb Raider (go.
Nvidia GTX 1080 112.89 pcworld.com/rise) ($60 on
(Reference) 104.63 Amazon (go.pcworld.com/tomb))
Radeon RX Vega 64 102.9 tends to perform better on
93.03
GeForce cards, on the other hand.
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E

It’s utterly gorgeous and one of the

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 83


REVIEWS NVIDIA GEFORCE GT X 1070 TI

first games to receive specific


optimizations for AMD’s new Rise of the Tomb Raider
Ryzen processors (go.pcworld. 4K: blue = very high, green = high (average fps)
com/rzen) (not that it matters in Nvidia GTX 1070 48.47
this comparison, as we’re using an (Reference)
44.1
Intel processor). Radeon RX Vega 56 50.11
45.87
Like I said: Rise of the Tomb
54.81
Raider heavily favors Nvidia Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti
(Reference) 50.76
hardware. While the Radeon Vega 55.64
EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC
56 managed to beat the baseline Black Edition 51.32

GTX 1070 by the barest of margins, EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC 56.6


Black Edition OC 52.33
the GTX 1070 Ti comes close to
Nvidia GTX 1080 61.05
Vega 64 levels of performance at (Reference) 56.05
4K—especially EVGA’s 57.95
Radeon RX Vega 64
overclocked-boosted Black 52.86

Edition. And it outright bests the LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E

flagship Vega 64 at 1440p.

Far Cry Primal


Far Cry Primal (go.pcworld.com/
Far Cry Primal
1440p: blue = ultra, green = high (average fps)
facr) ($55 on Amazon (go.
pcworld.com/prml)) is yet another Nvidia GTX 1070 76
(Reference)
63
Ubisoft game, but it’s powered by
Radeon RX Vega 56 82
the latest version of the long- 68
running and well-respected Dunia 84
Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti
engine. We benchmark the game (Reference) 70

with the optional Ultra HD texture EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC 84


Black Edition 71
pack enabled for high-end
EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC 85
cards like these. Black Edition OC 72
The GTX 1070 Ti manages to Nvidia GTX 1080 86
match or slightly beat the Radeon (Reference) 74

Vega 56 depending on the Radeon RX Vega 64 90


77
resolution and settings you’re
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E

using, and the OC’d EVGA GTX

84 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


1070 Ti Black Edition manages
Far Cry Primal to nudge that. We’re talking
4K: blue = ultra, green = high (average fps) imperceptible zero to 4-fps
Nvidia GTX 1070 40
differences from worst to
(Reference)
34 best, though.
Radeon RX Vega 56 44
38
Ashes of the Singularity
44
Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti
(Reference) 38
Ashes of the Singularity ($40 on
44 Steam (go.pcworld.com/ashs)),
EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC
Black Edition 39 running on Oxide’s custom Nitrous
EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC 45 engine, was an early standard-
Black Edition OC 39
bearer for DirectX 12. Many
Nvidia GTX 1080 47
(Reference) 41
months later it’s still the premier
51 game for seeing what next-gen
Radeon RX Vega 64
44 graphics technologies have to
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
offer. Nvidia drivers have greatly
improved GeForce performance in
Ashes over the past several
months. We test the game using
Ashes of the Singularity the High graphics setting, as the
1440p/high: blue = DX11, green = DX12 (average fps)
wildly strenuous Crazy and
Nvidia GTX 1070 75.8 Extreme presets aren’t reflective of
(Reference)
63.9
real-world usage scenarios.
Radeon RX Vega 56 78.8
50.8
This game traditionally favored
89.3 Radeon hardware, but after a slew
Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti
(Reference) 73.4 of DirectX 12 driver improvements
EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC 88.8 by Nvidia, the GTX 1070 Ti trounces
Black Edition 72.6
the Vega 56 and matches Vega 64
EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC 89.6
Black Edition OC 70.9 in performance. The difference is
Nvidia GTX 1080 93.5 even more pronounced if you don’t
(Reference) 71.3 have Windows 10 and thus can’t
Radeon RX Vega 64 89.5 utilize DX12. In DirectX 11, the
51.9
GTX 1070 Ti beats Vega 56 by
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E

nearly 20 fps. Hot damn.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 85


REVIEWS NVIDIA GEFORCE GT X 1070 TI

POWER, HEAT,
NOISE, CLOCK Ashes of the Singularity
SPEEDS 4K/high: Blue = DX11 Green = DX12 (average fps)
Power Nvidia GTX 1070 63.8
We test power under load by (Reference)
56.9
plugging the entire system into a Radeon RX Vega 56 65.7
47.8
Watts Up meter, running the
71.9
intensive Division benchmark at 4K Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti
(Reference) 64.1
resolution, and noting the peak 73.1
EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC
power draw. Idle power is Black Edition 66.1

measured after sitting on the EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC 73.5


Black Edition OC 63.5
Windows desktop for three
Nvidia GTX 1080 75.9
minutes with no extra programs or (Reference) 64.6
processes running. 71.9
Radeon RX Vega 64
The Vega 64 still stands out as a 50.8

ridiculous power hog, but the LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E

differences—or lack thereof—


between the GTX 1070 Ti and
Radeon Vega 56 are more
interesting. Because the GTX 1070
Whole system power draw
Blue = idle, Green = load (Watts)
Ti largely matches the GTX 1080’s
GPU layout and uses GDDR5 Nvidia GTX 1070 203
(Reference)
65.9
memory instead of power-efficient
Radeon RX Vega 56 264
GDDR5X, it draws a lot more power 61.9
than the vanilla GTX 1070 does. In 265
Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti
fact, it ties the Vega 56 on that front. (Reference) 66.2

EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC 263


Black Edition 68.1
Heat and noise
EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC 268
We test heat during the same Black Edition OC 68.1
intensive Division benchmark at a Nvidia GTX 1080 241
strenuous 4K resolution, by running (Reference) 66.4

SpeedFan in the background and Radeon RX Vega 64 347


60.3
noting the maximum GPU
S H O R T E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E

temperature once the run is over.

86 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


Again, the GTX 1070 Ti Founders Edition GEFORCE GTX 1070 TI VS
and Vega 56 are in a dead heat. Both cards RADEON VEGA 56
use blower-style coolers, but despite the How does the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti compare
equality in temperature, Nvidia’s to the Radeon Vega 56? The answer’s
implementation is vastly superior to AMD’s. complicated, and made more so by
The ghastly Vega coolers are the loudest I’ve cryptocurrency miners driving up prices in this
heard since the old Radeon 290X days. market segment.
Seriously, it’s loud enough to distract you Nvidia met its goal. The GeForce GTX
unless you’re wearing noise-proof 1070 Ti Founders Edition ($450 on Nvidia
headphones, and that’s rare in modern GPUs. (go.pcworld.com/70fe)) matches or beats
But the EVGA GTX 1070 Ti SC Black the Radeon Vega 56 in every game we tested
Edition’s superb ACX 3.0 cooling solution except Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, which
stands heads-and-shoulders above the skews heavily towards AMD hardware. And it
reference cards. It not only runs far, far chillier, bests the AMD card heavily in Rise of the
it manages to run much quieter than the Tomb Raider and Ashes of the Singularity. But
others while doing so. Two fans are better power and heat are a wash and the
than one, it seems. performance victories are minimal in most
situations we’ve tested. Given that
AMD’s glorious, tear- and stutter-
Max GPU temp under load killing FreeSync variable refresh
(degrees Celsius)
rate monitors (go.pcworld.com/
Nvidia GTX 1070
(Reference) 74 rate) are much more affordable
than Nvidia’s comparable G-Sync
Radeon RX Vega 56 76 displays, and the GTX 1070 Ti starts
Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti
at $50 more than the Radeon RX
78
(Reference)
Vega 56’s $400 suggested
EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC
Black Edition
66 pricing, you can make an argument
for these cards being of roughly
EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC 66
Black Edition OC equal value.
Nvidia GTX 1080 At least in theory.
82
(Reference)
In reality, the Radeon Vega 56
Radeon RX Vega 64 82 has barely come close to
approaching its suggested pricing
S H O R T E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E

since five minutes after the card

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 87


REVIEWS NVIDIA GEFORCE GT X 1070 TI

launched in August. Sure, there’s a Sapphire Radeon Vega reference cooler sounds like a
Vega 56 for $400 at Microcenter (go. damned hurricane. That alone makes it
pcworld.com/ve56) right now, but that’s impossible to recommend over EVGA’s (in
in-store pickup only and on “sale” from $530. reality) identically priced GTX 1070 Ti, which
As I’m writing this on November 1, there’s a delivers more performance while staying cool
single XFX Vega 56 available for $400 on and running awfully quiet.
Amazon (go.pcworld.com/xfxv) and $420 on If Radeon Vega 56 ever hits its suggested
Newegg (go.pcworld.com/xfxr), but all price and custom Vega cards become
others cost more than $500... (go.pcworld. available for $450 or less, the FreeSync
com/alt5) and it just turned up at those prices variable may tip the scales back in AMD’s
today. I’ve been tracking Vega 56 prices on favor. But that’s not the way of the world
Newegg since the GTX 1070 Ti’s today.
announcement last week, and most sold for
$470—$20 more than Nvidia’s Founders SHOULD I BUY THE
Edition card, and the same price as the GEFORCE GTX 1070 TI?
superior EVGA GTX 1070 Ti SC Black Edition. So should you buy the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti?
The GTX 1070 Ti probably wouldn’t exist if Even though we recommend it over the
Vega 56 didn’t exist, but it’s cards like the Radeon RX Vega 56, it’s still a complicated
EVGA GTX 1070 Ti SC Black Edition that make question influenced by the cryptocurrency
Vega 56 moot in today’s bizarre market. The problem, as miners drive up prices. Why do
world is still waiting for custom cards month men decide?
after Vega’s launch. In the meantime, the If you look at PCWorld’s guide to the best

88 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


graphics cards (go.pcworld.com/grca)—or suggested pricing, and custom Vega cards
the benchmarks in this very article—you’ll see were on store shelves—the GTX 1070 Ti
that the vanilla $380 GTX 1070 already excels would be a weird and largely irrelevant
for 60-fps gaming at 2560x1440 resolution. release, hampered by the crap Nvidia’s
The GTX 1080, on the other hand, is best for pulling with the clock speeds of custom
high refresh-rate 1440p gaming. It can handle cards. But here in the real world of today’s
entry-level 4K gaming if you turn down some graphics card market, it’s the best 1440p
graphics settings, but true single-card 4K/60 graphics card option around. Unless
gaming requires the beastly $700 GTX 1080 cryptocurrency miners drive up its prices
Ti (go.pcworld.com/80ti). too,of course.
But most full-sized versions of the GTX The slick-looking EVGA GTX 1070 Ti SC
1070 are selling for $430 or more on Newegg Black Edition ($470 on Amazon (go.pcworld.
(go.pcworld.com/full) right now. (Damned com/70be)) easily justifies its modest $20
miners!) The significant performance increase upcharge thanks to its excellent ACX 3.0
offered by the GTX 1070 Ti is well worth the cooler and the one-touch ease with which
$20 to $30 extra. But saving up even more Precision XOC negates Nvidia’s ugly, artificial
pennies for the $500-plus GTX 1080 makes clock speed lockdown in customized
less sense. The GTX 1070 Ti is plenty fast for graphics cards. But be sure to download that
1440p gaming, and the biggest performance overclocking software to get the most out of
differences between the GTX 1070 Ti and your hardware.
GTX 1080 in our 4K tests
are only about 5 fps. If
you’re already turning
down graphics settings to
play games at 4K with the
GTX 1080, you could
save $50 and just turn
anti-aliasing options
down another notch on
the GTX 1070 Ti instead.
In an ideal world—
where the GTX 1070,
GTX 1080, and Radeon
RX Vega 56 all sold for The EVGA GTX 1070 Ti SC Black Edition uses a custom ACX 3.0 cooler.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 89


REVIEWS

Adobe Premiere Elements 18


(Windows): The best video
editor does it all for you
A no-brainer for novices, and handy for more experienced users, too. BY SAMUEL AXON

A
dobe Premiere Elements 2018 It’s this easy access that makes Adobe
offers most of the same basic Premiere Elements our top-rated consumer
video-editing features you’d paid video editor. Read all of our video-
find in other consumer editing software reviews (go.pcworld.com/
packages, but it separates itself from the vesr) to find out how we tested, what to
pack with tutorials and automatic curation look for, and more.
and content-creation features that very The main video-editing interface is broken
nearly (but not quite) do all the work for into three views: Quick, Guided, and Expert.
you, as long as you don’t mind if your Quick and Expert are basic versions of the
videos look generic. same video-editing experience you get in most

90 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017 IMAGE: ADOBE


other software. The latter exposes more
options to you than the former. Adobe Premiere Elements 18
Guided prompts you with a series of
PROS
questions and holds your hand through • Guided modes help you learn to create nice-
common video-editing tasks like adding and looking videos with absolutely no experience
• Video Story and Instant Video modes almost
arranging clips, trimming and splitting them, automatically create family movies from raw
footage
adding transitions, and adding titles.
• Can smartly curate moments and videos
Those are just the basics. Other guided automatically from the raw files you upload
walk-through categories include Video CONS
• Workspace is not as customizable as in some other
Adjustments, Audio Adjustments, and Fun programs
Edits. The last of those includes common • More expensive than most consumer video-editing
software
techniques like slow motion, freeze frames,
$99
and picture-in-picture. It can even generate
those animated social videos that combine
words and videos in your Facebook feed. features. A feature called Smart Trim intelligently
Guided mode doesn’t necessarily create a grabs a bunch of short, Instagram-length mini
usable video for you—think of it like a tutorial. videos from that 45 minutes of raw footage you
However, there are multiple modes that imported. Another feature called Instant Movie
do most of the heavy lifting in cranking out lets you set some initial parameters and
videos for you. They include Favorite completely edits the video for you from
Moments, Instant Movie, and Video Story. provided media. We found this one to be very
Video Story, for example, can create a hit-and-miss: For example, it couldn’t tell if there
graduation video by letting you drag and was already music playing in a clip and just
drop clips right into the usual components of layered additional music on top of it for a
a video like that: dressing up, the speech, and cacophony. But if you learn its limitations, it
so on. This can produce some very generic- could save you some time.
looking videos, but it does make things a lot Adobe Premiere Elements 2018 is perfect
easier. Other features allow you to create for people who want to make home movies to
video collages automatically, or edit music share with friends, but who don’t have much
files down to match the length of your video video-editing experience. It also offers decent
with only a couple of clicks. functionality for more experienced editors who
But what really differentiates Adobe don’t want to follow the walk-throughs. But
Premiere Elements from competing consumer more robust software might be better for a
video editors is its machine learning and AI power user pursuing YouTube stardom.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 91


REVIEWS

Call of Duty: WWII: Not a


remaster, but it might as well be
Time is a flat circle. BY HAYDEN DINGMAN

C
all of Duty: WWII isn’t a remaster, is less “World War II as it actually existed”
but it feels like one. As the gate and more “World War II as it existed in video
crashed open on my landing games between 1999 and 2008-ish,” a
craft and I sprinted desperately Greatest Hits Collection spanning from the
onto Omaha Beach, I half-expected to hear original Medal of Honor through to Allied
people yelling for Lieutenant Powell, star of Assault, and eventually Call of Duty 1, 2,
2002’s Medal of Honor: Allied Assault—the and 3.
first game I remember doing the iconic It was the decade where everyone got
D-Day opener. sick of World War II games, but absence
This one stars a “Davis” instead, but that’s does indeed make the heart grow at least
no big deal. 15 years on, Call of Duty: WWII a little fonder.

92 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017 IMAGE: IDG


ROAD TO BERLIN has a wife back home in Texas. He wants to
“Everything in moderation” is not the games head home to her but—spoilers!—decides
industry’s strong suit, which I guess is why we duty comes first! Sergeant Pierson has a dark
tend to get ideas in waves. We do sci-fi to past involving Tough Command Decisions.
death in the ‘90s so everyone moves on to He’s also an alcoholic. Your friend Zussman
World War II. Then we do World War II to ends up being the most fleshed-out character,
death so we move on to modern war. That and that depth literally goes as deep as “He’s
gets stale, we return to science fiction. And part-Jewish and fighting Nazis.”
voila, 15 or 20 years later we’re reloading our Call of Duty: WWII has nothing to add to
M1 Garands. our understanding of World War II, nothing to
And if Call of Duty: WWII is the start of a say that hasn’t been said by dozens of its
World War II renaissance, it’s about the safest predecessors. It doesn’t even feel like it’s
bet you could make. Dredging up the ol’ trying to say something more interesting. As I
D-Day (go.pcworld.com/dday) to VE-Day said, it’s content to be a sort-of “World War II
(go.pcworld.com/vedy) storyline once again, Video Game Greatest Hits Collection.”
from June of 1944 through to April of 1945, The difference of course is that we’ve had
it’s the same Band of Brothers/Saving Private a dozen or so Call of Duty games and a
Ryan story video games love to focus on. generation (or two) of hardware since last we
We’ve seen it in Allied Assault, in multiple Call saw these locales. Call of Duty: WWII is
of Duty games, in Gearbox’s underrated stunning. It’s a case, as with remasters, of a
Brothers in Arms series, and so on. new game looking like I remember the old,
So if you played games between 1999 not how it actually looked. Sprinting between
and 2008ish, this’ll feel
very familiar. Omaha
Beach? Check.
Normandy’s hedgerows?
Check. Hill 400? Check.
Battle of the Bulge? Check.
All the usual highlights.
It’s safe. It’s also kind of
bland. Davis and his pals
breeze through Normandy
on the backs of the most
generic platitudes. Davis Pierson is the worst when it comes to hoary old “soldiering life” cliches.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 93


REVIEWS CALL OF DUT Y: W WII

hedgehogs on D-Day, the water bursting real. Hearing the ping of an emptied M1
around me, the plink-plink-plink of a German Garand, seeing that familiar gray-green color
machine gun tapping on barricades, then up grading, hearing the rumble of Panzers
and over the earthworks, storming the coming over a hill—I missed it.
bunkers full of Nazis—it looks like I remember Hell, Sledgehammer’s even taken this
Allied Assault looking, brings back that throwback one step further, eschewing
same adrenaline rush. rechargeable health in favor of medkits—the
Then I look at how Allied Assault actually first time since Call of Duty 2. In terms easier
looked and…oh. to grasp, that means it’s the first time Call of
The same is true of Hurtgen Forest and the Duty has used medkits for health since
rest. Ideas that were only hinted at in the past before the release of the Xbox 360.
can now be fully realized—for instance, the
way artillery shreds a 50-foot pine tree, turns it FIGHT ON THE BEACHES
into six-inch chunks of shrapnel. Trees (and Multiplayer feels just as retro, at least by 2017
limbs and houses and so on) explode in WWII standards. I don’t typically spend much time
in a way they didn’t and couldn’t in 2005. talking about Call of Duty’s multiplayer, in part
Maybe that’s enough. Technological because the last few iterations just haven’t
advances perhaps highlight how little Call of appealed to me much at all. But I found myself
Duty’s progressed in other respects, but only playing and actually enjoying WWII over the
to those who were here for the World War II weekend in a way I haven’t since maybe...
game glut the first
time around.
There’s an entire
new generation of
people playing
games now
who’ve never
played something
like Call of Duty:
WWII.
And for those
of us who were
there, the Side note: WWII also features Call of Duty’s best behind-enemy-lines stealth
nostalgia is still mission since Chernobyl.

94 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


Black Ops?
It’s pretty simple, really. Call of Duty: WWII Call of Duty: WWII
ditches all the wall-running/jump-boosting/
PROS
future-parkour stuff from the last few entries. • Feels like a greatest hits collection of World War II
Sledgehammer’s been fond of yelling “Boots video games past
• The ping of that M1 Garand is like a concentrated
on the ground!” in its marketing pitches and rush of nostalgia
while I hate to regurgitate marketing points, I CONS
• Content to retread well-trod ground, even by
can’t deny I’m having more fun with my two World War II video game standards
feet planted pretty firmly on Europe’s war- • “Allows” you to watch other people open loot
boxes. Ugh
pocked soil.
BOTTOM LINE
And I just prefer WWII era weaponry. It’s Nostalgia is enough to mitigate Call of Duty: WWII’s
weak story and bland characters, but only barely.
what drew me to Battlefield 1 last year (where Multiplayer’s better than it has been, though.
the weapons were even more primitive), and $59
it’s what’s kept me playing WWII so far. That
aforementioned M1 ping is a classic, but the
clunky mechanical feel of the period is man.” See, WWII has a Destiny-like hub called
overall a big draw. “Headquarters,” styled after a Normandy
There are aspects I definitely don’t like. Beach base of operations. It’s like a pseudo-
One of the most surreal moments I’ve had in MMO with fellow players running around
2017 was popping open loot boxes while emoting at each other, marking challenges
some random dude commented over my to complete in their next match, and—yes—
shoulder on the items contained therein. popping open loot boxes in full view of
“Three commons? Oh you got screwed, everyone else.
It’s not great.
But aside from
Headquarters, the logistics of
which made WWII’s servers a
bit of a nightmare over the
weekend, this is pretty much
stock Call of Duty multiplayer.
You can even unlock reflex
sights and other modern
warfare gizmos for your circa-
1944 weaponry. It’s dumb but

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 95


REVIEWS CALL OF DUT Y: W WII

it’s my kind of dumb, I guess—at least until Regardless, it’s a drag and I don’t see
Battlefield makes a World War II game again. myself going back much, especially given
As for the now almost decade-old that the proper multiplayer mode’s been
Zombies mode, it’s probably the weakest part somewhat redeemed.
of 2017’s offering, which is surprising since it
was the part of Infinite Warfare I enjoyed most. BOTTOM LINE
WWII ditches the zany tone of last year’s Nostalgia is fine. Nostalgia is good. I enjoyed
“Zombies in Spaceland” for a more classic my time with Call of Duty: WWII and I’m
Nazi Zombies feel, darker and more ominous. continuing to enjoy its multiplayer off-and-on.
And that’s fine in theory, but the zaniness But nostalgia is also weird—a strange and
helped mask some of the repetition. I’ve uncontrollable force where you know what
played WWII’s zombie campaign three times you’re playing is somewhat mediocre,
and while it’s a similar labyrinth of unlockable somewhat disappointing, and you just don’t
doors, collectible weapons, and bizarre traps, care because you grew up shooting virtual M1
it just lacks a certain spark. Garands and it feels good to shoot one again,
Part of the problem I think is that the to hear that ping and see some dumb Nazi’s
zombies feel spongy, which clashes with helmet pop off. Call of Duty: WWII is
WWII’s weapons. Shooting a Nazi Zombie mediocre. I enjoyed it anyway.
with a chunky World War II-era combat The question now, of course, is whether
shotgun only for it to shrug off the blow 2018 brings Call of Duty: WWII Pt. Two. I’m
and keep coming at you? A bit of a fine if it does, but the series can’t just coast
cognitive disconnect. along on another Greatest Hits Collection
next year—it needs
to take some actual
risks, dig a bit
deeper. We can’t just
do Band of Brothers
forever, especially if
our characters can’t
be one iota as
interesting as even
the least interesting
character in Band
of Brothers.

96 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


Xbox One X: A surprising
amount of power in a very
small box
It’s as powerful as many gaming PCs, and it’s only $500. Pretty impressive,
for a console. BY BRAD CHACOS

T
he 4K gaming-capable Xbox disastrous E3 2013, with news of an always-
One X just might be the thing online console, Sony’s price coup, and Don
that lifts Microsoft out of its Mattrick out there talking about people using
gaming console rut. Before the Xbox 360s on nuclear submarines. Microsoft
Xbox One even released there was that never really recovered, branded by fanboys as

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 97


REVIEWS XBOX ONE X

being underpowered compared to the (or save) the more vibrant white-and-black
PlayStation 4, and with each controversy over color scheme from last year’s Xbox One S.
the Kinect or resolution upscaling or what It’s compact, though. Measuring 11.8 x
have you, the Xbox’s hole only got deeper. 9.4 x 2.4 inches, the Xbox One X is drastically
The Xbox One X could fill in that hole a smaller than the launch Xbox One (13.1 x 10.8
little. For the first time since 2005, Microsoft x 3.1 inches) and only a hair larger than the
has the most powerful gaming console on the slimmer S model (11.5 x 9 x 2.5 inches). Pretty
market—powerful enough that it surprised incredible, considering the X’s more powerful
even me, a devout PC gamer (go.pcworld. hardware. Even better: Like the S, the Xbox
com/pcga). One X packs the power supply inside the
This little box packs some power. case. Say goodbye to that launch Xbox One
and its enormous power brick. The X has an
SIZING DOWN unadorned 5-foot power cord.
And the Xbox One X is little. That’s as good a Despite being shrunk down, it’s also
place as any to start this review, because it’s a quieter. It’s hard for me to do a 100-percent
compliment I would never pay to the original fair comparison with the original Xbox One at
Xbox One and its vintage VCR aesthetic. this point because mine is going on four years
A quick aside: We’ll be comparing the old, but I guarantee it was never this quiet.
Xbox One X to both the original Xbox One Even after hours of playing, the Xbox One X is
and 2016’s Xbox One S in this review. Some almost whisper-silent when placed on the
of the Xbox One X’s “new” features debuted other side of the room—none of that
on the S last year, such as
HDR support, but because
that was more of a
placeholder model and
provided less incentive to
upgrade it only makes sense
to cover them again here.
The Xbox One X isn’t
necessarily more eye-
catching—it still has that
“generic cable box” look to
it in my opinion. I wish
Microsoft had opted to reuse Comparing 2013’s Xbox One to the Xbox One X.

98 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


jet-engine fan noise I associate with the
original Xbox One. There’s plenty of Xbox One X
ventilation on both ends and the rear of the
PROS
console, and while the X gets warm to the • The most powerful console by a long shot
touch it never gets hot. • Small, quiet, and unassuming

Note that unlike the 2TB Xbox One S, the CONS


• If you’ve got money to spend, a decent PC will still
standard Xbox One X does not come with a take you further (and is upgradeable)
stand. Microsoft does plan to sell one, but • 1 TB hard drive is not prepared for the realities of
modern gaming
unless you shell out you’re limited to running BOTTOM LINE
the console horizontally. Microsoft has also The Xbox One X exceeds not only its predecessor,
but also matches up to the majority (55 percent or
made no mention of providing free Kinect more) of gaming PCs today—and for only $500.
Pretty impressive, for a console.The question is
adapters. The Kinect port is gone, and most whether developers take advantage of it.
of you probably won’t notice or care. But $499
those who do will need to purchase an
adapter from Microsoft for $40 this time
around—a final insult to those who bought annoyed with its capacitive power button
(and maybe even use!) the now officially though, which not only boots the console at
discontinued accessory. the briefest hint that something might want to
Anyway the best improvement—the touch it but also shuts it off. If you even look at
absolute best—is the Xbox One X’s physical it wrong you’ll hear the boo-doo-doop of the
power button. This might sound like a minor Xbox turning on or off, and heaven forbid you
improvement, and it is! Anyone who owns the have a cat/dog/child/poltergeist. Though
original Xbox One has no doubt grown perhaps less futuristic, the S returned to the
pressable power button of
old and the X follows suit.

THE 4K FACTOR
Okay, but gaming. How
does the Xbox One X
function while gaming?
After all, that’s the reason to
upgrade. The Xbox One S
already had size covered, as
well as the physical power

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 99


REVIEWS XBOX ONE X

button, a larger hard drive,


quietness, and so on. So, how
does it perform?
Surprisingly well.
Listen, I’m a PC guy and I’ve
been a PC guy for a while now.
The Xbox One X doesn’t match
up to a high-end PC and the
people who say it does...well,
their idea of a “high-end” PC is
maybe skewed a bit low. But it
does come way closer than I
expected, if not on paper than
at least in-game—and it blows
the old Xbox One (not to The Xbox One’s internals.
mention the PlayStation 4)
completely out of the water. To put it in more accessible real-world
First, for those who like specs: The original terms, the original Xbox One was estimated
Xbox One featured a custom 8-core AMD to have power on a par with (being generous)
APU clocked at 1.75GHz and 8GB of DDR3 AMD’s Radeon 7790—or, on Nvidia’s side,
RAM, plus 32MB of higher throughput approximately a GTX 650 Ti. The Xbox One X
ESRAM. To simplify this down to a single is about equal to an AMD Radeon RX 580 (go.
number so as to not kill you: Peak graphics pcworld.com/n1tr) or an Nvidia GeForce GTX
throughput was marked at 1.31 TFLOPS. The 1060 (go.pcworld.com/gf60).
Xbox One S bumped that number to about It’s a huge increase in power. Of course,
1.4—not really a notable increase. the Xbox One X’s real-world performance will
The Xbox One X by comparison features be a bit better than even those model
an 8-core APU clocked at 2.3GHz, with 12GB numbers indicate, due to the differences
of GDDR5 RAM, all of it higher-throughput between optimizing for consoles versus
(326GB/s) than even the 32MB of ESRAM in PC—especially since, as a mid-generation
the original Xbox One. By raising both the upgrade, developers are already mostly
number of compute cores and the clock comfortable with the Xbox One architecture.
speed, peak throughput for the Xbox One X Expect fewer launch-day woes than you’d see
is estimated at 6 TFLOPS. at the start of an entirely new generation.

100 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


GEARS OF WAR: LEADING on an AMD Radeon Fury X at 4K Ultra, a
THE CHARGE slightly better card than the 580. Dip a few
Which brings us to Gears of War 4, our main settings to High and you’d see a steady 30
point of reference at the moment when it on the 580 too, most likely.
comes to the Xbox One X. To be fair, it does Performance mode is more interesting to
pull out all the stops on the Xbox One X—4K, me, though. Despite the focus on 4K in the
HDR, the works. It also features two different Xbox One X marketing, I’ll take lower
rendering modes, one labeled “Visuals” and resolution and higher frame rate almost any
the other “Performance.” day—that’s my bias as a PC gamer with a
Visuals mode ups the graphics of Gears 4 144Hz monitor. Performance mode does
significantly, outputting the game at native 4K just that, eschewing native 4K for upscaled
with settings reminiscent (as far as we can tell) 1080p Ultra, but running at a smooth 60
of High/Ultra on the PC. That’s in-line with the frames per second.
GPU comparison above—my colleague Brad It plays like a whole different game.
Chacos benchmarked Gears of War 4 (go. Everything, from sprinting to shooting to even
pcworld.com/gwar) on a variety of systems the explosions is so much smoother. To be
last year, and managed 32 frames per second honest, Performance mode and its 60

Look at the draw distance on the PC!

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 101


REVIEWS XBOX ONE X

frames-per-second output is more reminiscent face is magically crisper, the reflections better,
to me of playing on the PC than the 4K Visuals the eyes more alive.
mode. That goes doubly because of how far A/B testing the actual game is easy too.
people (usually) sit from the TV. I’m not Feel free to expand the screenshots above,
convinced 4K is really necessary. It’s a great and you should be able to see the difference.
selling point for Microsoft, but even sitting We’ve also captured some video (embedded
five feet from a 55-inch Samsung 4K TV, the in the next section, since it also contains PC
difference 60 frames
per second made
was way more
noteworthy than the
graphics
enhancements of
Visuals mode. Your
mileage may vary
though—I know
some people
aren’t as sensitive
to frame rate.
Either way, the Gears of War 4 on the original Xbox One. Note the aliasing on the shotgun
game looks better shells, how static the smoke looks, and how indistinct the background looks…
than the original
Xbox One. I had both
consoles plugged
into different HDMI
ports so I could swap
back and forth. Even
the main menu of the
original Xbox One
version is uglier, with
protagonist JD Fenix’s
face blurry and
jagged. Swap over to
the Xbox One X, his …and a similar screenshot on the Xbox One X, in 4K-native “Visuals” mode.

102 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


footage). The original Xbox One looks a full frames per second in the same test sections at
generation behind by comparison, especially 4K Ultra. It was overkill obviously, the point
when it comes to aliasing. Enemies look being that a PC can outdo the Xbox One X.
jagged and indistinct, even compared to the On the other hand, the Xbox One X
1080p upscaled version on the X. In frantic measures up to machines the majority of
moments the Xbox One has a tendency to enthusiast PC gamers are running. Just take a
stutter, where the X is smooth. look at the Steam Hardware Survey (go.
pcworld.com/surv): About 55 percent of PC
HOW DOES IT FARE gamers use GTX 1060-caliber cards and
AGAINST A PC? below, while the other 45 percent is a
Pitting the Xbox One X against its smattering of cards both higher and lower.
predecessor is Easy Mode though. Far more The fact the Xbox One X matches what 55+
interesting (especially to us at PCWorld) is percent of the PC gaming audience uses
how the X stands up against a PC. day-to-day? Pretty impressive.
As I said earlier, Brad benched Gears 4 on
a variety of setups last year. It’s easy to draw POST-RELEASE
some conclusions if you jump over there (go. Now that the Xbox One X has officially
pcworld.com/gwar)—just keep in mind the launched I’ve had time to check out a few
Xbox One X focuses on 4K native at 30 frames more titles. Assassin’s Creed: Origins was the
per second on High/Ultra or 1080p upscaled one I felt would show the most obvious
at 60 frames per second on Ultra (though in differences between PC and the Xbox One X,
both cases there’s probably some overhead and that is indeed the case. Below, you’ll see
to ensure a smooth locked frame rate). a screenshot of the Xbox One X version.
Does the Xbox One X
measure up against a
high-end PC? Of course
not. We tested the HP
Omen X we have in the
office, to see what would
happen—that’s a machine
with dual GTX 1080 Tis.
And...well, the results are
predictable. In Gears 4 the
Omen averaged 70-80

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 103


REVIEWS XBOX ONE X

One X would benefit


more from 1080p
upscaled to 4K with
better frame rate/detail.
4K is a great buzzword,
but in practice it’s not as
easily noticed as other
adjustments.
Something for
developers to consider
moving forward.

Above is a screenshot of the PC game. PRICE


Unlike Gears 4, Origins only has a single Alaina’s build above came in around $650-
mode: 4K native. It looks surprisingly good in 700. That’s another area where the Xbox One
still images, and I’d wager the game is X has a major advantage—price. We’ve put
running on the Xbox One X at 4K with High together a few PC builds comparable to the
settings—some missing reflections, simpler Xbox One X (go.pcworld.com/50mp), and
shadows, and the distant mountains lose the cheapest (sans-optical drive because
some finer details and appear blurrier overall. Steam exists) is around $640. That’ll get you
Still, it’s pretty impressive. The biggest basic 4K, 30 frames-per-second gaming.
issue is it’s at 30 frames per second, and a Adding a 4K Blu-Ray drive tacks at least
pretty jittery 30 frames per second at that. As another $100 on the price, and your options
with Gears, I think Origins would benefit are very limited.
more immediately from a 1080p60 Ultra At $500 then, the Xbox One X is a
upscaled to 4K than it does from 4K native at bargain. A bit ironic, given the outcry about
High. Actually, I think all games on the Xbox the original Xbox One’s $500 price tag—at
the time it seemed like a ripoff. $500 for the
Xbox One X seems more than reasonable
As with Gears, I think Origins though, considering it’s cheaper than even
would benefit more immediately the least expensive comparable PC.
from a 1080p60 Ultra upscaled As for our supercharged HP Omen X
to 4K than it does from 4K native comparison, keep in mind that just a single
at High. 1080 Ti would cost you more than this entire

104 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


console. So yeah, you
could absolutely build a
high-end PC that blows
the Xbox One X out of the
water, but the Xbox One
X is probably the best
price/performance ratio
on the market at the
moment.

XBOX ONE X
HAS AN EDGE
IN HDR side looks like a layer of soap scum was
Another area where the Xbox holds an scrubbed away. The difference is that
advantage over PCs at the moment: HDR. noticeable.
High Dynamic Range, or HDR, actually The problem: It’s hard to demo HDR. If
debuted with last year’s S model so it’s not you watch HDR-ready content on a screen
brand-new, but it’ll be new to most Xbox that’s not HDR-equipped, it will just display
One X buyers, I assume. So far there are only in the color range you’re accustomed to.
a few tentpole Xbox titles, though luckily Games also need to be mastered specifically
Gears 4 is one of them. It’s more subtle than for HDR, which means there aren’t a ton of
4K, but again is likely to be more important games utilizing it even if you own an HDR-
moving forward. ready TV.
I won’t go into tons of detail, but HDR or It looks great though, and is a major
High Dynamic Range essentially increases benefit to both the Xbox One X and S
the amount of colors your TV shows, and provided you have capable hardware.
increases the contrasts between light and “Capable hardware” is also why I say it’s
dark areas. In Gears 4 this means better- an advantage over PCs at the moment:
looking explosions especially—brighter and While both Nvidia and AMD technically
more vibrant, with a better range of oranges support HDR output, HDR adoption by
and reds. Gears 4 even includes a nifty monitors has been slow, to say the least.
mode where you can split the screen, the left That’ll probably change in 2018, but then
showing an HDR-enhanced image and the again I also thought it would change in
right showing the standard version. The HDR 2017, so…

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 105


REVIEWS XBOX ONE X

THE “EXCLUSIVE” PROBLEM better going forward, insofar as


Microsoft’s biggest problem, and this is multiplatform titles will henceforth
important: Games. Or rather, the lack presumably look and play the best on it.
thereof. Microsoft has suffered all That’s more than could be said about the
generation from a lack of exclusive titles, original Xbox One. Microsoft claims 70
and dwindling interest in the few they do titles will be “Enhanced” for the Xbox One
have. Halo, Gears of War, and Forza are the X launch.
main three, with Cuphead, Sunset Still, a console is nothing without games,
Overdrive, Quantum Break, and Rare Replay and right now that’s Microsoft’s weakest
to fill out the gaps. It’s not very impressive, point—especially this far into a console
especially when stacked up to Sony’s generation, when most people have already
onslaught of exclusives. built up friend networks and trophies and a
Hell, Crackdown 3 was supposed to history on the PS4. The Xbox One X is an
launch alongside the Xbox One X and then excellent value and definitely more powerful,
was delayed into next year, leaving Super but can that overcome four years of a Sony
Lucky’s Tale as the sole “launch title.” That’s advantage? Especially with no Halo or other
not great. system-seller to kickstart the X out the gate?
Now, the Xbox One X’s situation is a bit Hard to say.

Here’s your...much-anticipated, system-selling launch game?

106 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


THE FUTURE OF TV? streaming from many streaming services, the
I’m not going to dwell much on the Xbox same can be said of most 4K smart TVs
One X’s TV features because frankly, even released in the last couple of years.
Microsoft doesn’t seem to care anymore. It’s also worth noting the HDMI-In port
The Xbox One X does feature a few still exists, so if you’re one of the people
improvements over the original Xbox One, using your Xbox as a media box, keep doing
though most of these improvements came your thing. Microsoft’s certainly
with last year’s S redesign. downplaying those aspects these days and
Basically the Xbox One X will double as a has even removed features—chief among
4K media player, for those who still buy them the “Snap” feature that allowed you to
physical media. That’s a pretty big win for game and watch something at the same
Microsoft seeing as, for whatever reason, time, which was removed with April’s
Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro does not playback Creator’s Update.
4K media—you’d think Sony would know
better, considering how pivotal Blu-Ray THE LITTLE THINGS THAT
support was for the PS3. ARE GOOD
4K Blu-Rays pumped through the Xbox This review’s getting lengthy, and the Xbox
One look phenomenal, as expected. One X’s performance is our chief concern.
Microsoft provided us a copy of Planet Earth That said, I do want to call out some last Pros
2, which is probably the best 4K/HDR and Cons before we wrap up.
showcase you could ask for. The footage is In the good column, Microsoft’s support
crisp, colors are vibrant, it’s beautiful. for backward compatibility. Obviously this
The million-dollar
question though: How
many people are buying
physical media? Certainly
not as many people as in
previous console
generations, as Netflix,
HBO Go, Amazon Prime,
Hulu, etc. grow in
popularity. And while the
Xbox One X features those
apps and allows for 4K Ninja Gaiden Black on an Xbox One X? Fantastic.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 107


REVIEWS XBOX ONE X

feature exists on the


original Xbox One
also, but it’s worth
noting because it
didn’t exist when we
reviewed that console
back in 2013.
Not only that, but
Microsoft recently
added backward
compatibility with a
handful of original Halo 5, Gears of War 4, Metal Gear Solid V, and more, all for a $10
Xbox (meaning the subscription? Not bad.
2001 Xbox) games
too. I had a fun time digging out my copy of peripherals that work with the Xbox One X
Ninja Gaiden Black earlier this week, right out of the box. Turtle Beach’s new
popping the disc in, and seeing the old Stealth 700 headset connects wirelessly to
Xbox boot screen. Good on Microsoft there. the Xbox One without a dongle, the first to
I’ve also come to love Microsoft’s “Xbox do so and hopefully a sign of things to come.
Game Pass,” its newish Netflix-for-games And as much as I dislike UWP on
type offering. $10 a month gets you access Windows 10, I’ll admit it’s been great for the
to about 100 games, spanning from the Xbox ecosystem. Many of my favorite
2001 Xbox to the Xbox 360 to even a programs have built Windows 10 UWP
handful of Xbox One games—Metal Gear versions which are then easily ported over—
Solid V, for instance. The games are cycled Spotify, Netflix, and so on. Pretty seamless,
in and out monthly, and there are a surprising and a huge advantage over the PlayStation 4
number of quality titles to choose from. in that regard.
Definitely worth looking into. (I grabbed
Nights: Into Dreams, Ninja Gaiden Black, THE LITTLE THINGS
and Metro: Last Light Redux for testing.) THAT ARE BAD
There are also signs Microsoft is Now, for the not-so-good. First up, the Xbox
loosening its hold on the platform—a pretty One X’s hard drive is comically small.
big move. First it was Bluetooth added to Microsoft saw fit to offer a 2TB version of the
last year’s new controller design, now it’s Xbox One S, and for good reason: With

108 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


and translates terribly to gamepad; the push
for Mixer over Twitch is bound to confuse
and alienate, and so on.
It’s just a mess. Rather than reworking a
UI that hasn’t worked since 2013, Microsoft
desperately needs to jettison a large amount
of its design language and start from scratch,
like it did multiple times on the Xbox 360.
The whole “Flat Arrangement of Squares
Cluttered By Ads” setup is not working.
Already a quarter full after installing Gears 4,
Forza Horizon 2, Super Lucky’s Tale, Metro: Last
Light Redux, and half of Rare Replay. BOTTOM LINE
Forgive me for repeating myself, but this is a
game installs topping 100GB, the Xbox One long review and I want to make sure you
X’s measly 1TB system drive (with only didn’t miss the most important point: The
650GB of free space out of the box) means Xbox One X is the best price/performance
you can install approximately 6-10 games ratio on the market at the moment. Sure,
nowadays. Less perhaps, once you factor in you can build a PC that outperforms it at
DLC. every turn—some of you reading this
That’s absurd. 1TB is better than the probably have.
shameful 500GB of the original Xbox One, But native 4K gaming for $500? And in a
but it’s still woefully underprepared for the form factor this small and this quiet? That’s
realities of modern gaming. You’ll absolutely pretty incredible, especially when you
need an external USB drive or two to consider the jump from the original Xbox
supplement, and I can’t fathom why One—probably Microsoft’s low point for
Microsoft didn’t opt for a 2TB standard console engineering. There are missteps
considering it would’ve cost them, what, an that bring it down a notch or two, especially
extra $10 per unit? that undersized hard drive and the lack of
Microsoft’s user interface also continues quality exclusive titles, but judged purely on
to disappoint. Despite multiple refreshes in a technical level? The Xbox One X is a huge
2017 alone, the system is still cluttered and step up from the original Xbox One and an
clumsy to navigate. Menus and submenus impressive machine in its own right,
are hidden all over the place, the Store is matching what the majority of PC gamers
clearly built for a mouse-and-keyboard setup have at home.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 109


It only takes a moment
to make a moment.

Take time to fatherhood.gov


be a dad today. #makeamoment
FEATURE

RAZER PHONE HANDS-ON:


A PHONE FOR
GAMERS
BUT NOT A GAMING PHONE?
High-end features without a high-end price. BY ADAM PATRICK MURRAY

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 111


FEATURE R A ZER PHONE HANDS - ON

The Razer Phone,


the company’s
first foray into
smartphones.
But don’t call it a
gaming phone!

T
he Razer Phone (go.pcworld. deliver a great experience for all kinds of
com/rp) is a bit of a puzzle. It’s not “content consumption,” not just gaming. But
surprising that it exists, given that it’s a weird message when Razer’s core
Razer, best known for PC hard- audience is gamers—and Razer is still pushing
ware and peripherals, acquired smartphone gaming partnerships that take advantage of
maker Nextbit in January of 2017 in order to the Razer Phone’s unique screen.
produce this device. Nor is it surprising that,
based on our hands-on time with the device at a THE RAZER PHONE’S FIRST:
recent briefing, the Phone seems to be equal A 120HZ SCREEN
parts Nextbit’s Robin (go.pcworld.com/epnr) The Razer Phone is packed with a 120Hz,
and Razer’s laptop line, touting impressive specs 1440x2560, 5.72-inch LCD panel. If you’ve
at a reasonable price of $699. ever used a high framerate PC display, you
What’s confusing is what it isn’t. Razer says know the difference a faster refresh rate can
this isn’t meant to be a gaming phone. Rather, have on simple tasks—not just games.
it’s a phone for gamers, Razer fans, and Thumbing through feeds, switching apps,
Android enthusiasts, meaning it’s intended to and “consuming content” all felt

112 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


There is nothing quite like sliding
your app tray up and down over
and over again just to see the
smooth transition that only
a 120Hz screen can
give you.

super-smooth. I even got to track the refresh your attention? Members from the same team
cycles with Razer’s own built-in version of that came up with the custom-cooling solutions
FRAPS (yes, I asked, and yes, you can turn it on in the Razer Blade line (go.pcworld.com/trbl)
in the final version). The panel uses some of the also had a hand in custom cooling for the Snap-
same adaptive refresh technology as Nvidia’s dragon 835. Razer says its cooling solution allows
Gsync and AMD’s Freesync, so when you’re the 835 to run longer before throttling down,
idle you also aren’t wasting precious battery. and when it does, it doesn’t throttle as low.
Speaking of battery, the Razer Phone packs
a 4,000mAh one inside its 197-gram body. That, SHARED DESIGN
paired with the newer Qualcomm Snapdragon LANGUAGE
835, help it last for long “content consumption” Razer also wants the Razer Phone to feel right
sessions. The phone also features 8GB of dual at home with the company’s other hardware
channel LPDDR4 RAM clocked at 1,600MHz. offerings—and it does. The engineers worked
Razer really knows its audience when it lists with some of the same teams that helped make
detailed specs like that for a device. Razer’s refined Razer Blade laptop series. At
How about another PC-centric spec to catch first glance it looks much like the Robin that

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 113


FEATURE R A ZER PHONE HANDS - ON

came before it, but in my hands, the Razer


Phone made the Robin feel like a toy. I would
describe the overall design to be monolithic—
taking cues from Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece
2001: A Space Odyssey.
The chassis is all aluminum—like the Razer
Blade—and has a nice, tactile feel in my hand.
I’ve never been a fan of all-glass phones, so
I’m glad to see Razer lean into what it knows.
The aluminum sure does gather dust and smudg-
It also feels like a tank that could easily with-
es. Still, I prefer it to all-glass phones.
stand some drops—much like LG’s V20. It was
dense without feeling too weighty. glimpse of antenna lines, but they blend in
The back of the phone is one solid piece well. On the front of the Razer Phone is a dual
of aluminum, disrupted only by Razer’s speaker grille—again, like the Razer Blade—
three-headed snake logo in the middle and a with notches taken out for the front-facing
camera bump at the top. The edges show a camera and sensors.

Razer sees its Phone much


like it sees its Blade line,
mostly for the hardcore.

114 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


The Razor Phone
feels right at home.

PHONE AUDIO WITH A Razer does offer a couple of headphone


PUNCH options that support Apple’s Lightning
The Razer Phone’s dual speaker grille and connector, so I’m hoping the company
stereo speaker configuration are not a first by releases USB-C support in the future. Until
any means, but I’d be hard-pressed to find a then we are stuck with dongles.
louder setup on any phone! Each speaker has
its own amp, allowing the Phone to be STOCK FOR THE ANDROID
pushed to higher decibels without distortion. ENTHUSIAST
I’m currently using a Google Pixel 2 XL (which Razer is also trying to court Android enthusiasts.
also has dual front-facing speakers), and side The Phone runs a near-stock version of Android
by side it’s no contest: The Razer Phone blew 7.1.1 out of the gate, and Razer promises 8.0
the Pixel out of the water at the highest levels. Oreo support in Q1 of 2018. Unlike Nextbit with
Sadly, the Razer Phone does not include a the Robin, Razer focuses on the basics while
3.5-inch headphone jack, and I’m not a fan of adding only a few custom tweaks, like its own
this decision. It especially makes no sense Gamebooster technology and a theme store.
when Razer makes a number of high-quality We’ve heard this “focus-on-the-basic” approach
headphones that still support this format. before (re: Essential, go.pcworld.com/re), so

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 115


FEATURE R A ZER PHONE HANDS - ON

Razer says that


FINAL THOUGHTS
90Hz might be I would have loved to have
the sweet spot seen a headphone jack and
for performance
versus battery. more attention paid to the
camera setup (it’s very basic),
but there’s still plenty to like
about the Razer Phone.
Gaming phone or not, Razer
is still partnering with big
phone gaming publishers
like Square Enix (Final
Fantasy) and Tencent (Arena
of Valor) to offer 120Hz
optimized experiences.
I’m hoping Razer can deliver. During my meeting, I got the feeling that
One choice I liked was Razer’s decision to the team from Nextbit got to follow their
default to Nova Prime Launcher rather than passions on the software side while having
make its own. I’ve been using Nova Launcher for access to the hardware resources of the teams
years, and it’s one of the most popular out there. at Razer. It feels like a grown-up Robin, which
The Robin had a heavily skinned UI that matched is what Razer needed.
the aesthetic they were going for
at Nextbit, and Razer could easily
have gone down that same path.
Instead Razer is allowing the
freedom of stock Android and
providing a theme store if you
want custom Razer looks.
To round out the enthusiast
angle, the Razer phone is sold
unlocked (GSM only), with the
bootloader unlocked out of the
box as well. This phone might The Nextbit Robin spent
some time in a cocoon this
be a great option for the tinker-
year and emerged a hardcore butterfly.
ers out there!

116 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


AMERICA,
LET’S DO LUNCH TM

Julius Gaines, SINCE 1933. He’s got a curious intellect that can’t be satiated.
Now, he and 1 in 6 seniors face the threat of hunger and millions more
live in isolation. So pop by, drop off a hot meal and say a warm hello.
Volunteer for Meals on Wheels at AmericaLetsDoLunch.org
FEATURE

SHOULD YOU DELETE


KASPERSKY PRODUCTS
FROM YOUR MACHINE?
THE ANSWER’S NOT SO
SIMPLE BY IAN PAUL

WHAT THE
KASPERSKY
ANTI-VIRUS
HACK REALLY
MEANS
DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 119
FEATURE THE K ASPERSK Y ANTI-VIRUS HACK

aspersky Lab’s 400 million definitely do some damage.”

K
users worldwide can’t be Now that we know Kaspersky antivirus
happy about recent news software can turn against you, the next ques-
linking the company’s antivi- tion is whether we can do anything about it.
rus products to spying. The We talked to security experts to find out more.
Russian government reportedly used the
Moscow-based company’s software to steal KASPERSKY’S PURPORTED
sensitive information from American intelli- DATA EXFILTRATION: A
gence agents. TIMELINE
The incidents remind us that the security The Kaspersky story heated up earlier this fall.
products we trust to protect our PCs have On October 5, The Wall Street Journal reported
more or less full access. “Every cloud-based (go.pcworld.com/wsjr) that hackers working
anti-virus has the potential and the ability to for the Russian government in 2015 stole
delete files, to modify files,” said Jake Williams, documents detailing how the U.S. attacks
Founder and President of Rendition Infosec. foreign computer networks and defends
“They have the ability to launch new processes domestic ones. The Russian hackers used
as well as terminate existing processes.” Kaspersky Anti-Virus to identify the data and
It’s bad if someone hacks your computer. target it on the home computer of a National
If someone hacks your computer and uses Security Agency contractor, the Journal said.
your own antivirus software to take over, that’s A few days later The New York Times
a disaster. “Looking at all of this together,” reported (go.pcworld.com/nytr) that the
Williams concluded, “It becomes clear that if Americans only found out about the pur-
whoever’s running your anti-virus doesn’t ported Kaspersky data leak from Israeli spies.
have your best interests at heart they can The Israelis, the Times said, hacked into

“THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO


LAUNCH NEW PROCESSES AS
WELL AS TERMINATE EXISTING
PROCESSES.”

120 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


the preliminary results of an
internal investigation (go.
pcworld.com/oaii) into the
purported spying on the U.S.
The company said its antivirus
software simply did its job. A
contractor put covert malware
onto his home machine with
Kaspersky installed. After a
scan, the antivirus detected
the new malware, uploaded it
Kaspersky themselves, where they watched to Kaspersky’s cloud servers for analysis, and
Russian hackers use Kaspersky software in real at that point the covert data was exposed.
time as a “sort of Google search for sensitive Kaspersky said once it discovered the govern-
information.” ment-developed malware the code was
The Journal followed up a day later with deleted from company servers and never
another report (go.pcworld.com/jfu). This one delivered to any government agencies.
said Russian agents used Kaspersky to search for
terms like “top secret” across computers where THE RUSSIANS ARE
Kaspersky software was installed. COMING. THE RUSSIANS
Kaspersky Lab has denied allegations that ARE COMING?
it’s in cahoots with Russian intelligence. Never- For most North Americans, the default is to
theless, retailers including Best Buy (go. assume the worst about Kaspersky Lab,
pcworld.com/bby), Office Depot (go.pcworld. especially because Eugene Kaspersky himself
com/ode), and Staples (go.pcworld.com/sta) was trained at a KGB-run school.
have pulled Kaspersky software from store Security experts see some room for
shelves during, and leading up to, the explanation. It’s not unusual, for one thing, for
controversy. information security (infosec) professionals to
Company co-founder and CEO Eugene start in the military or government intelligence
Kaspersky announced he would open up the before entering the private sector.
company’s code to third-party review to quell Kaspersky Lab is actually an important
concerns about Russian interference (go. player in the infosec community for the useful
pcworld.com/ari). threat information it makes freely available. “I
Soon after, Kaspersky Lab also announced think they have probably some of the best

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 121


FEATURE THE K ASPERSK Y ANTI-VIRUS HACK

researchers and talents in the world,” said The reality, however, is that Russian intelli-
Amit Serper, principal security researcher for gence is not interested in the average Ameri-
Boston-based infosec company Cybereason. can’s family photos or personal diaries. As
Good works aren’t enough to absolve Williams pointed out on Twitter (go.pcworld.
Kaspersky, however. That’s why the company com/oot), technicians working on your PC at a
wants third parties to audit its code. But even local computer shop pose a higher risk of data
that won’t satisfy most critics. “I think it’s theft than Russian intelligence via Kaspersky or
entirely for show, and I think they know that,” other software.
Williams said. “It’s not a question of ‘is the “Personally, I don’t think that Kaspersky is
code itself secure?’ I would argue that Kasper- a threat to the home user,” Serper said.
sky is probably some of the most secure A/V Williams also wouldn’t advise that most
code out there right now. It’s a matter of how home users dump Kaspersky—he hasn’t even
they use the code that’s going to be con- advised any of his family and friends to delete
trolled by the Kaspersky command center.” the software. “But if I have a brand-new
Serper offered similar sentiments, but machine,” Williams added. “And I’m trying to
added that the data is what most concerns decide should I install Kaspersky or not? I’m
him. “What data is collected [from user PCs]? not sure that I would.”
How is it collected? How is it saved? How is it That’s not only because of the worries
catalogued? I think it’s a data science question, about espionage, Williams says, but the
and not a software engineering question.” question of Kaspersky’s long-term fate in the
U.S. market given current tensions.
WHAT HOME USERS CAN DO Whatever your decision, the worst option
We may never know whether Kaspersky Lab is would be to give up on antivirus altogether.
a willing accomplice for Russian intelligence. “Are you worried about the .01 percent of the
What you can do, however, is stick to the Advanced Persistent Threat groups [elite and
basics of PC security and understand your state-level hackers] that are probably not
“threat model”—the realistic threats that you interested in you,” Williams said. “or are you
confront as an everyday computer user. If worried about the 99.9 percent of stuff that’s
you’re an engineer working on infrastructure going to hurt you? The reality is A/V keeps
projects, a research scientist, or even a most of that stuff away.”
journalist, then Russian spying on your Besides, this problem is not likely to
machine might be part of your threat model, disappear—if anything, more consumer-grade
says Williams. Those people may want to software may soon end up in the cross-fire.
avoid Kaspersky products. Before reports of Kaspersky surfaced, hackers

122 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


“AS USUAL, BASIC
COMMON SENSE
AND SECURITY
PRACTICES ARE
YOUR BEST
DEFENSE.”

linked to China infiltrated and delivered than a product that is sparsely used.”
malware via the popular PC utility CCleaner Serper reminds us to keep our machines
(go.pcworld.com/ccli). Williams believes we’ll and software up to date. Vulnerabilities and
see more state-level hackers accelerate their hacking methods that get leaked are much
computer hacking programs thanks to recent easier to pull off because many people
high-level leaks of infiltration methods such as don’t patch their machines to fix critical
Vault 7 (go.pcworld.com/v7) and the Shadow vulnerabilities.
Brokers hack (go.pcworld.com/sbh). As usual, basic common sense and security
practices are your best defense. Rely on good,
STAYING SAFE WITH popular software, pick an antivirus that you
ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE trust, regularly patch your operating system
To counter these potential problems, Wil- and software, and don’t forget to use a reliable
liams advises home users to stick to big-name ad blocker in your browser to guard against
products as a way to benefit from a digital some common web-based attacks. That may
version of herd immunity. “For a product that’s not defend you against all possible intrusions,
widely used,” he said, “a back door in that but it’s the most reasonable approach short of
product will be caught much more quickly wearing a tinfoil hat and running Linux.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 123


Dare to find a career where you can truly make a difference.
Your skills and talents could be exactly what we need to
build the next generation of great teachers. Get resources
to explore whether teaching is right for you at teach.org.
Here’s How HOW TO BUILD, MAINTAIN,
AND FIX YOUR TECH GEAR

Android Instant Apps:


What they are and how to
use them on your phone
Get apps—no downloading required. BY MICHAEL SIMON

N
ow that Google’s Instant Apps a handful of apps, dozens of apps and games
(go.pcworld.com/inap) have will soon be available in instant form. But
made it to the Play Store, you what exactly are Instant Apps? And how do
can expect to see a lot more of you get them on your phone? We’re here to
them. While the initial rollout is limited to just help you get started:

IMAGE: MICHAEL SIMON DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 125


HERE’S HOW ANDROID INSTANT APPS

WHAT ARE INSTANT APPS? purchasing, and videos, just like they would
Instant Apps are the next step in app in a regular app. However, Instant Apps can
evolution, a universal Android solution that be specifically targeted, so a developer could
brings the speed and power of a native app choose to deliver a certain portion of their
with the ease and immediacy of a web app. app to a user at a specific time. That would
They look and operate just like one of the effectively “lock” the rest of the app until the
apps that are installed on your phone, but you user decided to download the full version.
don’t need to download anything.
DO I NEED TO BE ONLINE TO
SO INSTANT APPS DON’T USE INSTANT APPS?
LIVE ON MY PHONE? Like Progressive Web Apps, Instant Apps can
Correct. Using an Instant App is similar to be designed to work online, but some
browsing a webpage. Once you close the features would be accessible only when
window, it disappears. connected to a network.

ARE THERE ANY CAN ANY PHONE RUN


LIMITATIONS? THEM?
Yes and no. Instant Apps don’t have any Pretty much. Google says phones going all the
technical limitations, and developers can way back to Jelly Bean can run Instant Apps,
deliver things like account signup, though some phones may not be capable of
displaying them.

DO I NEED TO
SET UP
ANYTHING TO
USE THEM?
You need to enable Instant
Apps for your account on
your phone. Open the
Settings app and find your
Google Account settings.
Go to Instant Apps, flip the
toggle on, and tap Yes, I’m
Setting up Instant Apps is as easy as flipping a switch. In on the next screen.

126 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


You can play
the daily New
York Times mini
crossword as
an Instant App.

HOW DO I KNOW I’M USING friend and they’ll be able to launch directly
AN INSTANT APP? into that section of the app even if they
Well, the point is that you’re not supposed to haven’t previously installed it.
know when you’re running an Instant App.
They launch just like a regular app would, and HOW DO I FIND AN INSTANT
offer the same experience. But there are a APP?
couple of telltale signs. For one, most Instant Unless you’re specifically searching for one
Apps will include a link to download the full in the Play Store, it’s actually kind of
app at the top of the screen. Also, if you’re in random. Someone may send you a link that
a browser when you open an Instant App, opens up in an instant app, or you could do
the address bar will disappear when you a Google search that sends you to one. To
click an Instant link. test it out, type NYT Crossword into the
Chrome browser on your Android phone
CAN I SHARE INSTANT and tap on the result with the word
APPS? Instant next to it. Open that link, and you’ll be
Yes, and in fact that’s their main advantage. If taken to the New York Times Crossword app
you see an article you like in the Buzzfeed with the ability to work on the current day’s
app, for example, you can share it with a mini-puzzle.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 127


HERE’S HOW ANDROID INSTANT APPS

Hollar is one of the Instant Apps available to try in the Play Store.

HOW DO I FIND AN INSTANT • NYTimes Crossword


APP IN THE PLAY STORE? (go.pcworld.com/nyxw)
When you visit an app page that has an • BuzzFeed News (go.pcworld.com/bzzf)
Instant App companion, there will be a • Onefootball Live Soccer Scores
Try Now button. Tap it and you’ll be taken (go.pcworld.com/1fss)
directly to the instant app. • Red Bull TV (go.pcworld.com/rbtv)
• Dotloop (go.pcworld.com/l00p)
WHICH INSTANT APPS ARE • Share The Meal (go.pcworld.com/meal)
AVAILABLE TO TRY?
At launch, there are only a handful of apps to CAN I SEE AN INSTANT APPS
try, but more will be added: HISTORY?
If you head back to the Instant Apps tab in
• Hollar (go.pcworld.com/holl) your Google Account settings, you can see a
• Skyscanner (go.pcworld.com/skys) history of the Instant Apps you’ve used.

128 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


How to choose a TV antenna
Attention cord cutters: This in-depth guide to TV antenna tech will help you find just the
right model for tuning in free over-the-air broadcasts. BY MARTYN WILLIAMS

P
utting up a TV antenna is one of satellite company. And if you decide to
the best steps you can take to subscribe to an online TV provider, you won’t
breaking your reliance on pay TV. need to worry about which ones carry your
Most areas of the U.S. have local channels (not all of them do).
access to several dozen TV channels As a bonus, they’ll make your big-screen
broadcast over the air for free. TV shine with a better picture than cable or
A TV antenna will bring them to your TV, satellite can deliver. This is possible because
so you won’t be stuck with the “local those transmissions are typically compressed
broadcast TV fee” charged by your cable or in order to preserve bandwidth, so the service

IMAGE: PETER ROBERTS DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 129


HERE’S HOW CHOOSE A T V ANTENNA

providers can cram


more channels into
their pipes.
You’ll notice the
difference in quality
on the major
broadcast networks
mostly, because all of
them broadcast in
high definition. Most
stations broadcast a
1080i (interlaced
scanning) signal,
which is the highest A screenshot of the TV Fool website showing TV reception in San Francisco.
resolution currently
used for OTA TV in the US, but a handful where you live and of those, which ones you
transmit at 720p (progressive scanning). Both want to watch.
specs are considered to be high definition. To figure out what’s on air where you live,
Here’s our five-step guide to choosing the head over to TV Fool (go.pcworld.com/f00l).
right TV antenna: It pairs the FCC’s broadcast TV database with
topographical maps to give you a pretty
• Determine which channels are available detailed estimation of which signals will reach
where you live your house and how strong they’ll be.
• Choose which channels you want to watch Enter your house address in the search
• Check the rules on antenna installation box, hit enter, and you’ll get something like
where you live the above screenshot in return.
• Figure out which type of antenna you need That chart above looks pretty
• Select the antenna complicated, but it’s really not.

WHICH CHANNELS ARE WHICH CHANNELS DO I


AVAILABLE ON AN WANT TO WATCH?
ANTENNA? At this point, it might be a good idea to check
The first step to choosing a TV antenna is the TV guide in a newspaper or website (go.
figuring out which channels are available pcworld.com/tvgd) to determine what’s on

130 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


air and what you want to watch. Make sure right to erect an antenna for the reception of
you choose “antenna” or “over the air” as over-the-air TV or satellite programming. It
your TV provider in the online program guide, applies to both homeowners and renters, and
so you don’t get cable channels mixed in. it overrides the power of home-owners
Many TV stations broadcast several associations (HOAs) to block antenna
channels as a digital package, so make sure to deployments. The rule (go.pcworld.com/
look at those as well. le11) covers antennas required for an
Once you’ve made your list, examine the “acceptable quality signal” on your property,
TV Fool results to find the channels you want or if you rent, an area where you have
to watch. Write down the number in the exclusive use. The FCC website has full details.
second column, the Real Channel, the
second-to-last column, the True Azimuth, and WHICH ANTENNA
the color (green yellow, or red). The colors DO I NEED?
will inform you if an indoor antenna will be TV Fool ranks station in order of predicted
sufficient, or if you’ll need an attic or roof- signal power, with the easiest to receive at the
mounted model to pull them in. top. The green channels can probably be
received with a simple indoor antenna, yellow
CAN I PUT UP AN ANTENNA? ones will probably require a larger antenna in
In almost all cases, the answer is yes. The an attic space or on the roof, and the red ones
FCC’s over-the-air reception devices (OTARD) will require a good roof-mounted antenna.
rule (go.pcworld.com/rule) gives you the Indoor antennas are typically flat, so
they’re easy to set up, usually by
hanging them in a window on the
side of the house facing the
transmitter. Some look different, a
bit like the old ‘rabbit ears’
antennas or even like a soundbar
(go.pcworld.com/sobr), but the
principle is the same: install them in
a favorable location.
Indoor antennas are typically
fine for all the strong local
channels, but if you want channels
The FCC’s OTARD rule. that are weaker or further away, you

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 131


HERE’S HOW CHOOSE A T V ANTENNA

might need to go larger and put an antenna in antennas are designed to cover one, two or
your attic space or on your roof. three bands. Not every antenna covers them all.
Compared to the roof, an antenna in the The real channel number helps you figure
attic will probably receive slightly less signal this out. After TV stations went digital, some
because it’s enclosed, but it might be no longer transmit on the channel number
enough to get stable TV reception. If you they announce on air. For example, channel 5
hate the look of an outdoor antenna, then in San Francisco is actually broadcasting on
experiment. An attic-mounted antenna will channel 29. That’s why the real channel is
also be easier to maintain. important in antenna selection.
The direction of the TV transmitter tower is Be prepared to put up with a lot of
also important. If you’re using an indoor marketing speak when checking out
antenna, you’ll want to put it in a window facing antennas. For the record, there is no such
that direction. If you’re using an outdoor thing as an “HD” antenna or “digital”
antenna, it will show you which way to point. As antenna—the format of the signals being
signals get weaker, going from green to yellow received doesn’t matter—and take those
to red, the direction is more important. If you “miles” range claims in the product
want to tune in weaker stations from towers in specifications with a grain of salt. No
different directions, you’ll probably need a manufacturer can guarantee their antenna will
rotator. This motorized device will turn the pull in a signal from a given number of miles
antenna so that it’s oriented
to pull in those weaker
signals.
Knowing the real
channel number will help
you select an antenna. TV
broadcasting in North
America is spread across
three frequency bands: low
VHF (channels 2 through
6), high VHF (channels 7
through 13), and UHF
(channels 14 through 50).
Because of the different The RCA Skybar is designed to resemble a soundbar and can be mounted
frequencies in use, beneath a wall-hung flat-screen.

132 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


The last station
on the list will require
a bit more work. A
larger antenna is
probably required,
and because it’s
more than 100
degrees from the
others, it will
probably require a
second antenna or a
rotator. Now is the
time to ask yourself if
A TV antenna with rotator installed. that sixth channel is
worth the extra
because too much depends on local equipment and installation.
topology, signal strength, interference, and Finally, look at those channel numbers. In
other factors unique to your location. the list, two channels are high VHF (12 and 7)
Having said that, those range claims are and the rest are UHF, so you’ll need an
useful in evaluating antennas from the same antenna that covers both those bands.
manufacturer. It’s a good bet that an antenna
labeled that claims 65 miles of range is DO I NEED A SIGNAL
generally better for long-distance reception AMPLIFIER OR A ROTATOR?
than one from the same company that If you’re unable to receive distant TV stations
claims to deliver 30 miles of range. due to low signal levels, you should consider
a signal amplifier. It’s always best to collect as
ANALYZING YOUR LIST much signal as possible at the antenna, so
In the example above, an indoor antenna will don’t skimp on a small one and try to make up
probably pull in all the green channels coming
from the transmitter at 240 degrees, and the
same antenna will also likely work for the third If you’re unable to receive
channel in the list, which comes from a distant TV stations due to low
different transmitter at 199 degrees, but has a signal levels, you should
strong signal. consider a signal amplifier.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 133


HERE’S HOW CHOOSE A T V ANTENNA

for it with an amplifier. But if a large antenna cable from interference, and an outer sheath to
still won’t pull in the station without picture protect the cable from the elements.
breakup, a signal amplifier might help. You Don’t be tempted to save a few dollars
also might need one if you have an reusing old coax. Buy new coax in the length
excessively long run of cable, say from a you need. Try to avoid coupling two cables
distant spot on a piece of land to a house. together, as each union will result in a little
A rotator will turn the TV antenna in any signal loss. The most common type of cable
direction with the click of a remote. These are for TV is called RG-6.
useful if you want to receive stations from
several different locations. A FINAL WORD OF ADVICE
Predicting which antenna will work with
WHAT TYPE OF CABLE DO I certainty is almost impossible. The
NEED FOR A TV ANTENNA? information garnered from sites like TV Fool
The connection from your antenna to your TV is will provide a strong indication of what should
every bit as important as the antenna itself. You work, but there are other variables at work.
need a high-quality coaxial cable (“coax” for In some areas, such as cities or hilly places,
short) for the job. Coax has a center wire that signals can bounce off obstacles like buildings
carries the signal and is surrounded by a plastic and cause interference, trees can grow leaves
insulator. An outer braid shields the center in the spring and block stations you got fine in
the winter, and atmospheric
conditions can alter the way
signals reach your house.
Moving an antenna just
a little to one side or up
and down a window can
have a big effect on
reception. If you’re putting
up an external antenna,
one side of your roof might
bring in nothing while the
other side provides perfect
reception.
Be prepared to
A piece of coaxial cable cut and ready for a connector to be attached. experiment.

134 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


How to delete or disable your
Facebook account
The process is easy, and you have options—the hard part is deciding whether you want to
forever part ways. BY NICK MEDIATI AND MELISSA RIOFRIO

D
eleting your Facebook account The good news is, you have two options
may be a fantasy you entertain for fulfilling this fantasy: deactivation, which
briefly every time you see one can be undone, or full-on deletion—and
too many intrusive ads or even then, you have a chance to change
political posts (go.pcworld.com/poli) on your your mind.
feed. We understand. Here’s how they both work.

IMAGE: FACEBOOK DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 135


HERE’S HOW DELETE A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

DEACTIVATE YOUR
FACEBOOK ACCOUNT
Deactivating your Facebook account puts it
on hiatus. Your profile will be removed from
the site, as will most of what you posted to
Facebook, though messages and other things
will stick around).
Deactivation can be undone. Facebook
will retain your data in case you decide to
come back. You can always reactivate your
account later by logging in to Facebook. If
you’re not sure you want to leave
permanently, this is a great way to try the Go to your Facebook Settings and select General
Facebook-free life before you make a final to find the deactivate option.
decision.
To deactivate your account, log in to then on the next screen select General from
Facebook. At the top of your Facebook page, the list along the left side of the window.
click the down-arrow icon at far right. Choose Once there, go to the Manage Account
Settings from the menu that appears, and section at the bottom to find the option to

Facebook tries to talk you out of deactivating your account, natch, by reminding you of all your friends
who will miss you if you leave.

136 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


deactivate your account. Click Deactivate
Your Account to start the process.
Facebook will try to guilt you into staying
by showing you photos of your Facebook
friends, and then asking you why you want to
deactivate your account.
Once you tell Facebook why you don’t
want to be friends anymore, click the
Deactivate button, enter your password one
last time, and Facebook will proceed to
deactivate your account. Remember, you can
always go back by logging into Facebook.

DELETE YOUR FACEBOOK The instructions for deleting your Facebook


account are easy to find: Just hit the question-mark
ACCOUNT icon at the top of your account page and type
Deleting your Facebook account, on the delete account into the text bar that appears.
other hand, kills it completely. You won’t be
able to log back in to retrieve or view anything delete your account. Open the Settings menu
you’ve posted to Facebook, and if you want on Facebook as described above, and go to
to use Facebook again, you’ll have to start the General page. You’ll find a link at the
from scratch. You can find all the
details if you hit the help icon at
the top right of your Facebook
account page (it looks like a
question mark) and type
deactivate account into the
search bar that appears. Hit the
Let Us Know link in this
description to start the deletion
process.
(Note: Facebook
recommends that you download
a copy of the data you’ve When you decide to delete your Facebook account, you have to
published to the site before you log back in first and prove you’re not a bot

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 137


HERE’S HOW DELETE A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

password and pass a text-


recognition test to proceed.
Once you’ve proven
you’re not a bot, a
Permanently Delete Account
dialog box will appear. Take a
moment to read the
explanation of what’s going to
happen. Note the 14-day
When you delete your Facebook account, you get 14 days to window to change your mind
change your mind. before your Facebook account
is really, truly dead to you.
bottom to download a copy of your Facebook This is it: If you hit the OK button, Facebook
data. Click the link. The service will then guide will begin the account deletion process.
you through the process of downloading an If you choose to delete and then change
archive of all your Facebook data.) your mind, no problem! All you have to do is
Facebook wants to make sure you are log back into Facebook within those 14 days.
who you say you are before it deletes an You’ll see a dialog box that will let you cancel
account, so you’ll have to enter your the deletion.

You have 14 days after deleting your account to log back in and save it from obliteration.

138 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


How to type emoji on your
PC using Windows 10 Fall
Creators Update
Why should smartphones have all the fun? BY MARK HACHMAN

H
ow can I type emoji on my PC (go.pcworld.com/4all), a new emoji
keyboard? It’s a question that keyboard will make adding emoji to Twitter,
you’ve probably asked, given Facebook, and other apps a snap.
up on, shrugged, and then While there’s nothing wrong with a good
pulled out your smartphone. Now, with old-fashioned smiley-face :) or GIF, an emoji is
Windows 10 and the Fall Creators Update a simple way to add a bit of fun to your

IMAGE: iSTOCK DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 139


HERE’S HOW T YPE EMOJI ON A PC

communications. That’s the whole point of you boot Windows.


emoji, after all! And while they’ve been part of The On-Screen keyboard is not an emoji
smartphone culture for years, Microsoft has app, however, and trying to type a smiley face
now added its easy emoji keyboard to simply types in text: a colon and a closed
Windows 10. For now, we’ll show you how to parentheses symbol. Given that the on-screen
bring up emoji under the current version of keyboard is rather detailed, you would think
Windows 10 (the Creators Update, which that emoji could be built right in. Nope.
many of you still have), and how it will If you’re lucky enough to have a tablet,
become easier once the Fall Creators Update emoji are accessible only if you undock the
drops. (We used Insider Build 16215 [go. tablet and put it into tablet mode. In tablet
pcworld.com/inbu] for testing, then checked mode, you’ll see an on-screen keyboard icon
it against the Fall Creators Update, itself.) appear in the lower right-hand corner of your
taskbar. It’s this keyboard that allows you to
HOW TO TYPE EMOJI UNDER type in emoji within the Creators Update—if
WINDOWS 10 you enjoy typing on glass while trying to
What was so annoying about the state of tweet or send email.
emoji in the Windows 10 Creators Update is Discovering that Microsoft allows emoji in
that Microsoft almost, but not quite, had it one on-screen keyboard but not in the other
right. A tool called the On-Screen Keyboard is was the sort of design decision that, as a user,
actually an accessibility app that you can made you want to tear your hair out.
launch using the Start menu, or, via the Fortunately, Microsoft has resolved that
Control Panel, trigger to launch whenever issue with the Fall Creators Update.

Microsoft’s emoji keyboard in Windows 10 tablet mode, within the older Creators Update.

140 PCWorld DECEMBER 2017


HOW TO LAUNCH THE keyboard (and only that tab, for now) there’s a
EMOJI KEYBOARD WITHIN small “swatch” of what looks like fabric to the
WINDOWS 10 FALL upper right, near the X icon to close the emoji
CREATORS UPDATE window. The swatch represents a global
Once you receive the Windows 10 Fall adjustment for the skin tone for each emoji,
Creators Update, here’s how to launch the which you may vary as you choose.
emoji keyboard within Windows 10: either If there’s any downside to Microsoft’s
use the WIN + . (the period punctuation emoji window, it’s that developers have
mark) key, or else the WIN + ; (semi-colon) already coded in solutions to fix the issue. If
key. Either will open the new emoji keyboard. you post something to Facebook, or use
There, you’ll find the standard range of the Web app that Twitter provides, each
emoji, from people to food to sports, plus service will present you with a small emoji
Microsoft-specific emoji like the ninjacat. You icon to add whatever emoji you’d like,
can navigate among the various “tabs” or regardless of whether you have the Fall
categories of emoji via the Tab key, and Creators Update.
touch or mouse to the one you’d like, or use That’s not the case for all apps, though.
the arrow keys. The Enter key selects the And Microsoft’s own—Word, PowerPoint,
proper emoji. Mail, and others—lack the capabilities that the
There’s one catch: Somewhat inexplicably, new emoji keyboard adds. Now that the
you can enter only one emoji at a time. After emoji keyboard has dropped within the Fall
you enter your emoji, the keyboard Creators Update, it’s cause for !
disappears. That means, of
course, that if you want to really
emphasize a point— , for
example—you’ll have to
re-invoke the keyboard three
separate times, or just copy
and paste. Unfortunately, the
emoji keyboard isn’t a true,
draggable window, either—it
remains in place.
There’s one other option
you should know about: On
the very first tab of the emoji Some developers have already taken action to add emoji.

DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 141


Tech Spotlight A video showcase
of the latest trends

Watch the
video at
go.pcworld.
com/lsw

Lenovo’s Star Wars: ≥ Lenovo’s Star

Jedi Challenges
Wars: Jedi
Challenges is
augmented
reality done right. It’s affordable at $199, it’s easy to set up
and use, and the games are fun. The kit includes an authen-
tic-looking Jedi lightsaber, a tracking beacon for orientation,
and an augmented reality headset that you pair with a com-
patible smartphone.

142 PCWorld DECEMBER


MONTH 2017
2017

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