Microsoft’s offer to upgrade Windows 7 or Windows 8 to Windows 10 for free for users who need assistive technologies was supposed to run out at the end of 2017, and despite a loophole being open for a while, Microsoft has closed it.
The assistive technologies upgrade was meant for anyone who was going to use Windows 10’s accessibility features, and there was no verification process involved, so anyone was able to upgrade using this method (dubious moral issues aside).
Alternative route
Unfortunately it seems the other method of upgrading to windows 10 – using an existing Windows 7/8.1 product key to activate the installation of the new OS – has also been deactivated at the time of this writing.
Ultimately, Microsoft probably wasn’t too worried about closing these loopholes for a while, because having more Windows 10 users is obviously nothing but a good thing for the company.
There’s nothing like PC gaming. These days, the best PC games allow you to see and do things that are truly out of this world. And, with the exciting games on the horizon in 2018, you should think about upgrading to one of the best gaming monitors to really bring your gaming experience to another level. Because, why would you play all of these amazing games on anything other than the best gaming monitor?
But what separates the best gaming monitors from the best monitors? Well, a lot of it will boil down to function and preferences. There is a wide variety of different tech and features that are featured in the best gaming monitors, and what you need will vary on the kinds of games you play.
Do you just want to sit down and immerse yourself in Far Cry 5? If so, you may want to pick up a 4K Ultra HD gaming monitor with HDR. Or, do you prefer games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, where you just want to win? If so, you might need a gaming monitor with a high refresh rate and low latency so you can effortlessly top the leaderboards.
To be fair, this is a lot of information, but don’t worry, we have you covered. This list is packed with the best gaming monitors you’ll find today. And, as an added bonus, we’ve tested and reviewed each monitor on this list ourselves, so you’ll know you’re getting your money’s worth. So, whatever kind of display you’re looking for, no matter what kind of games you want to play – or how you want to play them, we know you’ll find the best gaming monitor for your needs right here.
Cut to the chase
What is it? The would-be fifth Surface Pro tablet
When is it out? Spring 2018 at the earliest
What will it cost? Likely as much as – if not more than – the current model
Surface Pro 5 release date
Two years ago, we were convinced we would see the Surface Pro 5 as early as last year, a prophecy that wasn’t exactly fulfilled by the time we did see another Surface Pro in May 2017. As much hearsay that had reached our offices at the time, you would have expected a full-fledged Surface Pro 4 sequel, but instead what we received was more of refresh.
At a Microsoft event that took place in Shanghai, China, the Surface Pro was unveiled in front of the whole world, though its improvements weren’t as revolutionary as we had anticipated before. In other words, the spec boost was nice, but not as nice as it would have been to get a pair of Thunderbolt 3 ports or two for external graphics. As such, we’re convinced that the Surface Pro 5 is still on its way.
Especially as Windows 10 has finally ousted Windows 7 as the most popular of Microsoft’s desktop operating systems, it’s crucial for Redmond to come out with a slate that brandishes only the latest and greatest software. We would suspect that, as the major Redstone 4 and 5 updates are being tested simultaneously, we’ll start to hear more rumors regarding the Surface Pro 5 release date.
Until then, here’s a look at the history of initial Surface Pro release dates:
Surface Pro: February 9, 2013
Surface Pro 2: October 22, 2013
Surface Pro 3: June 20, 2014
Surface Pro 4: October 26, 2015
Surface Pro (2017): June 15, 2017
We doubt the Surface Pro 5 will look terribly different from the previous
Surface Pro 5 price
Historically, Surface pricing rarely fluctuates with each new variation. At the Shanghai event on May 23, the Surface Pro was revealed to come with a $799 price in the US or £799 in the UK (that’s around AU$1,380) for the entry-level model.
If the Surface Pro 5 is indeed the Surface Pro, then we now know for sure what the price will be. But, if the Surface Pro 5 is the would-be successor to the Surface Pro, then maybe we can expect a higher price tag.
While it wouldn’t be ideal for Microsoft’s loyal following if the company deviated too far from the norm, ambitious upgrades may necessitate that it does. For the price of the next Surface Pro to differ from its predecessors, it would have to offer some serious advantages over its last-gen sibling – not just a run-of-the-mill spec boost.
Should the Surface Pro 5 team take any hints from the Surface Book 2, it’s possible that Microsoft’s next tablet will come in two different screen size variants, at two different starting prices. Considering Apple offers both a 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, it would make sense for the Surface Pro 5 to get with the program and introduce a smaller option as well.
Image Credit: Patently Mobile
Surface Pro 5 specs
As it stands right now, the Surface Pro has some major catching up to do when it comes to specs. Just two months after it released, Intel announced its 8th-generation Ultrabook processors, which are quad-core at the most affordable level.
The 2017 Surface Pro, however, only has a dual-core, 7th-generation Intel processor regardless of how much cash you throw at it. So, when a Surface Pro 5 does arrive, realistically we’d like to see an Intel Core i5-8250U to start with more expensive editions allowing for an Intel Core i7-8550U. But now that Intel has announced a wide range of Coffee Lake U-series CPUs, we would much rather see the Surface Pro 5 come to the current CPU generation.
Though as much as we’d like to see the death of the entry-level Core m3 Surface Pro, it’s unlikely to take place with the Surface Pro – especially seeing as Microsoft’s other Surface devices have only recently begun to adopt it for the first time.
Port-wise, for the time being, the Surface Connect proprietary charger is here to stay, meaning the latest Surface Pro – and presumably the Surface Pro 5 – don’t use USB Type-C for charging or data transfers. That said, this is bound to change given that the Surface Book 2 does offer native support for USB-C.
Surface Pro 5 design
Ahead of its announcement, a leak published by VentureBeat showed off a number of press renders that claimed to be of the Surface Pro 4’s successor. As it turns out, that was only half true. These designs ended up representing the Surface Pro rather than a true Surface Pro 5.
Those who were hoping for an intense overhaul of the Surface Pro 4’s appearance will certainly be in for a rude awakening. Yet, for those of us who adore the SP4’s current look and only care about performance refinements, this will do just fine.
Those who were hoping for an intense overhaul of the Surface Pro 4’s appearance will certainly be in for a rude awakening. Yet, for those of us who adore the SP4’s current look and only care about performance refinements, this will do just fine.
Surface Pro 5 stylus and Dial
One can’t help but wonder how Microsoft will go about refreshing Surface Pen this time around. A next-generation Surface Pen is an idea we’ve contemplated for quite some time, but it wasn’t until Microsoft itself patented haptic feedback technology for the Surface Pen that we saw a clearer picture of what’s to come.
Without divulging too many drab details, the patents suggests a stylus whose tip retracts when it’s pressed against a flat surface, such as a screen per sé. From there, a coil will be compacted and subsequently vibrate from within the Pen’s chassis. It’s an idea that Apple has been toying with for years, but has yet to integrate into its existing Pencil stylus. As such, it’s now more evident than ever that Microsoft wants to beat its Cupertino rival to the punch.
Another Surface Pen patent describes a retention clip that can emulate the functions of a mouse’s scroll wheel, perhaps indicating that the Surface Pro 5 won’t need a mouse (or a trackpad) at all. This would come in handy for those users who desire the creative benefits of the Surface Pen, but would prefer not to shell out the cash for a physical keyboard.
Of course, Microsoft also has the Surface Dial in its clasp. The designer-focused, puck-like accessory was briefly mentioned in a slideshow presentation in December, with ZDNet having picked up the slides itself for use in a news story. The company claims that peripherals such as the Dial, wearables, headsets and more are factors essential to what is perceived as the ‘modern PC.’
Also mentioned was the incorporation of ‘hero features,’ such as Cortana and Windows Hello, and although a fingerprint scanner didn’t make it into the new Surface Pro itself, there is an optional Type Cover that includes this functionality. With that in mind, we can surmise that, if or when a Surface Pro 5 is announced, it will also support fingerprint recognition.
Microsoft’s Panos Panay revealing the Surface Pro 3 in May 2014
What we want to see
As much as we’ve been impressed by the Surface Pro 4 and its follow-up – hibernation bugs aside – there will always be room for improvement. (That would be the case even if it had earned our Editor’s Choice award.) From the screen size and resolution to the hardware found inside, we have a few ideas for how Microsoft could craft an even better Windows 10 tablet.
Longer battery life
This is a bit of low-hanging fruit, but countless customers have lamented the Surface Pro 4’s battery life, regardless of issues with its ‘Sleep’ mode. We rated the device for five hours and 15 minutes of local video playback.
That’s well below Microsoft’s promise of nine hours of video playback, a benchmark that even the 2017 Surface Pro couldn’t achieve in our review (our test resulted in 6 hours and 58 minutes of video playback). Our video playback figure is in line with the average laptop, though it’s a far cry from what its nemesis, the MacBook, can achieve.
Ideally, and realistically, we’d like to see at least seven hours of battery life reliably from the next Surface Pro tablet. That would put it closer in line with the MacBooks as well as competing tablets, like the iPad Pro. Surely, you’ll need as many milliampere hours in the Surface Pro 5’s lithium-ion battery as you can get.
That said, if the Surface Pro 5 could garner anywhere near the Surface Book 2 manufacturer’s suggested battery life of 17 hours, you would find no complaints from us. Come on, Microsoft, we know you’ve thought about it.
Can the screen get much sharper? Why yes, it can
An even sharper (and/or bigger) screen
With the Surface Pro 4 and the subsequent Surface Pro, Microsoft managed to outrank countless rivals in both the laptop and tablet spaces when it comes to screen resolution. With a razor-sharp 267 ppi (pixels per inch) already at 2,736 x 1,824 pixels within a 12.3-inch screen, it’s not as if the Surface Pro 5 needs to be much sharper.
However, if the next Surface Pro were equipped with, say, a 4K (3,840 pixels wide at the very least) screen, that would rip its productivity and entertainment capabilities wide open. Film and photo editors could work at the native resolution that’s increasingly becoming the norm, while average Joe’s (teehee) could finally watch Netflix in 4K on a tablet.
That said, the realm of super sharp resolutions might be reserved for the Surface Book range at this point. So, why not up its size a bit?
The Surface Pro 4 is big enough for almost all tasks, but it’s still not the established default size for most laptops: 13.3 inches. Then again, doing so may cannibalize Microsoft’s market by negating the need for the Surface Book 2.
On the other hand, maybe the iPad Pro is onto something with its 12.9-inch display. After all, we’re not asking for a gargantuan, monster-sized tablet – just a slight size boost. Assuming the resolution doesn’t bump up too much alongside a size increase, the extra space could allow for a battery life boost.
Now, imagine if the next Surface rocked USB-C
It might finally be time for USB-C
At this point, no Windows device is complete without implementing USB Type-C, the reversible, versatile port that can deliver power, audio and video while also transferring data at rates of up to 40Gbps. Traditional USB ports won’t cut it any longer, at least not on their own, so the Surface Pro 5 needs to get with the times.
As the Surface Book 2 gradually makes its way to eager consumers, perhaps Microsoft will start to realize the potential of its USB Type-C port. The current Surface Pro requires a dongle for USB-C connections at the present, a sentence that those familiar with the criticisms of the new port standard will have a good chuckle at.
At the same time, Microsoft may want to include a standard USB 3.0 port, too, in order to natively meet the system requirements for its own Windows Mixed Reality headsets. If the company wants to lead the pack in the business of affordable virtual reality solutions, it’s a no-brainer to make the Surface Pro 5 compatible.
Whether or not you believe it will be called the Surface Pro 5, the next iteration of Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablet is an elusive concept. If one exists at all, we applaud Microsoft for how well it’s keeping its forthcoming hardware under wraps. Nevertheless, we’re sure to see some sort of new Surface product later this spring, whether it be at Build 2018 or otherwise.
If you have lots of digital photographs sitting on your hard drive, then you’ll want the best photo printer you can find to print those photographs out and do your photography justice.
Digital cameras and mobile devices have made photography far more convenient and accessible – as you can instantly review your photos. And, if you buy one of the best photo printers, you can quickly and easily produce physical photographs to display in frames, photo books or to give as gifts.
The best photo printers come in every shape and size, from quick and easy budget photo printers, portable devices and even professional-level photo printers. Fortunately, this means that no matter what you’re looking for, you should be able to find the best photo printer for your needs.
However, we know that all this choice can make finding the best photo printer for your needs a daunting task. Luckily, we here at TechRadar have your back, as we’ve put together this list of the best photo printers you can buy in 2018 – so you can find the best photo printer at the best price.
1. Canon Pixma Pro-100S
The best all-round photo printer
Print speed: 34 seconds | Print resolution: 4800 x 2400 dpi | Paper capacity: 150 sheets | Dimensions: 689 x 385 x 215 mm | Weight: 19.7kg
Excellent colour and mono prints
Relatively fast
Comparatively high cost of ink
Dye-based inks less resilient
The Canon Pixma Pro-100S is, in our view, the best photo printer you can buy today. Print quality is stunning – which is perhaps the most important aspect of a photo printer, with an 8-ink dye system that produces gallery-quality prints. It can also handle print sizes of A3 and over, and it’s pretty fast as well, able to print a 4 x 6-inch photo in just 34 seconds. If you take a lot of photos on your smartphone or tablet, then the wireless printing feature will be a great help as well. If you want the very best photo printer for a reasonable price, this is the one we recommend.
2. Epson PictureMate PM-400
The easiest printer to use. Ever.
Print speed: 36 seconds for 4 x 6-inch borderless photo | Print resolution: 5,760 x 1,440 | Paper capacity: 50 sheets | Dimensions: 249 x 384 x 200mm (Width x Depth x Height) | Weight: 1.81kg
Build quality
Lightweight
Slow print speed
Once you’ve got the PM-400 up and running, you’ll have a ton of fun running off image after image. Although the print quality won’t win any awards for print quality, you’ll be proud to hang any of its prints on your wall or sit them on your desk.
The PM-400 is a delight to look at – not that this should heavily factor into which printer you should buy. It’s got a pretty bone white frame that tucks away neatly, and the 4-pound printer can be easily transported wherever you go.
Print speed: 3 pages a minute | Print resolution: 2,880 x 1,440 | Paper capacity: 120 sheets | Dimensions: 684 x 376 x 250 mm (Width x Depth x Height) | Weight: 19.5kg
Large print sizes
LCD screen
Can be difficult to use for beginners
If you need a professional photo printer that makes no compromises when it comes to print quality – and which can handle large print sizes for displays and galleries – then the Epson SureColor SC-P800 is definitely worth considering. Sure, it’s expensive, but it offers a wide range of features, professional color calibration and even tools for fine artists. This is not a photo printer for beginners wanting to print out a few holiday snaps, but if you work with photos for your profession, this is the best photo printer for you.
4. HP Sprocket Photo Printer
A quick and easy portable photo printer
Print speed: 40 seconds | Print resolution: 313 x 400 | Paper capacity: 10 sheets | Dimensions: 75 x 116 x 23 mm (Width x Depth x Height) | Weight: 0.17kg
Easy to use
No need for ink
Print quality isn’t the best
Expensive media
This small, hand-sized, photo printer isn’t for printing out professional-quality photos, but is a quick, easy and fun way to instantly print out your digital snaps – essentially turning any digital camera into a Polaroid-esque instant printer. It doesn’t use ink, so you don’t have to worry about buying replacement cartridges – instead it uses heat to transform a pre-dyed sheet of paper into your photos. It runs on batteries and has a stylish design as well.
5. Canon Pixma TS8050
High quality, all-in-one printer
Print speed: 15 ppm black, 10 ppm colour | Print resolution: 9,600 x 2,400 | Paper capacity: 100 sheets | Dimensions: 372 x 324 x 139mm (Width x Depth x Height) | Weight: 6.5kg
Great print quality
Expensive to run
Great for the traveling professional or someone who needs a small printer for occasional use, printing photos or using the scanner function. It’s a bit pricey to buy – and to run – but the flexibility and quality of the printouts is excellent, making this a worthy choice when looking for the best photo printer for your needs.
6. Canon PIXMA TS9150
Amazing print quality – for a price
Print speed: ISO 15ppm black, 10ppm colour | Print resolution: 4,800 x 1,200 | Paper capacity: 120 sheets | Dimensions: 372 x 324 x 140 mm (Width x Depth x Height) | Weight: 6.7g
Great print quality
Lovely design
Slow to print
If you’re looking for a great all-round printer which doesn’t skimp on print quality for your photographs, then we don’t think you will be disappointed by what the PIXMA TS9150, Canon’s flagship printer, has to offer.
While it’s certainly more expensive than some of the cheap two in one printers you can pick up, it’s not a bad price for something which produces high quality prints, especially if you only need to print at A4 or below.
Best of all, the print quality here is stunning, and it also has an attractive design. While the looks of your printer may not seem that important, it does mean you don’t feel the need to try and hide it away out of sight if you’re using it at home.
7. HP Envy 5540 All-in-One printer
A cheap and cheerful colour inkjet for low volume printing
Print speed: ISO 12ppm black, 8ppm colour | Print resolution: 4,800 x 1,200 | Paper capacity: 125 sheets | Dimensions: 454 x 503 x 156mm (Width x Depth x Height) | Weight: 6.82kg
Smartphone support
Easy to install
A bit slow
Expensive for mono printing
We’ve come to expect simple setup and operation from Envy printers, and this one is no exception. It’s quiet, packs in a lot of features and delivers excellent print quality, especially on photo paper. We particularly like the ability to use smartphones as well as computers, and to connect wirelessly without a router. This makes it a versatile photo printer that’s not too flashy, but does the job well.
