PC hardware
The PC is still the most important technology for accessing corporate IT systems, even as its form changes from desktops to laptops, netbooks and thin clients. We examine the latest PC hardware trends and technologies and the developments that IT managers need to know for planning their strategy.
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News
28 Oct 2024
Western Digital boosts HDD capacity with 32TB shingled drives
An 11th platter gives extra capacity, while shingled (overlapped) writes – best suited to sequential recording use cases – allow for greater density and big gains in thoughput Continue Reading
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News
22 Oct 2024
Snapdragon Summit 2024: PC, mobile reach AI first inflection point
Annual conference of leading mobile technology platform sees launch of processors, and mission to set the pace of innovation in PC, mobile, automotive and spatial computing Continue Reading
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News
28 Oct 2024
Western Digital boosts HDD capacity with 32TB shingled drives
An 11th platter gives extra capacity, while shingled (overlapped) writes – best suited to sequential recording use cases – allow for greater density and big gains in thoughput Continue Reading
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News
22 Oct 2024
Snapdragon Summit 2024: PC, mobile reach AI first inflection point
Annual conference of leading mobile technology platform sees launch of processors, and mission to set the pace of innovation in PC, mobile, automotive and spatial computing Continue Reading
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News
04 Oct 2024
Cups Linux printing bugs open door to DDoS attacks, says Akamai
The Cups Linux printing vulnerabilities disclosed at the end of September would seem to have a nasty sting in their tail, according to researchers at Akamai Continue Reading
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Definition
30 Sep 2024
What is a microcomputer?
A microcomputer is a complete computer on a small scale, designed for use by one person at a time. Continue Reading
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News
27 Sep 2024
Printing vulnerability affecting Linux distros raises alarm
Security pros need to get in front of a series of vulnerabilities affecting the Cups Linux printing service after an apparently botched disclosure process saw technical details published in advance of a patch Continue Reading
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News
26 Sep 2024
Semiconductor market scaleups to benefit from multimillion-pound investment from Innovate UK
National innovation agency Innovate UK is offering 16 semiconductor scaleups access to millions of pounds of funding to support their continued growth Continue Reading
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News
25 Sep 2024
CrowdStrike apologises to US government for global mega-outage
CrowdStrike executive Adam Meyers appears before a US government committee to explain the series of errors that led directly to one of the biggest IT outages in history Continue Reading
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News
17 Sep 2024
Toshiba follows the pack with launch of 24TB and 28TB HDDs
Several months behind Seagate and Western Digital, Toshiba achieves the maximum possible in commercial HDDs and benefits from a speed boost over its rivals Continue Reading
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Definition
11 Sep 2024
Apple
Apple Inc. (formerly Apple Computer Inc.) is an American computer and consumer electronics company famous for creating the iPhone, iPad and Macintosh computers. Continue Reading
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News
11 Sep 2024
Under-pressure Post Office botches hardware procurement in project to replace error-prone system
Pressured decision-making caused mistakes in the Post Office project to replace the system at the heart of national scandal Continue Reading
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News
04 Sep 2024
IFA 2024: Latest Snapdragon X Series to ‘redefine’ enterprise computing
Global mobile processor and platform provider takes wraps off next generation of flagship product’s X Series portfolio with the addition of platform claimed to bring ‘incredible’ battery life, superior performance and CoPilot+ PC capability Continue Reading
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News
03 Sep 2024
Flash prices drop as drive production increases but demand lags
Flash prices were high in the early part of this year as a result of manufacturer production squeezes but have since dropped because demand has been slack, with flash now costing just under 10 cents per gigabyte Continue Reading
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News
19 Aug 2024
Popular Microsoft apps for Mac at risk of code injection attacks
Researchers at Cisco Talos turn up evidence suggesting that Microsoft apps running on the Apple macOS operating system are not as secure as they seem Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Aug 2024
Deep dive into quantum-resistant cryptography for email security
Quantum computers have the potential to crack many of the encryption methods we currently rely on to keep our digital communications safe. Quantum-resistant cryptography may be the answer Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Jul 2024
CrowdStrike update chaos explained: What you need to know
A botched software update at cyber security firm CrowdStrike has caused IT chaos around the world. Learn more about the global CrowdStrike update outage as it develops Continue Reading
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News
22 Jul 2024
CrowdStrike chaos shows risks of concentrated ‘big IT’
The concentration of so much mission-critical technology in the hands of a few large suppliers makes incidents like the Microsoft-CrowdStrike outage all the more dangerous Continue Reading
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News
21 Jul 2024
CrowdStrike update snafu affected 8.5 million Windows devices
About 8.5 million devices globally were hit by the botched CrowdStrike update, with a significant number now back online and operational Continue Reading
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Opinion
19 Jul 2024
What happens when the IT infrastructure is too big to fail?
Today’s global outage of Microsoft is rapidly sending shockwaves across all sectors, demonstrating the risk of having a single point of failure Continue Reading
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News
09 Jul 2024
Chinese spies target vulnerable home office kit to run cyber attacks
China’s APT40 is ramping up targeting of victims using vulnerable small and home office networking kit as command and control infrastructure, according to an international alert Continue Reading
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News
08 Jul 2024
Synnovis attack highlights degraded, outdated state of NHS IT
More cyber attacks against the health service are likely, and will succeed if something isn’t done to address the increasingly elderly NHS IT estate, experts are warning Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Jun 2024
immersive virtual reality (immersive VR)
Immersive virtual reality (immersive VR) is the presentation of an artificial environment that replaces users' real-world surroundings convincingly enough that they can suspend disbelief and fully engage with the created environment. Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Jun 2024
Why on-device AI Is the future of consumer and enterprise applications
While it may seem logical to run AI workloads in the cloud, the emergence of AI on PC hardware provides a local compute alternative Continue Reading
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News
30 May 2024
The challenges of supporting Copilot+ PCs in the enterprise
Windows PCs generally use x86 compatible hardware, with Intel or AMD processors. Microsoft is now propelling Windows on Arm for AI Continue Reading
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News
28 May 2024
Executive Interview: Why Dell wants to be your one-stop AI shop
At Dell Technologies World in Las Vegas, artificial intelligence was the talk of the town as Dell staked out an all-encompassing strategy ahead of an anticipated goldrush. Dell’s Nick Brackney explains why the tech giant believes it's onto a winner Continue Reading
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E-Zine
28 May 2024
Digital border problems are stacking up
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we examine the government’s post-Brexit plans for digital borders as problems begin to emerge. We find out about AI PCs and ask whether they will make any difference for enterprise IT. And we talk to Red Hat CEO Matt Hicks about the open source opportunities from AI. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
24 May 2024
Prepare for Copilot+ & AI PC migraine
A few years ago, ARM-based laptops were the kind of chips that ended up powering low-cost Chromebooks. MediaTek system on a chip devices used to offer a low cost alternative to the more powerful ... Continue Reading
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E-Zine
21 May 2024
Can AI supercharge human creativity?
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we talk to Getty Images about the challenges of balancing human creativity with the risks and opportunities of generative AI. Our latest buyer’s guide examines the latest best practice in desktop IT management in a world of flexible working. And we review the benefits of open source software in the enterprise. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2024
Dell Technologies World: AI at core of Dell’s next chapter
With a significant anniversary just passed, Dell CEO Michael Dell was in reflective mood as he looked ahead to the impact of artificial intelligence on the tech giant’s product stack Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2024
Toshiba shows 32TB HDDs with heat-assisted and shingled drives
Drive maker demonstrates 32TB and 31TB capacity hard drives that boost write density by use of heat and microwave assistance plus shingled – overlapped – drive tracks Continue Reading
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Feature
20 May 2024
IT strategy: Supporting a distributed workforce
The idea of supporting hybrid or fully remote workers has changed the dynamics of end-user computing support. We explore the challenges Continue Reading
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Podcast
01 May 2024
Podcast: 32TB HDDs by 2029, but how much bigger can they get?
We talk to Rainer Kaese of Toshiba about the roadmap for conventional magnetic recording on hard disk drives, the roadmap to 32TB, and what it would take to get to 100TB or 200TB Continue Reading
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News
10 Apr 2024
Breakthrough may herald secure home quantum computing
An emerging approach to quantum security dubbed blind quantum computing may one day help spur mass adoption of quantum computing safely and securely, using technology that is already available today Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Apr 2024
Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe, PCI-E)
Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe or PCI-E) is a serial expansion bus standard for connecting a computer to one or more peripheral devices. Continue Reading
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News
02 Apr 2024
Flash storage prices rise by 25% as manufacturers chase profitability
Analysis of 30,000-plus drive prices shows cost of flash drives per gigabyte rose sharply since October 2023, as memory manufacturers limit supplies and increase prices Continue Reading
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News
18 Mar 2024
Budgets rise as IT decision-makers ramp up cyber security spending
Few IT leaders surveyed in the TechTarget/Enterprise Strategy Group 2024 Technology Spending Intentions study say they are spending less this year Continue Reading
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News
29 Feb 2024
Windows 11: Not as big a priority in EMEA compared with North America
Survey shows that IT decision-makers are prioritising desktop productivity and PC refreshes this year, with more in the US prioritising spending on PCs and Windows 11 upgrades Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Feb 2024
printed circuit board (PCB)
A printed circuit board (PCB) is a structure for assembling electronic components and their connections into a unified circuit that allows electrical current to pass between components. Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2024
Seagate uses HAMR to hit 30TB in Exos hard drives
HDD giant Seagate unveils 30TB Exos drives with higher areal density, aimed at hyperscaler customers, with products at 50TB promised for 2028 in its roadmap Continue Reading
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News
24 Jan 2024
WebKit vulnerability sparks Apple’s first major security update of 2024
A zero-day in the open source WebKit browser engine that powers Safari has sparked Apple’s first major patch roll-out of the new year Continue Reading
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News
23 Jan 2024
NVM Express boosts computational storage standards
New command sets allow for computational storage with NVMe flash and includes frameworks to allow local memory usage in processing workloads on storage hardware Continue Reading
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News
16 Jan 2024
AMD bets on India, doubles down on AI
The chipmaker recently inaugurated its largest global design facility in Bangalore as part of a $400m investment in India to support its expanded portfolio and build artificial intelligence capabilities Continue Reading
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News
11 Jan 2024
Gartner: PC market collapsed in 2023
The post-Covid recovery of the PC industry is taking far longer than hoped, with businesses and consumers hanging onto devices Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Dec 2023
Decoding zero trust in endpoint security: A practical guide for CISOs
The exponential increase in endpoints has vastly expanded the average organisation’s attack surface – address this by applying zero-trust best practice to endpoints Continue Reading
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Blog Post
19 Dec 2023
Why Intel has joined the race for the AI-enabled laptop
A new AI battlefield is opening up, not among all the GPU ‘farms’ in data centres around the world, but out at the network edge and in particular on the laptop. This explains why Intel has invested ... Continue Reading
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E-Zine
19 Dec 2023
The ransomware threat to UK critical infrastructure
In this week’s Computer Weekly, a parliamentary report warns that a lack of ransomware preparedness at the highest levels of government is leaving UK critical national infrastructure dangerously exposed – we analyse the risks. We examine how AI tools are helping to enhance cloud security. And the CTO at jewellery retailer Pandora discusses organisational change in IT. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
18 Dec 2023
Top 10 end user computing stories of 2023
While the humble personal computer remains core to business productivity, IT admins now need to support a flexible and hybrid workforce Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Dec 2023
How hybrid work patterns change end user computing
While some organisations have mandated that staff return to the office, many places still operate a hybrid policy – we look at the IT admin challenges Continue Reading
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News
07 Dec 2023
How server makers are surfing the AI wave
While hyperscalers extend the life of their x86 equipment, the industry’s desperate pleas to find a new killer application to drive up server sales may well be coming true Continue Reading
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News
06 Dec 2023
How a Node4 virtual datacentre proved better than MS cloud for mental health charity
Charity Together For Mental Wellbeing managed to migrate legacy servers into a new virtual environment and fix a major disaster recovery issue Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Nov 2023
endpoint device
An endpoint device is an internet-capable computer hardware device on a TCP/IP network. Continue Reading
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Definition
13 Nov 2023
OLED TV (organic light-emitting diode television)
An OLED TV (organic light-emitting diode television) is a type of display technology that uses OLEDs to render images on the panels used for TV screens. Continue Reading
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News
16 Oct 2023
Flash prices drop towards spinning disk levels in 2023
Number-crunching data on 17,000-plus drive prices shows cost of flash drives per gigabyte fell by around 10% in past six months while hard disk drive per-gigabyte prices stood still Continue Reading
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News
10 Oct 2023
Canalys sees glimmer of hope in PC sector
The PC industry experienced another quarter of decline, but the outlook is more promising Continue Reading
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Definition
03 Oct 2023
optical mouse
An optical mouse is an advanced computer pointing device that uses a light-emitting diode (LED), optical sensor and digital signal processor (DSP) in place of the traditional mouse ball and electromechanical transducer. Continue Reading
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Definition
03 Oct 2023
DisplayPort
DisplayPort is an interface for digital displays, particularly computer monitors. Continue Reading
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News
19 Sep 2023
New revelations from the Snowden archive surface
A decade after Snowden exposed NSA’s mass surveillance in cooperation with the British GCHQ, only about 1% of the documents have been published – but three major facts can finally be revealed thanks to a doctoral thesis in applied cryptography by Jacob Appelbaum Continue Reading
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News
14 Sep 2023
Google, Microsoft and Mozilla push browser updates to foil zero-day
A zero-day in Google’s Chrome browser was first reported by surveillance researchers at The Citizen Lab and Apple, but also affects other browsers Continue Reading
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News
07 Sep 2023
Kent Digital tackles digital divide with refurbished laptops
The council has begun working with Circular Computing to support people who do not have access to laptop devices Continue Reading
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News
23 Aug 2023
Cameyo offers Windows apps delivery on Chrome devices
The company claims access to Windows and Linux apps without the need to install desktop virtualisation infrastructure and VPNs Continue Reading
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News
16 Aug 2023
ITAM influence on cyber risk becoming a factor in credit ratings
Credit agency S&P Global Ratings warns that organisations that pay inadequate attention to IT asset management as a factor in their cyber risk management processes may find their creditworthiness takes a dive Continue Reading
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News
08 Aug 2023
MPs warn about growing prevalence of tech-enabled domestic abuse
The UK government must take action to prevent perpetrators from being able to use connected or smart technologies to conduct their domestic abuse, a select committee has warned Continue Reading
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Podcast
08 Aug 2023
Podcast: HDDs have a long life ahead in certain workloads
Spinning disk hard drives are far from dead, and with data volumes set to explode, there are use cases that suit them well. That’s the view of Rainer Kaese of Toshiba in this podcast Continue Reading
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News
11 Jul 2023
Apple pushes Rapid Response patch to fix WebKit zero-day
Apple deployed an emergency patch under its Rapid Security Response update programme, but had to temporarily suspend delivery after it caused problems for users of the Safari browser Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Jun 2023
Macintosh
The Macintosh, now called the Mac, was the first widely sold personal computer (PC) with a graphical user interface (GUI) and a mouse. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Jun 2023
4 PC lifecycle management best practices
There isn't a perfect PC lifecycle plan for all organizations, so IT teams and management should ask themselves these four questions to shape their PC policy. Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2023
Welsh ambulance service upgrades life-saving communications
Welsh ambulances going through major communications upgrade as part of wider NHS programme Continue Reading
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Feature
12 May 2023
PLC flash: The next generation or a mirage?
PLC could be productised within two years, but chip makers might not think it worth the effort. Will managing multiple voltages be more hassle than adding layers to existing flash? Continue Reading
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News
05 May 2023
Apple results show Mac sales hit by economic slowdown
While it has been a record quarter for Apple in terms of services, and the iPhone remains a big seller, Mac and iPad renewals are down Continue Reading
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News
04 May 2023
Google debuts passwordless login options for users
Launch of Google’s passkey service hailed as a great leap forward for passwordless technology Continue Reading
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News
03 May 2023
Mystery Apple security update sparks speculation
Apple releases its first Rapid Security Response update for iPhone, iPad and Mac devices, but users are in the dark about what security problems they have fixed Continue Reading
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Podcast
02 May 2023
Podcast: No more hard disks in five years, says Pure
We talk to Shawn Rosemarin of Pure Storage, who argues there will be no more hard drive sales in five years because energy costs and capacity needs can only be fulfilled by flash Continue Reading
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Definition
26 Apr 2023
protected mode
Protected mode, also called protected virtual address mode, is the primary mode of operation for an Intel-based x86 microprocessor. Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2023
IT Priorities 2023: Balancing end user productivity and IT budgets
End user computing is being driven by future of work initiatives to support hybrid work patterns Continue Reading
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Blog Post
18 Apr 2023
Windows on ARM: test driving the Lenovo Thinkpad X13s
The ThinkPad X13s is Lenovo’s first notebook PC powered by an ARM chip. Weighing just 1.06 kg, it uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 SC8280XP Processor (3.00 GHz), offers integrated graphics ... Continue Reading
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Definition
17 Apr 2023
beep code
A beep code is the audio signal from a computer when it first powers on to give the Power-On Self-Test (POST) result. Continue Reading
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News
13 Apr 2023
Gartner: Europe sees 36% drop in PC sales as spending tails off
Inflation and recessionary pressures have forced many businesses to defer buying new PCs – meanwhile, manufacturers are hiking up prices Continue Reading
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Definition
10 Apr 2023
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a proprietary specification designed to ensure compatibility between video and audio devices over a single digital interface. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Apr 2023
Driving up IT efficiency and sustainability
IT leaders need to balance IT sustainability with business drivers to innovate with digital technologies and ensure corporate systems remain secure Continue Reading
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News
28 Mar 2023
Apple security updates fix 33 iPhone vulnerabilities
A larger-than-usual update to Apple’s mobile operating system fixes more than 30 distinct vulnerabilities, including two serious issues that may potentially affect device kernels Continue Reading
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Podcast
24 Mar 2023
IT sustainability: A Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast
We speak to Gartner’s Annette Zimmerman about the circular economy and IT sustainability Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Mar 2023
HDD specs: Assess SATA vs SAS, sustained data rates and block size
In part two of a two-part series, we look at sustained data rates in hard disk drive specs, SATA versus SAS, drive security, and how HDD makers pack density into products by shingling Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Mar 2023
HDD specs: Assess MTTF, AFR and UER to get the drives you need
In part one of a two-part series, we look at key hard disk drive specs, including mean time to failure, annual failure rate and unrecoverable error rate, and how they relate to each other Continue Reading
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Blog Post
10 Mar 2023
Making hybrid work in your business
Imagine a highly connected world where information travels at the speed of light, where people can conduct business transactions and work wherever they want. This is the opportunity presented to ... Continue Reading
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News
03 Mar 2023
Why end user computing needs a new approach to support hybrid work
The pandemic demonstrated that people with PCs can work just as effectively at home as in the office. Desktop IT now needs a rethink Continue Reading
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News
27 Feb 2023
How Dell is future-proofing its business
Dell Technologies is building a more resilient supply chain, investing in growth areas like edge and multicloud, and responding to shifts in consumption models to position itself for long-term growth Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2023
Researchers find new bug ‘class’ in Apple devices
A group of vulnerabilities in Apple products that stem from the ForcedEntry exploit used by spyware firm NSO constitutes a whole new class of bug, say researchers at Trellix Continue Reading
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News
20 Feb 2023
Why CIOs need to revisit desktop virtualisation
Cloud computing is the next revolution in infrastructure, but desktop IT is still very much on-premise Continue Reading
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Blog Post
17 Feb 2023
Do we need another PC?
Looking at the cyclic nature of the PC industry, while it has been the worst year on record for new PC sales, the industry is banking on a bounce back. The PC manufacturers hope that those ... Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Feb 2023
personal computer (PC)
A personal computer (PC) is a microcomputer designed for use by one person at a time. Continue Reading
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Definition
24 Jan 2023
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) is a standard to transmit and store music, originally designed for digital music synthesizers. Continue Reading
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News
12 Jan 2023
PC industry sees biggest decline ever, says Gartner
Gartner figures show an industry stuck between high levels of inventory and a lack of affordable products to tempt buyers in the PC market Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Dec 2022
Storage hardware shortage causes and how to mitigate them
We look at the IT supply chain shortages that have hit data storage equipment, their causes and what organisations can do to work more smartly to mitigate them Continue Reading
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News
19 Dec 2022
Top 10 end-user computing stories of 2022
We look at the main trends driving desktop computing and end-user computing this year Continue Reading
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Opinion
12 Dec 2022
Hybrid work: How cloud PCs can drive collaboration
Organisations around the globe are grappling with remote working and are looking at various technologies to support flexible working practices Continue Reading
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Definition
05 Dec 2022
soap opera effect (motion interpolation)
The soap opera effect is the colloquial name for a visual effect caused by motion interpolation on television sets that some people find undesirable. Continue Reading
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News
02 Dec 2022
Post Office boosted its ‘coffers’ as Horizon system threw up unexplained shortfalls, inquiry told
The Post Office was ‘keen’ to make subpostmasters cover unexplained accounting shortfall as its business struggled, public inquiry hears Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Nov 2022
general-purpose computer
A general-purpose computer is one that, given the application and required time, should be able to perform the most common computing tasks. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Nov 2022
capacitive touchscreen
A capacitive touchscreen is a control display that uses the conductive touch of a human finger or a specialized input device for input and control. Continue Reading
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E-Zine
08 Nov 2022
How the US-China chip war will affect IT leaders
In this week’s Computer Weekly, as the US ramps up semiconductor sanctions on China, we examine the ramifications across the tech sector. Cyber criminals are turning to new forms of encryption – we talk to the Dutch researchers trying to catch them. And we look at what cloud providers need to do to improve customer experience. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2022
Russia risks shortage of PCs and software
Russian consumers and businesses could face a shortage of IT equipment including PCs and software Continue Reading