Dell Archives

Winsage

June 10, 2025

Microsoft’s big Windows 11 Start menu redesign is great news for OLED monitor owners like me – and you can try it right now

Microsoft is enhancing its Windows 11 operating system, particularly the Start menu, with updates currently available for beta testers. These modifications aim to streamline user navigation and make it easier to manage applications. Users can categorize applications for a more organized interface or revert to a traditional grid view. The update improves scrolling and application discovery, benefiting those who use their devices for gaming or productivity. The changes are aesthetically pleasing, especially for OLED monitor users, and may alleviate concerns about screen burn-in. There is hope that similar customization features could be extended to gaming applications, addressing potential burn-in risks associated with on-screen build numbers in games.

Winsage

June 10, 2025

Microsoft Employee Working On SteamVR Driver To Revive Windows MR Headsets

A Microsoft employee is developing a native SteamVR driver called "Oasis" to revive Windows Mixed Reality (MR) headsets, which lost functionality after the Windows 11 24H2 update eliminated support for these devices. The previous runtime that allowed Windows MR headsets to interface with SteamVR is now obsolete. Matthieu Bucchianeri, a software developer with experience at Sony and SpaceX, is leading this project, which involves deep reverse-engineering. The Oasis driver is currently compatible with Nvidia GPUs, and Bucchianeri is in talks with AMD for potential compatibility. He plans to release the driver for free in the fall.

Tech Optimizer

May 27, 2025

Microsoft Defender vs Bitdefender: Compare Antivirus Software

eSecurity Planet maintains editorial independence in content and product recommendations, ensuring financial gain from partner links does not influence information integrity. Microsoft Defender and Bitdefender are prominent small business security providers. Microsoft Defender is ideal for larger SMBs, starting at .00 per user per month, while Bitdefender is suited for startups with over 10 employees, starting at .33 per user per month. Microsoft Defender Overview: - Overall Rating: 3.7/5 - Pricing: 4.4/5 - Features: 3.4/5 - Ease of Use and Administration: 3.8/5 - Customer Support: 3.7/5 - Features include next-gen antivirus, vulnerability management, and EDR. Bitdefender Overview: - Overall Rating: 3.4/5 - Pricing: 3.8/5 - Features: 3/5 - Ease of Use and Administration: 3.4/5 - Customer Support: 4/5 - Features include identity protection, a VPN, and a password manager. Pricing Comparison: - Microsoft Defender: Free Trial: 90 days; Least Expensive Plan: .00/user/month; Mid-Range Plan: .50/user/month; Most Expensive Plan: .00/user/month. - Bitdefender: 30-day money-back guarantee; Least Expensive Plan: .33/user/month; Mid-Range Plan: Not specified; Most Expensive Plan: Not specified. Feature Comparison: - Microsoft Defender offers robust endpoint protection but lacks clarity on web browsing protection and ad-blocking. - Bitdefender offers identity exposure protection, a VPN, and a password manager but also lacks web browsing and ad-blocking features. Ease of Use and Administration: - Microsoft Defender supports macOS, Windows, and Linux Server; Bitdefender supports macOS and Windows but lacks Linux support. Customer Support Comparison: - Microsoft provides phone and live chat support; Bitdefender offers email and chat support, with limited phone support for small business users. Alternative Solutions include Norton, McAfee, and Trend Micro, each offering different features and pricing structures. Evaluation Methodology focused on pricing, features, ease of use, and customer support, with Microsoft winning in pricing, features, and ease of use, while Bitdefender excelled in customer support.

Winsage

May 27, 2025

Windows on Arm vs Intel: Which laptop platform is right for you?

The Windows laptop market has shifted towards devices powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, moving away from traditional Intel and AMD architectures. This initiative, known as Windows on Arm, has produced notable products like the Asus ZenBook A14 and Dell XPS 13, which are praised for their performance in AI applications and impressive battery life. These devices can run Intel-based applications through an emulation layer called Prism, which translates x86-64 code into ARM64 instructions, allowing compatibility with non-native software. While they perform well for office tasks and some creative applications, limitations exist in gaming and high-demand software due to the need for specific drivers and graphics performance. Currently, the market features three Windows on Arm processors: Snapdragon X Elite, X Plus, and X. Pricing for these laptops often exceeds ,000, making Intel and AMD options more appealing for budget-conscious consumers.

AppWizard

May 24, 2025

I’ve found every major Memorial Day sale that’s relevant for PC gamers, and handpicked my favorite deals

Memorial Day weekend features sales for PC gamers, offering discounts on gaming rigs, laptops, and accessories. Notable deals include the Alienware Aurora R16 with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F and RTX 5080 for ,349.99 at Dell, and the HP Omen 45L with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and RTX 5090 for ,189.99. The HP Omen 35L, featuring an AMD Ryzen 5 8500G and RTX 4070 Super, is available for ,349.99, down from ,679.99. For laptops, the HP Omen Max 16 is priced at ,799.99. Monitor deals include the 32" Alienware AW3225QF 4K 240Hz QD-OLED Gaming Monitor for ,199.99 and the 32" Dell S3222DGM QHD 165Hz monitor for 9.99.

Tech Optimizer

May 21, 2025

YugabyteDB Extends Support for Document Databases With Postgres Extension DocumentDB

Yugabyte has integrated support for the DocumentDB extension, a document database-compatible Postgres extension released by Microsoft, enhancing its multi-modal database capabilities. This integration allows developers to combine SQL and NoSQL functionalities within a single database environment, facilitating the transition from MongoDB workloads to YugabyteDB and enabling vector search queries through the pg_vector Postgres extension. The DocumentDB extension is open-source and aims to provide a unified, vendor-agnostic solution based on Postgres, which is rapidly gaining adoption. Since its launch, DocumentDB has received significant attention on GitHub, with over 1.6k stars and more than 80 forks. YugabyteDB is designed for high-performance, distributed SQL database applications and is backed by various investors.

Tech Optimizer

May 19, 2025

Microsoft Defender deactivated by new tool

The OpenEoX Technical Committee, part of OASIS, has introduced a draft framework to standardize end-of-life security notices for software and hardware, involving companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, IBM, Dell, and RedHat. The framework aims to provide clear communication about the security status of technology, helping organizations manage risks associated with legacy systems. It outlines a structured approach for notifying users about end-of-life status, enabling informed decisions on upgrades or replacements to improve security.

Winsage

May 19, 2025

Goodbye Obsolete Tech—This USB Drive Instantly Revives Old Computers—Perfect for the Post-Windows 10 Era

Computers have a finite lifespan, and companies like Microsoft withdraw support for older devices to focus on newer models, a practice known as planned obsolescence. Microsoft is discontinuing support for the Windows 10 operating system, which means users will no longer receive security updates or technical assistance. Google has developed ChromeOS Flex, an operating system that can be installed on older Windows 10 devices, providing essential security features and updates. ChromeOS Flex offers rapid boot times and automatic updates and is compatible with a range of hardware from major manufacturers. Users must verify their device against an approved list and meet specific installation requirements, including having a 64-bit processor, at least 4 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of storage. An empty USB drive of at least 8 GB is needed to create the bootable installer for the installation process.

Winsage

May 18, 2025

Microsoft Confirms New Update Locks Windows 10 — Or Worse. Here’s What To Do

Windows 10 users are facing issues due to the mandatory KB5058379 update, which has caused some PCs to boot into Windows Recovery mode and prompted the need for a BitLocker key. Some users have also experienced a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). The update primarily affects devices with Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) using 10th generation or later Intel vPro processors, particularly on Windows 10 versions 22H2 and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021. Microsoft is working on a resolution and plans to release an Out-of-band update soon. Affected users are advised to disable Intel TXT in the BIOS to complete the update successfully and avoid further issues. Windows 11 is not impacted by this problem.

Winsage

May 17, 2025

Why Windows 10 PCs are locking up and crashing after May update

Microsoft will end update support for Windows 10 in October 2025, but new patches are still being released. The latest cumulative update, KB5058379, has caused issues for users, especially those with devices from Dell, Lenovo, and HP. Microsoft is aware of the problems and has not yet deployed a fix as of May 16, but has provided a temporary workaround. For users affected by the BitLocker bug, Microsoft Support recommends the following steps to regain access: 1. Disable Secure Boot in BIOS/Firmware settings. 2. If issues persist, disable all virtualization technologies in BIOS/Firmware settings. 3. Check the Microsoft Defender System Guard Firmware Protection Status via Registry Editor or GUI method. 4. If firmware protection settings are restricted by Group Policy, disable them using Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor. A system restart is required for these changes to take effect, and these workarounds should only be temporary until a patched update is released. Disabling certain BIOS settings may compromise system security.