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Are Dual Monitors Worth it? Are two better than one?

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Is it better to use two monitors or one large one? Is a panoramic monitor practical? What are the pros and cons? What do I need? What are the recommended applications for each solution? These are some of the questions that users ask themselves when putting together their setup for work or play.

Dual Monitors

Through the years, I’ve tested several configurations, multi-monitor as well as with only one. They’re all interesting although, depending on the moment or application, some can be better suited than others, I’ll tell you about my experience with multi-monitor setups.

Working with multiple monitors: pros and cons

Dual Monitors

Everything has its pros and cons, nothing is perfect which means there is no universal solution. We all must find the most practical and useful solution for our needs, be it for work or play.

Using two or more monitors has its pros and cons, but it will be on the user to fully take advantage of it.

When you work with multi-monitor setups you will find pros and cons. I would only recommend using one monitor if it has a 1440p resolution or higher. If not, I can manage but there will be a lack of workspace. Anyway, when using several monitors, you have to keep in mind things like resolution but also size and aspect ratio. But let’s talk about the pros and cons of a multi-monitor setup.

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AOC P2779VC monitors include wireless charging

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The AOC P2778VC monitor is a 27-inch model with a PLS panel of 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution, with 178 degrees of horizontal and vertical viewing angles, 5ms GtG response time and a dynamic contrast ratio of 20,000,000:1. It offers two HDMi 1.3 inputs and a VGA. However, what makes it special is that, on …

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Best Windows Laptop alternatives to new Macbook Pro/Air 2017

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Introduction

With the launch of its new Macbook Pro, for which Apple has taken longer than usual, prices have been revised upwards, the cheapest model being up to 200 dollars more expensive than the models of the beginning of 2015. A price increase that also comes with improvements, but we can have many of them with alternatives from different PC manufacturers.

Today we’ll mention some of these options that go from classic designs to more modern models with more versatile configurations. Great options that will allow us to have a PC as good or better than Apple’s new Macbook Pro.

Razer Blade Stealth

One of the most attractive options can be found in the hands of Razer,  In fact, no matter how much it bothers some Apple users, the design on the new Macbook is pretty similar to this model. It is thin and it has high quality screen options. It is updated with some of the best Intel processors and also supports Thunderbolt III.

Razer Blade Stealth

 

It has a 12.5” screen we can find in QHD and 4K resolutions. It has a thickness of only 13mm, it weights less than 1.4Kg and it is completely made of aluminum. It also has a touch screen, a programmable illuminated keyboard (RGB) and a great trackpad. The latest version comes with Intel Kabylake processors, 8GB of RAM and storage of up to 512GB SSD.

Razer Blade Stealth

The battery life on this new model is around 9 hours, which is very close to the 10 hours of the new Macbook. Its price starts at 899 dollars, which is a much more attractive price than the current Macbook Pro.

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How to check if your laptop supports 5 GHz and 802.11ac

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While they’re already talking about the new specifications for 802.11ad and 802.11ax that will allow to transmit data , via WiFi, with a throughput in the order of gigabit per second (see WiGig, data transmission up to 8 Gbps with 802.11ad and WiFi 802.11ax will let you reach up to 10 Gbps), it’s the 802.11ac standard, today, to let you get the highest speeds by using a wireless connection.

Approved in January 2014, 802.11ac exclusively supports frequencies at 5 GHz. By connecting to a WiFi network at 5 GHz, actually, it’s possible to reach much higher speeds in data transmission phase than the traditional 2,4 GHz.

WIFI

So, how to check if your laptop supports 5 GHz? And how to see which IEEE 802.11 standard versions can be used?

5 GHz: 802.11ac and 802.11n. Which benefits?

Most of the wireless routers available on the market today are dual band: that means that they let you set up two independent wireless networks that work on completely different frequency spectrums. The two WiFi networks, at 2,4 and 5 GHz, can be enabled at the same time and each of them will use its specific ID (SSID).

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HDMI 1.4 vs 2.0, what‘s the different and how to choose?

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The HDMI cable lets you transfer audio and video data by using a connection that allows to put the quality first (HDMI is the acronym for High-Definition Multimedia Interface).

The first uses of the HDMI interface are dateable to the end of 2003: at that time, actually, it was important – looking at the future – to predict a valid replacement for the VGA and DVI interfaces.

Over the years, the HDMI had a gradual evolution with several specific versions (1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.0 and 2.1), and each of them introduced new features and functions.

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Asus ROG PG348Q review: ultra-panoramic and curved aimed at gamers

Ultra-panoramic monitors are and will be one of my weaknesses. From the first experiences up until now I must admit that it’s a format that I really like. For working with them as well as for consuming media or enjoying the latest PC games. For some weeks I’ve been testing the Asus ROG PF348Q, an ultra-panoramic monitor aimed at gamers.

This Asus display belongs to the ROG family (Republic of Gamers), which offers different solutions such as the PG278Q monitor or the more recent Asus GX7000 laptop which we analyzed here. Going back to one of its distinct features, for some, an ultra-panoramic panel might not seem attractive and they might prefer a 1080p monitor with lower response time and greater refresh speeds. This is totally valid since it’s a matter of personal taste, especially if you also want to use it for playing console games. But if you were looking for something different or you simply don’t want to use two monitors for an extended gaming setup then pay close attention.

Asus ROG PF348Q, specs

The tech specs of the Asus ROG PG348Q monitor are very similar to those of other screens on the market. The differences are, in addition to the curved panel that not all 21:9 include, in the refresh rate improvement which can reach 100Hz with turbo mode and the software extras for its configuration. Still, let’s review the most important ones.

  • Screen: Curved IPS (3800R radio)
  • Size: 34 inch
  • Resolution: 3440x1440p
  • Density of pixel: 109ppi
  • Refresh Rate: Up to 100Hz via DisplayPort and 50Hz over HDMI
  • Color reproduction: 10 bit
  • Contrast: 1.000:1
  • Brightness: 300 cd/m2
  • View angle: 178º
  • Response Time: 5ms
  • Connections: 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 1 x HDMI 1.4, 4 x USB 3.0, handset / speaker output
  • Extras: Nvidia G-Sync technology, Flicker-Free backlight, HDCP, VESA support, different picture modes and other extras to enhance the gaming experience

A very gaming aesthetic

When you sit down in front of a monitor like its logical that you will be surprised at first. With its 34 inch display, the Asus ROG PG348Q doesn’t let down. It’s overwhelming to see that ultra-panoramic image right in front of your eyes. Of course it’s also a bit shocking if you’re used to 16:9 screens.

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Is The PS4 Pro Worth Upgrade or Buying? Face to face with the PlayStation 4 Pro

The “Join the Future of Play” event took place November 3rd, an event aimed at the press in order to show the new capabilities of the PS4 PRO in light of the release of the new console from Sony. We’ll tell you in detail what we saw, played and learned there.

We know that many of you have questions about the PS4 PRO, is it worth it if you don’t have a 4K TV? Is it worth it even I have a 4K TV but already have a PS4? We will try to answer all of your questions after the Join the Future of Play event organized in London focused on the press to observe first hand the capabilities of Sony’s new console. This is what we were able to discover and learn about the Pro model of the Playstation 4.

After a welcome we could admire the Playsation VR and its peripherals, as well as the PS4 Slim and Pro and the new official controllers from Razer and Nacon, they took us to a conference where they explained to us what HDR consists of and how the PS4 was going to improve the gaming experience with HDR like no other console had previously with Mike Somerset and Simon Rutter. They also gave us some technical specifications of the console: 4.2 F of power, Overclocking the GPU as well as the CPU, new dedicated Chips… After the presentations of Kazunori Yamauchi, creator of the GT Saga and Yosuke Hayashi, creator of Nioh and main designer of Team Ninja, we went on to what we were all waiting for, the games.

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PS4 Pro and HDR

One of the main improvements to the PS4 is that it focuses on HDR. Xbox ONE S as well as PS4 have and will have compatibility with HDR, not but all HDRs are the same. Normal screens, like the ones most of us have at home, called SDR (standard dynamic range) can display a maximum of 100nits. A nit is a unit that measures color, contrast and brightness. The HDR supported by the PS4 and the Xbox ONE S is HDR1000, which can display 1000nits, 10 times as much as standard screens. In addition, PS4 PRO is compatible with the BT2020 system which is capable of displaying up to 10.000 nits, 10 times as much as the Xbox ONE S and 100 times more than normal screens.

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BenQ cares about your eyes with the EW3270ZL “Eye-Care”

The EW3270ZL Eye-Care is a new 32 inches monitor with different technologies to make it more comfortable to the eye and avoid problems arising from long periods of use.

The functionalities related to “eye care” can be found in its LED lighting system without PWM to avoid micro-blinking and also in a lighting system adaptable via an ambient light sensor. Naturally, it includes a blue light filter in one of its modes of operation.

Benq EW3270ZL

The panel used is an AMVA+ with 1.070 million colors and a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels with viewing angles of 178º both vertically and horizontally. Its response time reaches 4 ms GtG and features DisplayPort MiniDP HDMI and audio inputs for its two 3W speakers. Its price is still unknown.

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Leaked first photos from various Asus Kaby Lake motherboards

Technical specifications and some photos from several motherboards that Asus plans to launch with Intel’s next processor using Kaby Lake have leaked. More specifically, the motherboards which have been filtered belong mainly to the ROG series of this manufacturer and have, as expected given the range, the Z270 chipset, although another motherboard of a more normal range has also been leaked. The leaked models are the ROG Strix Z270E Gaming, the Strix Z270F Gaming, the TUF Z270 Mark 1 and the Prime Z270-A.

Starting with the most “basic” model of all, the Asus Prime Z270-A, is a model that moves away from the ROG series and concentrates on fulfilling its functions, but not just in any way since it comes as standard with power supply phases of type 8 + 2 + 2 managed by a digital controller, including an 8-pin connector and solid capacitors accompanying four slots for DDR4 RAM that allow the installation of modules that operate up to 3,866 MHz, three PCIe 3.0 x16 slots (wired electrically as x16/x8/x4), four PCIe 3.0 x1 and two M.2 slots that are capable of moving data at a speed of 32 GB/s.

Asus Kaby Lake motherboards

And now moving onto the more gaming oriented models, I’d like to start by speaking of the Asus TUF Z270 Mark 1, the model intended for those users looking for reliability and resistance above all else. After all, the motto of the TUF range is precisely “Tough inside and out”. This model follows the same specifications of the previous almost exactly except in the audio section, in this case the manufacturer has provided a SupremeFX SF1220A chip that comes with capacitors of the famous brand Nichicon for audiophiles.

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Final Fantasy XV: Graphics Comparison PS4 vs PS4 Pro

Comparing the PS4 version with the 1080p version in Ultra

Final Fantasy XV is already on sale all over the world, a title that has led Square Enix to take dozens of difficult decisions over the last ten years until now that finally, it is available to fans …

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