About João Carrasqueira
I've been covering the tech world for over 5 years, with a heavy focus on laptops and the Windows ecosystem. I also love all things tech and videogames, especially Nintendo, which I'm always happy to talk about.
What was your first computer?
It's been a long time, but I remember having an old Compaq desktop PC running Windows XP, which was the family computer in my house. It had a 20GB hard drive and, if my memory serves, 512MB of RAM, yet it allowed me to play some of the games I remember most fondly, such as Rollcage and Lego Racers.
How long have you been interested in technology?
I've been interested in tech for as long as I can remember, whether it's computers or phones. I'd always look for ways to enhance the performance of my computer or try new versions of Windows, and I joined the Windows Insider Program the day the first build was released.
What tech products or categories are you most passionate about?
I love all things tech, and Windows has always been my home, so both software and hardware are things that interest me deeply. I'm also a huge fan of console gaming, with a big focus on Nintendo, whose games have a level of charm that most other companies don't replicate, despite their lesser technical prowess.
Latest Articles
Best Windows Hello facial recognition laptops in 2024
These are the best laptops on the market today that offer Windows Hello face recognition for a secure and easy way to sign in.
In recent years, it's become more and more apparent that passwords can be insecure, and they're often very easy to guess, leaving many people unprotected. Beyond that, having to type in a password every time you want to unlock your computer can be a chore. Thankfully, a few years ago, Microsoft introduced Windows Hello, and nowadays, it's easy to find a laptop with facial recognition or a fingerprint sensor to make things easier and more secure.
Best apps for photo editing on Windows in 2023
Want to make your photos look even better? Here are some of the best photo editing apps you can find for your Windows PC.
Nowadays, capturing and saving memories is easier than it's ever been. Most smartphones now have very capable cameras, and they're small enough to fit in a pocket. But for as good as these cameras are, there's always something you might want to tweak, crop, or change entirely, and photo editing apps let you do just that. While there are apps for that on smartphones, computers still offer more capable experiences most of the time, and we've rounded up some of the best apps you can use for photo editing on Windows.
Best business laptops in 2024
Want a new laptop for work? Here are the best business laptops you can buy for professional features and performance.
With the breadth of modern laptops you can find on the market today, there's something for just every type of use case. Business laptops are naturally popular because, for many people, laptops are productivity machines. You can do most casual tasks on a smartphone these days, so the business segment makes the most sense for laptops. There are a lot of options when it comes to business laptops, and to help you find the right one, we've rounded up the best options you can find today.
Lenovo Slim Pro 9i (2023) review: A powerful laptop for on-the-go creators
Lenovo's Slim Pro 9i comes with powerful processors and GPUs, plus it has a stunning mini-LED display that's great for creators.
Lenovo makes quite a few laptops for creators, and after I got to review the Slim Pro 7 (and the Slim 7 Pro X before that), I now get to test the top-tier Slim Pro 9i this time around. This takes things a step further in just about every way, making it one of Lenovo's best creator laptops and one of the company's best laptops in general. It comes in two versions, one with a 14-inch screen and one with a 16-inch panel. Both are great, though the larger model is naturally more powerful.
Best laptops for students in 2024
If you're a student looking for a new laptop to use for a new laptop to get your work done, these are the best options you can find.
These days, computers are often essential parts of the learning process, and you want to make sure you have one that can handle the things you need them to do. There are a lot of fantastic laptops out there, and in this article, we're highlighting some of the best laptops you can buy for students.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5: Price, features, and everything you need to know
Lenovo's latest IdeaPad Slim 5 offers a pretty solid experience for mid-range budgets, packing modern specs in a slim chassis.
Lenovo has some of the best laptops on the market, including our very top pick, the Lenovo Yoga 9i, but the company isn't just about high-end laptops. There are some solid Lenovo laptops aimed at the mid-range, too, and the IdeaPad Slim 5 (2023) is the latest example.
Best Thunderbolt 4 laptops in 2024
With Thunderbolt 4 replacing the previous-gen standard, we list out the best laptops on the market with the new super fast connectivity port.
Thunderbolt has become an increasingly common feature in laptops over the last few years. Since the introduction of Thunderbolt 3, which uses the familiar USB Type-C connector, many more laptops have adopted this feature. And with Thunderbolt 4, the experience has been standardized so all Thunderbolt laptops offer the best speeds promised in Thunderbolt 3.
5 features Windows 11's AI Copilot needs to truly be useful
Copilot could be an exciting addition to Windows 11, but if Microsoft wants it to be valuable, it needs these capabilities.
AI has become a huge part of Microsoft's strategy over the last year or so. Sure, that could be said for many companies, as AI seems to be the hottest buzzword right now. But Microsoft recently took the bold step of bringing it to Windows 11 in the form of Windows Copilot, a new AI assistant that's (unofficially) a successor to Cortana. It's powered by the GPT-4 large language model used n Bing Chat to create a tool that hopes to be more useful than ever.
LG Gram Style review: Beautiful disappointment
The LG Gram Style is the most beautiful laptop the company has ever made, with a stunning display to boot. But performance is a major issue.
I've always been a fan of LG's Gram laptops, largely because of how absolutely light they are (as well as thin, in the case of the Gram SuperSlim). But the Gram Style is a special piece of hardware. It's the first LG Gram laptop that's actually beautiful, and not just that, I'd argue it's the most beautiful laptop on the market.
Windows 11's Dynamic Lighting could make RGB better for everyone
It may not be perfect yet, but integrated RGB controls are a welcome addition to Windows 11.
Windows 11 is set to get a handful of new features over the next couple of months thanks to the update to version 23H2. Among them is a feature called Dynamic Lighting, which is built into the Settings app and will allow users to control the RGB lighting on their devices using a centralized interface.
How to replace the battery in the Lenovo Slim 7i (2023)
Is the battery in your Lenovo Slim 7i (2023) starting to have problems? With a few tools, you can replace it yourself and get things back to normal.
Laptops these days are faster and more capable than ever, and with most of them, you can expect them to perform well a few years down the line. The big problem with these devices is that many times, the battery starts going out well before the performance gets bad, and you might be tempted to just buy a new one. But with a laptop like the 2023 Lenovo Slim 7i, you can actually replace the battery yourself, so you can get a like-new experience while saving yourself some money.
Best USB-C hubs in 2023
Need a USB-C hub for laptop? We've selected the best USB-C hubs on the market. Our top recommendations include hubs from Anker, HP, & more.
As laptops get thinner and lighter, one of the big sacrifices that's often made is in the ports. Many premium laptops nowadays only include USB-C ports and not much more than that. While we agree that USB-C is the future, relying on USB Type, HDMI, Ethernet, and others is still a reality for many of us. That's where USB-C hubs come into play, and we've rounded up the best ones to help you out.
Best docking stations for MacBook Pro in 2023
There are numerous docking station options available for the MacBook Pro allowing you to transform your setup with ease. Check them out!
Prior to the 2021 models, Apple's MacBook Pro relied almost exclusively on Thunderbolt ports, ditching a lot of convenient ports. While some might have considered that a push forward, it was undeniable that a lot of users still missed the classic ports, and using a docking station became almost mandatory for anyone with a MacBook Pro. Thankfully, tons of solutions arose.
Best places to buy a refurbished MacBook Pro
If the official price tag of the MacBook Pro is just a little too high for you, buying a refurbished unit may be the solution.
MacBooks are some of the most sought-after laptops, especially among students. After all, these are premium laptops that look and feel great, plus they have powerful specs and bright, colorful displays. However, these are also pretty expensive products, especially if you're looking at the MacBook Pro models, which are generally more powerful. But if you absolutely want to have a MacBook Pro while bringing the price as low as possible, one option is to buy a refurbished model. There are a few places where you can buy refurbished MacBook Pro models, which lets you save some money without giving up the premium feeling of a MacBook.
Windows Copilot makes its way to Insiders in the Beta channel
Microsoft has released new Windows 11 updates for Insiders, bringing Copilot AI to more users, along with other new features.
Microsoft is rolling out a pair of Windows 11 updates to Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta channels, bringing a few new features to both sets of users. Most notably, those in the Beta channel are getting their first taste of Windows Copilot, which has been available in the Dev channel for some time. Other changes include a new casting experience and a few accessibility improvements.
Razer Blade 14 (2023): Release date, price, and everything you need to know
The Razer Blade 14 is a powerful yet compact gaming laptop with plenty of performance. Here's everything you need to know.
Razer released its Blade 14 a couple of years ago for the first time, bringing tons of power to a very small and portable gaming laptop. Now in its third iteration, the 2023 version is the most unique one yet, not only introducing new specs but also a new design and display. It's undoubtedly an exciting laptop, and if you're thinking of buying one, here's what you need to know about this new iteration.
Best chargers for Acer Swift X (2023)
The Acer Swift X (2023) models need a lot of power, and these chargers are the best options if you want to keep them juiced up.
The latest Acer Swift X laptops for 2023 are great laptops for creators who want a portable but still decently powerful machine for their usual workloads. The laptop comes in 14-inch and 16-inch versions, and both of them are great, despite being fairly different in more ways than one. Of course, you'll have to keep your Acer Swift X charged if you want to use it, and while there's a charger included in the box, you might want an extra one.
Is the Acer Swift X (2023) good for gaming?
The Acer Swift X (2023) comes with decently powerful specs, but is it good enough for gaming? It depends on your expectations
The Acer Swift X (2023) is the company's flagship thin lightweight laptop for creators, blending solid performance and a stunning display into a package that's still relatively light and easy to carry. These aren't laptops made for gaming, but let's be real we can't all have one device for each aspect of our lives, so sometimes, they need to pull double duty. If you're wondering whether you can use the Acer Swift X (2023) for gaming, the short answer is yes, but there are some things you need to know.
Obsbot Tiny 2 review: The best webcam I've ever used
The Obsbot Tiny 2 offers some of the best image quality you can get in a webcam, and the tracking capabilities make it versatile, too.
When I reviewed the Obsbot Tiny 4K last year, I was blown away by both the image quality and tracking features it included. Since then, contenders like the Insta360 Link and the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra have given it a run for its money. But with the newly-launched Tiny 2, Obsbot is taking back the crown as the best webcam on the market by improving the package in almost every way.
Best Xbox Series X controllers in 2024
Looking for a new Xbox series X controller that suits your gameplay and budget? Check out these official and third-party options.
The Xbox Series X and the more affordable Xbox Series S are Microsoft's most ambitious and powerful gaming consoles to date. Ever since their launch, there has been a massive demand all over the globe. So, if you're one of the lucky ones who's managed to get your hands on the new console, then we've got a list of controllers, both official from Microsoft and from other companies, that can help take your gaming experience to the next level. Whether you want to just get into some multiplayer with a regular Xbox controller or take on something more niche with a fighting stick or driving wheel, there's something out there for you.