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João Carrasqueira-

João Carrasqueira

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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

Angled overhead view of Dell XPS 13 Plus in white
Best wireless earbuds for the Dell XPS 13 Plus in 2023

Wireless earbuds are great ways to listen to music at home or on the road, so we've rounded up the best ones for the Dell XPS 13 Plus.

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The Dell XPS 13 Plus is one of the coolest laptops around. It has powerful Intel processors, stunning display options, and an ultra-modern compact design that's bound to turn some heads. But while it's small and light enough to take anywhere, that doesn't mean you want to have its speakers blaring in public, as good as the quad-speaker system is. If you need to listen to music or watch movies in public, you will want earbuds or headphones for the Dell XPS 13 Plus.

Screenshot of File Explorer showing a mapped network drive with another window showing the contents of the drive
How to map a network drive on Windows 11

If you want to access a folder on another PC on your network, you can map a network drive on Windows 11. Here's how to do it.

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When you're on a secure shared network, it's possible to access files and folders on other PCs on the network as long as you have the address for that PC and the folder you want. However, it may seem daunting to remember the exact address to use every time. Thankfully, you can map a network drive on Windows 11 to make it easier to access any time you need it. We'll show you how to do exactly that.

caldigit-ts4-review-04-wm
Best docks for Dell XPS laptops in 2023

Dell's XPS laptops mostly only have Thunderbolt ports, but you can expand your options with a dock. Here are the best options you can get.

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The Dell XPS laptop family has always been about offering great performance in a more compact design than you'd expect. The tiny bezels make these laptops extra portable, and with their performance, they're some of the best laptops out there. That small size comes with some sacrifices, though. Like many other ultrabooks, the Dell XPS family relies mainly on Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) for connectivity, especially with the more recent models. So if you want to connect a lot of peripherals, you'll want to get a dock. That's why we've rounded up the best docks for Dell XPS laptops.

Windows 11 promotional image
Windows 11 is finally getting a modern audio mixer

Windows Insiders in the Dev channel can now try a new audio mixer experience, making it easier to change the volume for individual apps.

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Microsoft is bringing a modernized audio mixer to Windows 11, and Windows Insiders are getting an early peek starting today. Microsoft is now rolling out Windows 11 build 25309 to Insiders in the Dev channel, which includes this new audio mixer, along with improvements to voice access and color management.

Front view of the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i on a wooden table
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 review: A gaming laptop that gets almost everything right

The Lenovo Legion 7i Pro is a premium gaming laptop that looks and feels the part in almost every way. If you can stomach the price, it's phenomenal.

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Lenovo's Legion laptops generally offer very good gaming experiences, and the latest Legion Pro 7i is an absolutely phenomenal machine. It packs powerful performance and a solid display into a premium design that stands out for all the right reasons — except for its price.

Angled view of USB ports and headphone jack
Best docking stations for Surface Laptop 5 in 2023

The Surface Laptop 5 has a decent supply of ports, but there's a good chance you need a bit more, and these docking stations let you get just that.

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Microsoft released the Surface Laptop 5 in late 2022 and it came with very little changes to the port setup compared to its predecessor. Aside from adding Thunderbolt support to the existing USB Type-C port, you still get USB Type-A, a headphone jack, and a Surface Connect port. While this is admittedly better than most premium Surface devices, many people probably still want a docking station to add a few more ports.

An HP Spectre x360 13.5 laptop and an HP Spectre x360 laptop facing each other with text reading VS in between them
What are the differences between the HP Spectre x360 13.5 and Spectre x360 16?

HP's Spectre x360 13.5 and 16 are some of the best premium devices on the market, but they have a few differences. Let's take a closer look.

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The HP Spectre x360 is one of the most well-known families of devices in the Windows space. These convertible laptops have stunning premium designs, great displays, and of course, the versatility of being convertible. All this makes them an easy recommendation, which is why you'll find Spectre laptops not only among HP's best laptops, but the best laptops in general. The Spectre lineup has changed a lot in the past couple of years, though, and today, it only includes two main models, the Spectre x360 13.5 (which used to be the Spectre x360 14) and the Spectre x360 16.

MWC 2023 Awards banner
XDA's Best of MWC 2023 Awards: Our favorite gadgets from the show

From high-end smartphones and foldable devices to some rollable concepts, MWC 2023 had a handful of devices that caught our attention.

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Mobile World Congress (MWC) is one of the biggest technology events of the year, with thousands of people flocking to Barcelona to get a glimpse of the latest gadgets. MWC 2023 was packed with a ton of cool new tech products, and we got some hands-on time with many of them. From flashy prototypes and concept phones to gadgets you can actually buy, we're here to highlight some of our favorites from the MWC show floor.

Screenshot of Hyper-V Manager on Windows 11 next to the Windows Features panel
How to enable virtualization on Windows 11

You'll need to enable virtualization if you want to run virtual machines on Windows 11 or even use the Windows Subsystem for Linux. Here's how.

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Whether you're trying to run a standard virtual machine using Hyper-V or using the Windows Subsystem for Linux, virtualization is a crucial feature for many Windows users and developers. Virtualization is the technology that allows your PC to create an isolated, emulated computer within itself, which lets you run apps in a safe environment or try an operating system that's not usually supported by default.

A picture of the Lenovo THinkPad X1 Extreme gen 5 and the Dell XPS 15 with text reading VS in between them
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5 vs Dell XPS 15 (2022): Which one is best for you?

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5 and Dell XPS 15 are both aimed at power users, but which one of them fits your specific needs?

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In 2022, there's been no shortage of great laptops being launched, which is generally a good thing. But with so many choices out on the market, it can be hard to choose the one that's just right for you. If you're looking for a powerful work laptop that's still somewhat portable, you've likely come across options like the Dell XPS 15 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5. Both of these are great, but if you're having trouble picking one or the other, we're here to help.

A render of the Nvidia RTX 4080.
Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs can now make online videos look better with Video Super Resolution

Nvidia has released a new driver update enabling support for Video Super Resolution, which uses AI to improve the quality of most online videos.

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Nvidia is leveraging the power of machine learning and artificial intelligence in its GeForce RTX GPUs to deliver improved visual quality while browsing the web. With the latest Game Ready driver released today — version 531.18 — the company has enabled a feature called RTX Video Super Resolution, which automatically improves the quality of almost every video you watch online.

Windows 11 (option 1)
Windows 11 gets new screen recording tool, Notepad tabs, and much more

Microsoft is unleashing the first big Windows 11 update of 2023, adding a lot of new features and design changes.

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Microsoft has announced the latest major update for Windows 11, often referred to as the Moment 2 update, and it's rolling out starting today. This update packs a lot of new features and improvements, such as a new taskbar optimized for touch devices, a new screen recorder in the Snipping Tool, and much more.

Plugable UD-3900PDH and UD-768PDZ
Plugable launches two new docking stations with triple monitor support

Plugable has announced two docking stations available today, both supporting triple displays on both Windows and macOS.

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Plugable is launching two new docking stations today, both focused on triple-display output. Both docks support three external displays, in addition to having other ports for all kinds of peripherals. The two models are the Plugable UD-3900PDH and the UD-768PDZ.

Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2 Rear Shot
Lenovo's new ThinkPad Z13 has Zen 4 AMD processors and a flax fiber lid

Lenovo is refreshing many of its ThinkPad laptops, including the AMD-powered Z13 and Z16. There are also new IdeaPad laptops.

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Ahead of this year's Mobile World Congress, or MWC, Lenovo has announced a wide-reaching refresh of its ThinkPad lineup. Multiple laptops, including the ThinkPad Z13 and Z16, the T series, and more are getting updated, some with completely new designs. Lenovo also introduced a couple of new IdeaPad laptops.

Screenshot of the Event Viewer over the Windows 11 desktop
How to use Event Viewer to check for errors on Windows 11

If you're running into problems with your Windows 11 PC, you can use the Event Viewer to find more information about what's causing it.

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There's a very high chance you've run into an error on your PC at some point. You've probably seen the infamous "blue screen of death" once or twice or some other problem. While it may not be known to most people, Windows 11 has a tool that lets you learn more about these errors, called the Event Viewer.

Screenshot of three Windows 11 File Explorer windows open, each with a single tab
Microsoft needs to fix Windows 11 File Explorer tabs for them to be useful

Windows 11 introduced File Explorer tabs, and despite them being a potentially useful feature, I don't use them. Why is that?

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I'm a big fan of Windows 11. The initial release was a much-needed breath of fresh air after Windows 10 had grown so stale, and updates like Windows 11 version 22H2 introduced big changes that made it even better. Among my favorite features in Windows 11 version 22H2 was the tabbed File Explorer, which was enabled later, in October, and was something that many Windows users have been waiting a long time for.

Windows 11 (option 6)
Windows 10 users are being offered a Windows 11 upgrade despite not meeting the requirements

Microsoft seems to be accidentally offering a Windows 11 upgrade to PCs that don't meet the system requirements, but installing the update fails.

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Some Windows 10 users are being offered the ability to upgrade to Windows 11, even though their PCs don't meet the system requirements. As you likely already know, Windows 11 comes with a pretty strict set of minimum requirements, including 4GB of RAM and a relatively modern CPU, which has made it impossible for many users to upgrade.

Angled view of Surface Laptop Studio in stage mode
Microsoft's Surface Laptop Studio 2 could launch this spring with big performance gains

Microsoft is reportedly preparing to launch the Surface Laptop Studio 2 in a few months, with faster 13th-gen Intel processors and Nvidia GPUs.

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It's been well over a year since Microsoft launched the original Surface Laptop Studio, and it's certainly due for a refresh. It looks like we won't have to wait much longer for it, as the laptop is reportedly launching this spring, and it's looking like it will be a big upgrade in performance.

Angled view of a Razer Blade 15 2023 laptop on a desk next to PC peripherals
Razer launches a new Blade 15 with 13th-gen Intel processors and RTX 40 series graphics

It looks like the Razer Blade 15 isn't going away yet, and a new model is now available with more powerful processors and GPUs.

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Razer has launched a new model of its iconic Blade 15 laptop, refreshed with new specs for 2023, including 13th-generation Intel processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series graphics. The launch follows that of the more powerful Razer Blade 16 and Blade 18 earlier this month.

Angled view of silver laptop
It's about time we got more colorful laptops and PCs

Almost every laptop these days seems to come in silver or black, but companies should be more willing to experiment with fun colors.

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Consumer technology, especially things like smartphones and laptops, can be exciting for many reasons. Whether it's the performance upgrades we get every year, a crazy new form factor like foldables, or even software updates that look more modern and useful, there's almost always something to discuss. But there's one thing that doesn't get talked about enough, particularly in the PC space, and that's how these devices look.

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