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Snap Unveils Pixy, a $230 Pocket-Size Flying Camera Drone
Snap Unveils Pixy, a $230 Pocket-Size Flying Camera Drone
What's happening
Snap unveiled Pixy, a $230 pocket-size flying camera drone that can follow you around.
Why it matters
It's another example of how social media companies are getting more serious about releasing consumer hardware.
What's next
Pixy goes on sale Thursday in the US and France.
Snapchat has a new way for people to capture photos and videos: a flying camera drone called Pixy that fits in the palm of your hand.
The drone goes on sale Thursday on Pixy.com in the US and France, with the price starting at $230. Snap said drones pre-ordered will start to arrive by the end of May. Photos and videos captured on the drone will get downloaded into Snapchat Memories, where users are able to store content for later use.
Pixy is another example of social media companies experimenting with consumer hardware products. Though Snapchat parent company Snap is known for the ephemeral-messaging app, Snap calls itself a camera company. Last year, Snap unveiled its latest pair of Spectacles, AR glasses that let creators overlay digital images onto their view of the real world. There have been rumors for years that Snap has been working on a selfie drone.
Snap unveiled Pixy at its fourth annual Partner Summit, an event the company is streaming online on Thursday.
To use the drone, people press a button and select one of several flight paths: hover, orbit, reveal, favorite and follow. If you select follow, for example, Pixy will follow you around as you go on a hike or walk around a city. Pixy will automatically take photos and videos during flight, but users can program Pixy to only take only videos. The drone will float in the air and capture images before flying back to the palm of your hand.
"Pixy is ready to fly at a moment's notice. There are no controllers. There's no complex setup. Simply set a flight path and let Pixy take it from there," Snap CEO Evan Spiegel said in his keynote remarks, which was viewed by CNET before the conference.
Snap will have to convince its users to capture photos and videos on a product that hasn't become mainstream yet. There are products similar to Pixy for purchase that are also cheaper, such as Air Neo from AirSelfie, which costs $150, and more expensive drone cameras made by DJI.
A Snapchat spokesperson said there are two flight packs available to buy online. The base flight pack costs $230 and comes with a bumper strap to carry the drone, a charging cord and a battery. There's also a bundled flight pack that costs $250 that includes everything in the base pack but also includes additional rechargeable batteries and a charger.
A battery costs $20 and a charger costs $50. The guide for Pixy doesn't say how much time the battery lasts, but it says it will allow you to capture content over five to eight flights. With 16GB of flash storage, Pixy can store up to 1,000 photos or up to 100 videos. The product is lightweight at 101 grams. Video is shot at 2.7K and the camera is 12 megapixels.
Videos shot on Pixy don't capture sound, but users will be able to edit the footage on Snapchat to include music, a voice-over and other effects.
Pixy also isn't water resistant and might not be able to complete its flight paths if there's too much wind. People are also advised to avoid using the drone over water, near highly reflective surfaces or where there's an abrupt change in elevation, such as a cliff or balcony.
Snapchat has more than 600 million monthly users and more than 330 million daily active users worldwide, the company said.
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Samsung Launches Mobile Wallet App to Compete With Apple and Google
Samsung Launches Mobile Wallet App to Compete With Apple and Google
What's happening
Samsung just launched its mobile wallet platform for storing digital IDs, credit cards, car keys and other essentials.
Why it matters
Smartphone makers are attempting to replace the physical wallet with digital alternatives. Google recently announced a similar revamp to its Wallet app, while Apple is adding new features to Apple Pay.
Samsung is the latest tech giant trying to replace your physical wallet with a digital one that lives on your phone. The company on Thursday launched Samsung Wallet, a new mobile wallet for storing digital keys, boarding passes, ID cards and credit cards. Apple and Google announced major updates for their own virtual wallet platforms in recent weeks.
Samsung previously announced its mobile wallet in February alongside the Galaxy S22, but only just launched the platform on Thursday. Samsung is merging two existing services to create Samsung Wallet. The app combines Samsung Pay, its mobile payment service for storing payment cards and vaccine records, and Samsung Pass, which manages passwords and login information for apps and websites.
The unified app signals an expansion of Samsung's efforts to make its service better compete with those offered by Apple and Google. Samsung Wallet is launching via an app update, and Galaxy device owners can migrate their information directly from the Samsung Wallet and Samsung Pass apps.
Samsung Wallet will support official forms of identification such as driver's licenses and student IDs later this year. Google also announcement in May that it's working with governments to incorporate IDs into Google Wallet. Apple Wallet already supports virtual IDs in several states.
Read more: What iOS 16 and Android 13 Reveal About the Future of Smartphones
Samsung also wants its wallet app to serve as a hub for digital keys to your car and home, functionality that's already availableon the iPhone. The company says it's working with nine home security companies on virtual home keys, and Samsung Wallet will also integrate with the company's SmartThings platform. As for car keys, Samsung Wallet will support digital car keys for certain BMW, Hyundai and Genesis models. Korean Air will also be Samsung's first partner for storing digital boarding passes.
In addition to storing traditional payment methods like credit, debit and loyalty cards, Samsung will also allow users to manage their cryptocurrencies from its new Wallet app. The entire platform is protected by Samsung's Knox security software.
American are increasingly embracing the idea of replacing their physical credit cards with digital ones. Usage of in-store mobile payment services is expected to surpass 50% of all smartphone users in the US by 2025, says a 2021 report from eMarketer.
Now, tech companies are developing more comprehensive alternatives to the traditional wallet, a mission that Google and Apple both made clear during their recent press events. "With Apple Wallet, we're working hard on our goal to replace your physical wallet," Corey Fugman, Apple's senior director for Wallet and Apple Pay, said during the company's Worldwide Developers Conference last week.
Adoption is estimated to take off in the coming years. One in two people are expected to use a mobile wallet by 2025, according to a July 2021 report from financial tech company Boku and market research company Juniper Research. The launch of Samsung Wallet is also another sign that tech companies are increasingly relying on apps and services to lock in existing users.
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Five years of social media history can get anyone in trouble
Five years of social media history can get anyone in trouble
"Where do you see yourself five years from now?"
This question gets asked a lot at job interviews because people want to see what your future goals are and how you expect to change and grow. In the last five years, I went to college, learned to drive, got a car, lost a car, graduated, had two jobs and moved seven times.
A lot can change in five years, but that's the stretch of time that the Department of State wants to dig through social media before granting a refugee access into the US. On Thursday, the government agency filed a notice to the Federal Register, proposing its latest process for vetting immigrants applying for US visas.
In the new procedure, the State Department recommends requiring immigrants to hand over their social media handles from the last five years, as well as any phone numbers and email addresses they've used. The Department of Homeland Security already requests social media handles voluntarily from visitors, and has even recommended asking for passwords.
The US is expecting up to 65,000 new immigrants who will need to go through extreme vetting before being granted a travel visa, part of a policy President Trump has advocated from the White House and on Twitter.
The State Department said it would not be asking for passwords from visa applicants, but when profiles on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are public, they might not have to. Officers are also "directed not to engage or interact with individuals on or through social media," David Donahue, the acting assistant secretary of the Bureau of Consular Affairs wrote in the notice.
In the notice, Donahue also said people can't be denied entry into the US based on what their social media shows about their political views, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, gender or ethnicity.
But think about how different your social media presence was five years ago compared to now. Things you've said, done or posted that you look back at now and cringe at. People that you've forgotten you were even friends with, opinions you changed as you matured.
I went back on my Facebook timeline to 2011 and 2012. It's like a time capsule of bad clothes, quotes I thought were deep ("Defeating a sandwich, only makes it tastier." What?), and stupid photos. You know, your normal high school kid experience, except it's all logged in one convenient place.
Imagine if you couldn't get into another country because someone you were Facebook friends with five years ago later turned out to be a person of interest in an investigation.
It's no wonder today's teens and millennials are flocking to platforms like Snapchat, where nothing you post is permanent. When public social media activity can jeopardize your future in college applications and job interviews, being able to post that keg stand photo doesn't seem worth all the Likes anymore.
And now when the government agencies want in on your social media history, there's a lot more at stake than jobs and education.
It's Complicated: This is dating in the age of apps. Having fun yet? These stories get to the heart of the matter.
Tech Enabled: CNET chronicles tech's role in providing new kinds of accessibility.
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Asus gives its gaming router a quad-band boost at CES 2022
Asus gives its gaming router a quad-band boost at CES 2022
This story is part of CES, where CNET covers the latest news on the most incredible tech coming soon.
Asus is using CES 2022 to launch the latest additions to its lineup of high-powered ROG Rapture gaming routers, including the first-ever quad-band gaming router with four separate bands of traffic.
That new flagship is the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000, and it builds on last year's addition of Wi-Fi 6E support by adding a second 5GHz band into the mix. Both 5GHz bands and the 6E-exclusive 6GHz band offer top transfer rates of up to 4.8Gbps, while the 2.4GHz band promises top theoretical speeds as high as 1,148Mbps (1.148Gbps). The router runs on Broadcom Wi-Fi 6 chipsets and a 2.0GHz, 64-bit quad-core CPU, a step up from last year's 1.8GHz CPU. Other improvements are a matching set of two Ethernet LAN ports capable of accepting incoming wired speeds of up to 10Gbps, plus a 2.5Gbps WAN port and four additional gigabit LAN ports.
As for features, you can expect the usual barrage of tricks intended to eliminate gaming lag, including game-specific server guidance, "triple-level game acceleration" and a new Asus RangeBoost Plus feature that promises to deliver better Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home. And, yep, you can customize the router's RGB lighting effects, too.
Just don't plan on any of that coming cheap -- Asus expects to start selling the ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 worldwide for $649 starting sometime in the first quarter of the year.
Sometime after that in Q2, expect the arrival of another addition to the ROG Rapture line, the GT-AX11000 Pro. With the same spidery design, the same top speeds on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands and the same 2.0GHz processor powering things on the inside, it's essentially the GT-AXE16000 but stripping out the Wi-Fi 6E support and the 6GHz band to help bring the price down to $499.
Also missing from the mix: those 10Gbps LAN jacks -- instead, you get a pair of 2.5Gbs ports that you can aggregate together for a double-wired 5Gbps connection.
We'll plan on testing both models out once they hit the market to see how they perform in practice, so expect us to report back once we have more to share.
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How to Fix Netflix Error Code M7111-5059 if You Have a VPN
How to Fix Netflix Error Code M7111-5059 if You Have a VPN
If you're having problems watching Netflix while using a virtual private network on your phone or laptop, you may have seen error code M7111-5059 displayed along with this message: "Whoops, something went wrong. Streaming error. You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again."
VPNs are legal in the US , but Netflix faces stiff penalties if it doesn't abide by the licensing laws of each country it operates in. So Netflix polices its media distribution by enforcing service geoblocks through IP address detection. However, VPNs are designed to hide those IP addresses. They also keep your internet provider from seeing what you're watching, and can protect you while you watch on shared Wi-Fi networks.
One thing to keep in mind: While people around the world use VPNs with Netflix every day, Netflix can suspend or terminate any account it determines to be abusive. We don't want that to happen to you, so be sure to read your Netflix membership terms of use.
Cutting to the chase, it's possible your VPN isn't good enough to outwit Netflix's automated detection or just isn't configured with the ideal streaming settings. There are a few ways to change that. Here's how.
Read more: This VPN Trick Will Let You Watch Your Netflix Shows While You're Traveling
Why am I getting Netflix error code M7111-5059?
There are two possible reasons you received a proxy error. Either Netflix has detected that you're using a VPN, or your residential IP address is on one of Netflix' lists of blocked addresses. Although the latter was a more common problem in 2021, receiving a proxy error message in 2022 most likely means your VPN has been spotted by Netflix.
Netflix has been playing Whack-a-Mole with VPN users for years and has recently increased its efforts to block viewers from streaming while protected by a VPN. Using a shady VPN with limited obfuscation, few server locations and a small IP address list (that's most free VPNs) makes you far more likely to be blocked. But even if you're using the best VPN available, you might still need to tweak a few settings.
1. Get a quality VPN
I don't get paid by VPN providers, and I always prefer to direct you to free, open-source tools whenever I can -- but to get past a Netflix block, a VPN has to pay for servers in cities across the globe, buying up thousands of IP addresses to use in rotation. I never recommend free VPNs in the first place, and when it comes to Netflix, they're worse than useless. If you're cash-strapped, buy yourself some time by test-driving premium VPNs via trial periods.
If you're a heavy streamer, I recommend ExpressVPN. Sure, it costs a bit more than average, but there's a reason it's still our top-recommended VPN. Whether you stream from Hulu, YouTube or Netflix, this thing is a beast against geoblocks. It's got servers in 160 locations across 94 countries and each one of those servers dishes out thousands of IP addresses. ExpressVPN also has specific features to improve media streaming, and an encryption protocol that is both discreet and lightning-fast.
Give it a spin, select Lightway protocol from its settings menu and connect to any city outside of New York for the quickest and most reliable Netflix connection.
Read more: ExpressVPN Review: Pricey, but Speedy and Great for Streaming
2. Switch your VPN server
If you're running your VPN through a server in a highly trafficked location, you may have a harder time dodging Netflix blocks. One of the easiest fixes is to close out of your VPN client completely, then reopen it and see what city your VPN connects to by default. Whatever that city is, avoid connecting through it when you're trying to stream Netflix.
Instead, pick a medium-to-large city within a hundred miles of the default city. That should get you close enough to enjoy reliable infrastructure and service, while still being away from a city with IPs that are commonly targeted for geoblocking. For example, if you're using ExpressVPN, avoid New York servers and shoot for New Jersey.
Read more: Fastest VPN of 2022
3. Clear your cache and delete cookies
When you log in to Netflix and the service sees your IP address, it also looks for cookies and user-identifying items in your browser cache. If the information there doesn't match the location of your IP address, Netflix throws you an error message. So if you're getting the M7111-5059 error while using a VPN, completely close your browser, restart your VPN and do the following.
First, make sure your browser is updated and running its most recent version.
1. If you're using Google Chrome, open a new browser window and click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
2. Click More Tools, then click Clear Browsing Data.
3. You'll see several boxes you can check. Check the following: Browsing history, Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
4. Click Clear data, then close Chrome and open it again.
Now make sure your VPN is still connected and then navigate to Netflix in your browser.
If you're streaming from mobile, the cached data on your phone could still cause problems. So if you've checked the other steps and still can't connect on mobile, close out of everything on your phone, then delete and reinstall the Netflix app before trying again.
Read more: Clear Your Android Phone's Cookies and Cache
4. Switch your VPN protocol
All commercial VPNs that we recommend come with a handful of encryption protocol choices that you can find under settings or preference menus. Once you find the protocol settings in your VPN's desktop client or app, select OpenVPN from among the options, particularly OpenVPN UDP if it's available.
If you're using ExpressVPN, switch to the service's Lightway UDP protocol as your default choice, then close out of and relaunch the VPN client. If you're using your VPN on iOS while trying to watch Netflix, you might be somewhat limited in choices. Look in your VPN's protocol options for IKEv2.
Be sure you've saved your choice before closing out of the client and restarting the VPN completely. Then fully close and relaunch your browser or Netflix app once you've restarted your VPN.
Read more: Best Mobile VPN of 2022
For more on finding a compatible VPN that will help you watch Netflix reliably, check out our guides to identifying the best VPN for your needs, what to look for in a VPN for your smart TV and getting the most out of a mobile VPN.
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Bed Bath & Beyond Labor Day Sale: Get Up to 80% Off Home Essentials
Bed Bath & Beyond Labor Day Sale: Get Up to 80% Off Home Essentials
Bed Bath & Beyond is back with its Labor Day sale, with up to 80% off, which runs through Monday, Sept. 5. A sale like this is a fabulous opportunity to stock up on home essential gear to keep you snuggly and warm through the winter.
The essential home gear that you can get during this deal isn't limited to things for the bedroom and bathroom -- there are plenty of kitchen deals available too. If you love coffee, get this Keurig K-Mini Plus single serve K-Cup pod coffee maker for $70 (save $40). This cute little coffee maker is ideal for people who have small kitchens and for those who just want to brew a single 6- to 12-ounce cup of coffee.
Want an air fryer that can do it all? Grab this Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro air fry oven. This $250 (save $80) appliance has an extra large toaster oven with the ability to fry, air roast, bake, whole roast, broil and more. But, if you want something simpler, try the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL instead for $130, saving you $40.
Head over to Bed Bath & Beyond for the entire Labor Day sale so you can take advantage of discounted prices to get your home ready for the new season.
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Your Old Laptop Could Last Longer if You Try These Tips
Your Old Laptop Could Last Longer if You Try These Tips
Before you splurge on a shiny, new laptop, you may want to consider giving your current system some TLC. There's a lot you can do to take better care of that old laptop and stretch its lifespan as long as possible.
Brett Pearce/CNET
The longevity horizon of a laptop is analogous to the longevity of a human: It partly comes down to responsible behavior, partly genetics and partly just dumb luck. There's no guarantee that anything you do can save it from dying young or failing to keep up with increasingly demanding tasks.
And there's no guarantee that if you treat it like crap it won't last far longer than expected -- in 10 years you might find yourself cursing it. "Fail already you slow POS so I can justify buying a replacement!" That's the argument I had daily with my 7-year-old iPad. (Which I still use for some things despite having finally bought a new iPad Pro.)
It baffled me, for instance, when I learned that my friend's 7-plus-year-old Lenovo Yoga 2 13 still functions, and actually functions well. It's filthy, it's been knocked off precarious perches by flying cats, it sits baking in hot sunlight, endures summers with 90% humidity indoors, and its operating system hasn't been updated in... I don't think ever. She still hasn't filled up the 128GB drive. Recently she asked if she should upgrade to Windows 11 (from Windows 8.1). After picking my chin up off the floor, I pointed out that she probably couldn't; even if it meets the requirements, it would likely be even slower than it is now.
But I have to report that it has finally gone to that great e-waste bin in the sky. Only because she dropped it one time too many. Time to recycle it.
I kept on using it, thinking the trackpad was just going bad, until it popped out completely and I realized the battery beneath it had swollen. Ah, the joys of the early ultrathin models! (This is a 2013 Samsung ATIV Book 9.)
Lori Grunin/CNET
Yet, in the interim, I've gone through at least two laptops, one with a battery that swelled and another with a wiring and broken plastic issue that rendered the display unusable. They exited this world in close to pristine aesthetic condition. And she had to return a Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13-inch after a year of working from home thanks to connectivity failures, though it already looked pretty beaten up.
Bottom line: It's a crapshoot.
Read more: Do I Really Have to Upgrade to Windows 11 From Windows 10? What to Know
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
Data backup is on my long, long list of "do as I say, not as I do" advice. But the longer you hold onto a laptop, the more irreplaceable files and information you'll accumulate on it. And the greater the chance it'll crumble into e-waste. So before you touch your laptop to address any issues -- including cleaning -- you should back it up.
The unwritten rule is this: If you don't back up your laptop, it will experience a catastrophic failure. But if you do, then nothing will happen. Because that's the way the universe works.
No. Just no.
Lori Grunin/CNET
Coddle it
I don't mean sing it a lullaby before you put it to sleep every night, or even treat it gingerly. Just use some common sense when it comes to handling and storage. For example, don't think, "Awww, cute. Instagram it!" when your cat curls up on your laptop keyboard seeking attention or warmth. Think, "That cat is going to annihilate my MacBook's butterfly keyboard."
Other simple practices include:
Don't leave it sitting in hot sunlight.
Keep animals and kids away. If you have to leave it unattended for a minute, shove it somewhere a little less accessible, or at least tilt the lid down partially so that the screen and keyboard are protected.
Don't leave it hanging off the edge of a desk, couch, chair, ottoman and so on. This is a good policy for any object, frankly.
Don't eat around it (she says, flicking pistachio shell pieces off the keyboard and digging flakes out from gaps).
Wash or sanitize your hands before using it to minimize dirt and oils transferring. These can build up over the years.
If you only use it sporadically, keep it in the most dust-free location available.
When it's on or in sleep mode, don't cover it with fabric or leave it in any other environment where there's no airflow. (This goes triple for Windows 10 laptops, since Microsoft's default is to wake them to force updates, but not to make sure it goes back to sleep afterwards. Twice I've had laptops come close to overheating in bed with me because having current virus definitions is obviously more important than not setting me on fire.)
Don't leave it charging 24/7. Note that depending upon the vintage or model of your system, leaving it plugged in may not cause any problems, but using it off-power periodically lets you spot-check incipient battery or electrical system issues. You can also use a utility to check how worn your Windows laptop battery is.
Don't smoke around it. Nothing gunks up electronics faster.
You should also check the adapter cable periodically, especially if you've got pets. Run your fingers along it feeling for teeth marks. A chewed-through cable won't ruin your laptop -- they're designed to stop working if the insulation is punctured -- but it can get expensive replacing them. My cat, Iris the Destroyer, earned her name by chewing through two Dell AC adapters at $70 a pop (among other reasons). If you catch it early, you can reroute them for safety. Plus, it's not good for the animals.
If your cat likes to curl up on the keyboard, get a tilting laptop stand -- Felix will likely find an alternative space on your desk that's even less convenient -- or create a space near your desk where your cat can still supervise you and that mimics the radiating warmth of the keyboard.
Clean it
It's easy to ignore basic maintenance, especially if you use your laptop every day. You just stop noticing the crud after a while. But periodically taking a minute to examine entry points around keycaps, the keyboard surface, touchpad surface, speaker grilles, hinge, ports, vents and screen may save you some heartache (and money) in the long run. A filthy touchscreen can make it less responsive as well.
But even if none of it poses a long-term health issue for your system, you don't want to wait until detritus builds up so much that it's almost impossible to get out or off. Keeping the fan vents clear and dust-free is especially important.
Streamline it
Every now and then, take a pass through applications and files, as well as programs and services that run at startup, and jettison anything you don't need. Will doing that extend the life of the system? Probably not, except perhaps by reducing a fractional amount of heat generated by unnecessary processor activity.
But at the very least, periodically weeding it can make it feel faster, just like cleaning out a room can make it feel bigger. And at best you will experience some real performance improvements, including improved battery life. It may also turn out that you don't need the memory or storage upgrades that you thought you did. And if you never bothered to uninstall the bloatware that came with your Windows system, try uninstalling it. A clutter-free Start Menu may improve performance a little.
The best way to make it feel like new is to freshen the operating system, which essentially reinstalls it while leaving your data and files intact, rather than wiping the drive and starting anew. In Mac OS you use Recovery Mode. Windows has a couple options: Refresh to reinstall the operating system while preserving your files; and Fresh Start, which refreshes the operating system but without all the bloatware that might have come with it initially.
At some point, you'll probably feel like the incremental approach isn't working for you anymore. Then it's time to consider wiping it off and starting from scratch: You'll need to reinstall the same version of the operating system and applications. This can be trickier, since it may require repurchasing old programs, recustomizing every aspect of the operating system or application behavior, debugging system glitches again and more. Plus, you run the risk of breaking something that was working fine before.
That's software. What about hardware? Aside from upgrades, a laptop's hardware remains pretty static. There's no magic wand to wave that will make your trackpad feel five years younger. One exception is battery life: Changing your software settings can make a big difference to the battery's longevity.
Here are some more suggestions:
An external hub can greatly expand the usability of an older system as well as reduce wear and tear on the connections.
Lori Grunin/CNET
Accessorize it
Using accessories such as an external keyboard, mouse or monitor -- even cheap ones -- may help save wear and tear on the built-in components and hinge. More important, once those components of a laptop start to get wonky, the system itself will still be usable if you can find external replacements for the devices.
If you're constantly moving between desktop locations, it's worth getting a dock or hub for those external devices. This will save wear and tear on the connections from constant plugging and unplugging. It also adds extra ports, which is another perk that will extend the useful life of your laptop. Here are some more suggestions:
Upgrade it
Because real upgrades always require some expense, this is probably one of the final steps you'll consider. But small, incremental upgrades can make a big difference. Not as many laptops support internal memory or storage upgrades as they used to -- replaceable batteries even less so -- but if you can, you should definitely take advantage of the option as you start to hit limits. That's one of the advantages of hanging onto an older laptop -- it's more likely to be upgradable.
That's as long as you feel comfortable opening it up to stick things in. Before you start down this path, make sure to find an upgrade or maintenance guide for your particular system to verify that it supports your plan. You should also check that it doesn't require expensive nonstandard components, which will cost more than it's worth.
When I bought this inexpensive Asus UL30 in 2009, it was partly for its upgradability and removable battery. The display failed before I even got a chance to take advantage of that. (It was probably fixable, but wasn't worth it given the price.)
Lori Grunin/CNET
External upgrades can be easier and more practical, though in some cases they don't provide as big a boost. Or they may not make as big a difference as you thought they would. I secretly added a Netgear Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) USB dongle to a tech-challenged friend's laptop, which was equipped with pokey Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 b/g/n). Speedtest showed that throughput doubled. Given how much time she spends online, that seemed to make it worth the money.
She didn't notice any difference.
If you're running short on storage, an external drive is an obvious enhancement. Unless you only plan to use it to offload files you don't use often, you may want to avoid going too cheap. A slow external drive can be more annoying than uplifting. You can also potentially improve performance by booting from an external drive, though that depends on the connection and the drive speed.
Another possible performance upgrade -- only if you've got a newer laptop with a Thunderbolt 3 connection, though -- is to add an external graphics processor, aka eGPU, to boost speed in applications or games with heavy GPU usage. This can be a pricey upgrade, though, and the enclosure and the graphics card are frequently sold separately, which can obscure the true cost.
You may want to consider moving to a newer version of the operating system if you're not on it already. If your laptop supports Trusted Platform Module, or TPM -- it probably does if it's not really old or really low-end -- consider upgrading to Windows 11. Windows 11 adds almost nothing notable in my opinion, but it has a refreshed interface and surfaces features you might not have known were there, which can at least make your laptop feel like it's newer.
I don't think an OS upgrade is a no-brainer, though. If your laptop's crumbling to dust, a newer version of the OS may not unequivocally improve things. And you also run the risk of losing the ability to run some applications.
Case in point: In 2019, Mac OS Catalina (10.15)removed support for 32-bit applications. So if a program hasn't been migrated from 32 to 64 bit -- and there are good reasons why it may not have been -- the upgrade would actually be a step backward for you.
Sticking with an outdated version of an operating system is widely considered to be bad hygiene, though, because you don't get the constant barrage of virus, malware and security updates that up-to-date systems receive.
Convert it
And finally, when you're at the end of your rope, you've got nothing to lose by replacing the operating system with something new altogether. If your laptop powers on and at least most of the keys work, there's a good chance it can be converted into a Chromebook, running Google's Chrome OS, to give it at least a little more useful life before it goes to live upstate on a retired laptop farm.
