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Jon Martindale

Jon Martindale

Computing Coordinator

Jon Martindale is the Evergreen Coordinator for Computing, overseeing a team of writers addressing all the latest how to guides, best-of lists, and explainers to help everyone understand the hottest new hardware and software in desktops, laptops, and on the web.

Jon also writes for Forbes, Lifewire, and Microcenter, has authored two novels, and provided back story and dialogue for a handful of games.

 

The top corner of Gmail on a laptop screen.

Here’s what to do when you inevitably run out of Gmail storage

The last thing you want is your Gmail storage to be full, and you can't receive any more emails. Fortunately, it's super quick and easy to fix. Here's how.
Computing Guides
Man using dual monitor arms on his desk.

This change to my multi-monitor setup was totally worth it

I switched to a third-party monitor arm for my displays, and I'll never look back. It's such an improvement that I wish I'd done it years ago.
Computing Guides
HLT vertical kickstand for graphics card mounting.

How to vertically mount your GPU (and why you might want to)

Want to have a better look at your GPU while you're gaming? Vertically mounting it is one solution. Here's how to do it.
Computing Guides
A frustrated person looking at a laptop.

How to uninstall McAfee

Preinstalled antivirus software got you down? Never fear. With a few clicks, we can help you get rid of McAfee for good, so you can install something better.
Computing Guides
Ray traced Fortnite at max settings.

3 easy ways to quickly improve Fortnite performance

Getting good performance in Fortnite is important if you want to be competitive. Here are the best ways to boost your frame rate to help you win more often.
Computing Features
Logitech's Pro 2 gaming peripherals.

How to use the Logitech G Hub features for your new gaming peripherals

Logitech G-Hub is a robust backend app for controlling all your Logitech accessories. Here's how to use it.
Computing Guides
Jon's latest gaming and work machine.

I built the best gaming PC in the world — and it wasn’t worth it

I upgraded my PC with some of the fastest components in the world and it's made my work much faster, but it barely effected my gaming at all. Here's why.
Computing Features
The Razer Core X Chroma external graphics card on a desk next a laptop and a monitor.

These are the best graphics cards to use in an external GPU enclosure

One way to boost your laptop's performance is with an external graphics enclosure. Here are the best GPUs to give your laptop desktop-grade gaming power.
Computing Products
A mudflat on the left with mountains in the background. On the right is the same mudflat with a car and pond superimposed into the foreground and a car-shaped cloud in the sky. This image was made with Adobe Photoshop's Generative Fill tool.

This magic Photoshop feature has changed how I edit photos forever

The latest generations of AI aren't just great to chat to and for making fun AI art -- they can speed up your workflow in Photoshop too. Here's how.
Computing Features
Elgato Wave 3 microphone on a desk.

These are the best microphones for streaming you can buy

Streaming is all the rage, and there’s no better time to get started. But you will need a quality mic. Here are some of the best microphones for streaming.
Computing Products
YouTube app running on an Amazon Fire Max 11.

I couldn’t live without this simple desktop YouTube feature

YouTube's Picture in Picture feature is super useful for keeping videos within view when you're multi-tasking. Here's how to make the most of it.
Computing Features
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (2018) review

The best Lenovo laptops for 2023: ThinkPad, Yoga, and more

What is the best Lenovo laptop? It's not an easy decision to make with so many versatile models. These are our favorite picks, ranging from Yogas to ThinkPads.
Computing Products
A business owner using QuickBooks Online on a laptop.

How to find your BitLocker recovery key

If you find yourself faced with a BItLocker key request and don't have it at hand, don't fret. There are a number of ways to recover it. Here's how to do it.
Computing Guides
Various ChatGPT custom GPTs.

ChatGPT lets you build your own chatbot without coding. Here’s how

Want to make a custom ChatGPT-style chatbot? Now you can do so with the latest GPT-4 language models with all the extras. Here's how.
Computing Guides
Woman holding her back in pain while using a laptop.

I tried fixing my bad posture with an annoying pop-up app — and it worked

I'm always battling against poor posture, but my willpower often isn't enough to stand up straight all day. With SitApp, it's much easier.
Computing Features
LG 32UD99-W review full

How to calibrate your monitor to make it better for free

Want to see images the way they're intended to be seen? Here is our quick guide on how to calibrate your monitor using your operating system or another tool.
Computing Guides
A person holding a ThinkPad Nano X1 Gen 2 laptop in front of a window.

Still faxing? Here’s how to make it easier by faxing from email

Fax machines might have all-but disappeared, but if you still need to send one now and again, what do you do? Send a fax from your email. Here's how.
Computing Guides

How to get Photoshop for free

Adobe allows limited-time downloads of Photoshop without needing to pay upfront. Here's how to get a full version of Photoshop for free, for a time.
Computing Guides
Logitech G Pro X mechanical gaming keyboard.

Why owning the best PC hardware didn’t make me a better gamer

It turns out that even with one of the fastest gaming PCs ever made, a fast mouse, a faster keyboard, and anti-lag technology, I'm still terrible at shooters.
Computing Features
Spreadsheet on a laptop on a table.

Here’s how to quickly and easily convert a PDF to Excel

Excel gives you tons of options for editing, but what if your file is a PDF? Here's how to convert a PDF into an Excel file with ease. Just follow these steps.
Computing Guides
A LG ultradwide monitor.

These are the best ultrawide monitors you buy in 2023

Here's a look at some of the best ultrawide monitors you can buy right now for gaming, the workplace, video editing, and more.
Computing Products
A woman holding the Samsung 870 Pro NVMe PCIe SSD in her hands.

What is NVMe? Everything you need to know about high-speed storage

NVMe drives are everywhere, from your mom's laptop to your high-end gaming PC. These extremely slim drives are superfast, and now they're super affordable too.
Computing Guides
Microsoft Surface Studio 2

The best all-in-one computers for 2023

If you want a desktop PC without having to mess around with a separate monitor, an all-in-one PC is for you. Here are the best all-in-one computers you can buy.
Computing Products
Fortnite man.

Fortnite performance guide: best settings, fps boost, and more

Fortnite is a super-fast paced game and your PC needs to be fast enough to keep ahead of the storm. Here are the best settings to boost Fortnite performance.
Computing Guides
CS:GO 2 team posing.

Counter-Strike 2 performance guide: best settings, fps boost and more

Counter-Strike 2 is here and although some miss the original, it's here to stay. Here's everything you need to know to boost your fps for max performance.
Computing Guides
LG CX OLED TV

What is chroma subsampling?

Chroma subsampling is a useful compression technique that is used in streaming and UHD Blu-rays, but it may not be worth enabling yourself.
Computing Guides
HDR demo on the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8.

What is Display Stream Compression? Everything you need to know about DSC

Display Stream Compression, or DSC, is a powerful compression algorithm that your monitor and TV may already be using without your knowledge.
Computing Guides
Windows 11 set up on a computer.

How to use Passkeys in Windows 11

Passkeys are a great way to streamline your login for a range of services, and now you can store them on your PC too. Here's how to use them in Windows 11.
Computing Guides
Meta Quest 3 sitting on a display table.

Best Meta Quest 3 accessories to make your VR experience even better

The Quest 3 is Meta's latest generation, mainstream mixed reality headset and it's amazing. But you can make it even more so with a few well chosen accessories.
Computing Products
Canon PIXMA TS6420a.

The best cheap printers for 2023

Searching for a budget-friendly printer option? Take a look at our collection of the finest affordable printers currently on the market.
Computing Products
A person using an Acer Chromebook 14.

Chromebook vs laptop: Which is better and what is the difference?

What is the difference between a Chromebook and a laptop? Which one is better for you? In this guide, we'll go over the reasons to buy one over the other.
Computing Products
MacOS Sonoma presented at WWDC 2023.

How to download macOS 14 Sonoma

The latest version of Apple’s Mac operating system, macOS 14 Sonoma, has just been fully released. Here’s how to download and install it on your computer.
Computing Guides
Microsoft Surface Pro 7

Surface Laptop Go 3 vs. Surface Pro 7+: is it an upgrade?

The Surface Laptop Go 3 is Microsoft's new affordable Surface laptop, but is it better than the still-affordable Surface Pro 7+ for business? Let's find out.
Computing Guides
Surface Laptop Go 3 at Microsoft debut event.

Surface Laptop Go 3 specs: what’s the best configuration?

The Surface Laptop Go 3 is a great little machine, but which one of its configurations should you buy? The higher-end ones are better, but just how much?
Computing Guides
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