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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.

 

A man holds a Corsair MP600 PRO LPX PS5 SSD next to an open PS5.

What is an SSD? Here’s everything you need to know

Most PCs use exclusively SSDs for just about every kind of storage these days. But what about hard drives? What is an SSD, really?
Computing Guides
The WD Black SN850P 2TB Internal PS5 SSD before insertion into a ready PS5.

How to install an SSD in your PC

Installing an SSD in your PC is quick and straightforward, and can give your PC a big performance boost. Here's how to do it.
Computing Guides

How to clone a hard drive or SSD for free

Cloning a hard drive is a great way to get your PC back up and running. Here's how to do it with a great free app.
Computing Guides

The best RAM for 2024

There are a lot of RAM kits on the market, but only a select few made the cut in our roundup of the best RAM kits. Here are the top options in 2024.
Computing Best Ofs
Installing a Kingston SSD.

How to install an SSD in your laptop

Upgrading your laptop to a solid-state drive (or a better one) is a great way to improve performance. Here's how to do it yourself.
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
Windows 11 logo on a laptop.

Which operating system is safest to use?

Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, Linux -- which is the safest to use? Each have their strengths and weaknesses. Here's what we think is the most secure.
Computing Guides
Woman using a touchpad on a laptop.

How to unlock a mouse (and why you might need to)

Is your mouse frozen? Locked? Unresponsive? It might be that your laptop or PC has locked, or a problem with the mouse itself. Either way, here's how to fix it.
Computing Guides
Intel Core i5-13600K installed in a motherboard.

Intel Arrow Lake: everything we know about the 15th-gen chips

Intel Arrow Lake is slated to launch in 2024, even if that wasn't the original plan. Here's everything we know about Arrow Lake so far.
Computing News
The Glorious Model O 2 Pro mouse sitting on a desk.

How to clean a mouse pad — the right way

Cleaning your mouse pad is important for keeping your mouse working. Here's how to clean it properly to keep it in tip-top condition.
Computing Guides
A hand holding AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X.

AMD Zen 5: everything we know about AMD’s next-gen CPUs

AMD's Zen 5 CPUs will debut on July 31, and they may well bring with them the biggest performance boost in generations.
Computing Guides
The Satechi M1 Wireless Mouse on a desk next to a MacBook.

How to connect a wireless mouse to a laptop

You can connect a wireless mouse to your laptop with its bespoke USB receiver or by using Bluetooth -- or both! Here's how to do it.
Computing Guides
A Dell laptop with Windows 10 sitting on a desk.

Windows 10 end-of-life: Here’s when you’ll be forced to upgrade and what to do

Windows 10 is officially reaching its end of life in 2025. If you haven't upgraded to Windows 11 yet, here's what you need to do to be ready.
Computing Guides
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 laptop, opened with a colorful wallpaper on the screen.

Best 14-inch laptops for 2024: tested and reviewed

Good 14-inch laptops offer a little more display space while still being lightweight and portable. These are the best 14-inch laptops for all sorts of needs.
Computing Best Ofs
Windows 11 logo on a laptop.

How to recover lost or deleted files on Windows

If you delete a file in Windows and desperately need it back, you're in luck! There are a few ways to recover lost files. Here's how to do it.
Computing Guides
The HP Omen Transcend 14 gaming laptop sitting on a table.

What is the best graphics card for laptops?

The best graphics cards for laptops in 2024 are seriously powerful and very efficient. Here are our favorites.
Computing Best Ofs
A person using 1Password on a desktop all-in-one computer while sat at a desk. There are two laptops next to them on the desk.

This is the best password manager for Windows

Everyone needs a password manager these days, but picking the best one for you can be tricky.
Computing Guides
AT&T Internet Air gateway on table.

The best home internet providers of 2024

Picking the right home internet provider will make sure you get a good deal and high performance with no data caps. Here are our favorites.
Computing Best Ofs
toshiba mn series hdds hard drive disk computer storage

The best data recovery software

Data recovery software can save you from losing essential documents and important photos. Here's a list of our top picks to restore your lost files.
Computing Best Ofs
AMD Ryzen processor going into a socket.

The best AMD processors for 2024

The best AMD CPUs are some of the best processors in the world, period. Here are our top AMD chips, whether you're a gamer, worker, or a little bit of both.
Computing Best Ofs
The blue screen of death in Windows.

How to fix error irql_not_less_or_equal in Windows

Most Windows users have come across this nasty error at some point in their time with Windows. Here's how to fix it.
Computing Guides
The Anker PowerCore III connected to laptop.

What to do when your Windows 11 laptop is plugged in but not charging

If your Windows 11 laptop is plugged in but isn't charging, there are a few fixes. Here's what to try first.
Computing Guides
Close up of a person's hands as they type on a laptop's keyboard.

You can restart a laptop with just a keyboard. Here are the two ways

Restarting a laptop with just the keyboard is more than just possible, it's quick and straightforward, too. Here's how do it.
Computing Guides
Missing Wi-Fi icon in Windows 11.

What to do if the Wi-Fi option isn’t showing in Windows 11

If your Wi-Fi toggle isn't showing up in Windows 11, there are a few different ways we can fix it, from re-enabling the adapter, to reinstalling the drivers.
Computing Guides
Secure Boot setting in an ASUS BIOS.

How to enable secure boot in Windows 11

Secure Boot is a setting that makes sure only official software runs on your PC, and it needs to be enabled for Windows 11 to work. Here's how to enable it.
Computing Guides
Gaming PC on a desk.

How I made my PC more sustainable, just in time for summer — and you can too

The summer months are rolling in and turning everyone's gaming room into a sweat box. Here's how to make yours more bearable in summer 2024.
Computing Features
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D installed in a motherboard.

How to fix a red light error on a motherboard

If you've ever built a PC, you know how frustrating that little red light error can be. Here's how to fix it.
Computing Guides
Pads on the bottom of the Ryzen 9 7950X.

AMD vs. Intel: a turning point in this fierce rivalry

With AMD's Ryzen 9000 and Intel's Arrow Lake on the way, we need to take a look at where the rivalry between Intel and AMD stands.
Computing Best Ofs
The blue screen of death in Windows.

How to fix a system service exception error in Windows

This common error in Windows is an annoying one when it happens, but it can be easy to fix. Here's how to do it.
Computing Guides
The RTX 3060 installed in a gaming PC.

These are the best GPU board partners to buy

There are many GPU manufacturers for both AMD and Nvidia, but some are better than others. Here are the best.
Computing Guides
Person using Windows 11 laptop on their lap by the window.

What is the Antimalware Service Executable, and should you disable it?

The Antimalware Service Executable is an important component in your Windows security. Here's why you should keep it running if you can.
Computing Guides
should you buy a console style gaming pc computer desk

How to build a budget gaming PC build for under $500

PC gaming doesn't have to be expensive. In this guide, we'll look at some of the best components you can buy to build a decent gaming PC for under $500.
Computing Guides

How to hide the taskbar in Windows

If you need to learn how to hide the taskbar in Windows, it's easier than you might think. In just a few clicks, you can make it vanish. Here's how to do it.
Computing Guides
Lunar Lake CPU die.

Everything we know about Lunar Lake, Intel’s big next-generation chips

Intel's Lunar Lake is a mobile-first generation of energy-efficient CPUs that may well launch before the end of 2024. Here's what we know so far.
Computing Guides
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