Computers

How to choose the right monitor

According to Dell

Published

June 12, 2020

GadgetMatch

Monitors are an essential tool for effective work from home. They can improve workflow and boost productivity. With companies pivoting to remote work arrangements, it is critical for business continuity to provide employees with the best equipment that will help ensure their continued productivity.

Creating an environment optimized for telecommuting is more than just a laptop and an Internet connection at home. Those who are in the finance, design, programming, or engineering industries, need a good monitor to make teleworking work for them.

Now, Dell shares its top six tips for selecting the right monitor for remote work:

1. Screen Size and Resolution

Resolution and screen size go hand-in-hand. A larger monitor typically requires a higher resolution. More pixels in each square inch of the display means users will get sharper images. A 27-inch QHD (2560 x 1440), 32-inch 4K (3840 x 2160) or 34-inch WQHD (3440 x 1440) displays are the recommended size and resolution with more than 100 pixels per inch.

Determining the right screen size and resolution is an important first step. Having more screen space has a direct correlation to increased productivity. The typical screen size for most office work is between 24 and 32 inches.

If bigger and wider screen space is a priority, it may be necessary to have more than one monitor, or one ultrawide curved monitor, which is commonly between 34 to 49 inches. Monitors with ultra-thin bezels are ideal for creating seamless multi-monitor configurations, resulting in less distraction.

Financial service workers, software developers, and data scientists typically benefit from one large screen space (43 to 49 inches) to view large amounts of data in their workspace. They often appreciate monitors that can connect and display content from multiple PCs.

2. Ergonomics and wellbeing

Remote work employees tend to work longer, so having the right equipment for wellbeing is crucial. In one research, 92% of workers believe ergonomically optimized monitors are critically important for improving their productivity.

Squinting at a screen or slouching over the monitor can lead to poor posture, back issues, and eye strain. To help with these issues, it is important to choose a versatile monitor with height and tilt adjustability to ensure correct posture and viewing alignment.

Like other electronic devices, monitors emit low blue light that can tire the eyes over extended periods of viewing time. Choose monitors with low blue light and flicker-free technology to minimize blue light emission and flickering images.

3. Connectivity

It is important to consider devices that will be connected to the monitor as well as check laptop ports for compatibility. Common ports on laptops today include HDMI, USB-C, and Thunderbolt 3.

Opt for a clean desk setup with a USB-C monitor. This can help reduce cable clutter. Plus, it allows users to charge their laptop and transfer data with a single cable.

In addition, other essential accessories will need multiple USB ports. Dell monitors typically provide four USB ports, making it possible to connect to more devices.

4. Energy efficiency

Like other home appliances, energy efficiency is important. Monitors that are certified for reduced energy consumption like Energy Star or EPEAT can save up to USD 52 in annual utility bills.

Advanced monitors may also offer features that reduce power consumption by putting the monitor to sleep after a period of inactivity.

5. Color

Professionals in the creative industry like photography and videography should consider color coverage, accuracy, and calibration when purchasing a monitor.

A monitor that is compatible with an external colorimeter or has one that is already built-in is best for quick and easy calibration. Choosing a monitor with DCI-P3 above 95% coverage with factory calibration will help with color-critical tasks.

6. Collaboration

Monitors that include a built-in camera, microphone, and speakers are growing in popularity with the increased frequency of video conferencing calls.

If you’re on video calls for the majority of the workday, look for a monitor that includes these collaborative features to ensure that participants can hear and see you clearly.

Have the right monitor for a successful remote work

With more organizations offering flexible working arrangements, selecting the right monitor at home is crucial from a productivity standpoint.

Users should consider future-proofing their monitor investments with larger screen sizes, higher resolutions, and better connectivity.

Investing in the right monitors for a more comfortable working environment at home will reap returns in the long run in terms of overall health and work productivity.

Accessories

Acer PA100 portable SSD brings fast, flexible storage on the go

Up to 2TB

Published

September 4, 2026

GadgetMatch

Acer is expanding its storage lineup with the PA100 Portable SSD. It’s a compact external drive designed for users who need faster storage across multiple devices.

The PA100 uses USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectivity. It reaches sequential read speeds of up to 560MB/s and write speeds of up to 430MB/s. This makes it suited for everyday tasks such as transferring large files, backing up content, managing documents, and moving media between devices.

Up to 2TB of portable storage

The PA100 comes in three capacities: 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB. This gives users options depending on whether they need extra space for documents and schoolwork or larger collections of photos, videos, and project files.

Acer also designed the drive with mobility in mind. The PA100 has a slim 9mm profile and a lightweight build, while its reinforced construction is designed to withstand everyday travel and handling.

The drive comes with a 2-in-1 USB-C to USB-C and USB-A cable. This allows it to connect to compatible PCs, tablets, smartphones, and other devices without requiring a separate adapter. It also supports major operating systems and USB-C mobile platforms.

Designed for everyday use

Power efficiency is another focus. Acer says the PA100 uses less than 3W during operation, while idle power consumption can drop to as low as 0.62W.

The drive also features an optimized thermal design to help maintain stable performance during extended transfers and daily workloads.

The Acer PA100 Portable SSD is backed by a three-year limited warranty. Pricing and availability may vary by market.

Computers

New Mac mini starts at a whopping $899, only 256GB of storage

It comes with the M6 or the M5 Pro.

Published

August 26, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Almost two decades ago, Apple was infamous for being an anti-gamer brand. Though the company’s devices touted superior protection against viruses, they couldn’t play video games, alienating a significant chunk of the population and forcing them onto PCs. For a while now, the Mac has changed the status quo, bringing in more powerful hardware that can play games. Today, Apple is championing that cause further through the newly launched Mac mini.

Compared to the chunkier Macs, the Mac mini has a lithe 5” x 5” profile, emphasizing the “mini” in its name. Despite the size, the new mini will tout two flavors of Apple silicon: the M6 and the M5 Pro.

The M6 variant delivers with up to two times faster gaming performance with ray tracing when running Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, compared to the previous M4 version. Meanwhile, the M5 Pro version touts up to 4.5 times faster rendering performance with ray tracing in Blender, compared to the M2 Pro. It will come with macOS 27 Golden Gate out of the box.

You won’t have to worry about connectivity, either. The Mac mini comes with compatibility for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and 2.5Gb Ethernet (going up to 10Gb in upgraded versions). It will also have two USB-C ports, three Thunderbolt 5 ports (but only Thunderbolt 4 for the M6 version), and HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and a headphone jack.

Unfortunately, price seems to be another thing that it’s getting from PCs. The new Mac mini has an increased starting price. Specifically, the M6 version starts at US$ 899 (with only 256GB of storage), and the M5 Pro version starts at US$ 1,699 (for 512GB of storage). Preorders are open now, but they ship out on September 22.

Computers

ASUS unveils TUF Gaming T700, T700 Mini

Built for extreme operational demands

Published

August 21, 2026

GadgetMatch

ASUS has announced the arrival of its latest TUF Gaming desktop lineup models: the TUF Gaming T700 and TUF Gaming T700 Mini.

These new offerings bring heavy-duty performance and military-grade durability to gamers, engineered to endure extreme operational demands while delivering rock-solid stability.

The new ASUS TUF Gaming T700, in particular, is engineered to take on modern AAA titles with its uncompromising performance.

It has an aggressive mecha-inspired MIL-STD chassis, including a transparent side panel to put powerful components on display. Vibrant orange ambient lighting also adds a bold finishing touch.

Inside is an AMD Ryzen 7 8700F processor and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti GPU for high-frame rate gaming.

The T700 also features a robust thermal solution equipped with quad 65 CFM fans and a 240mm liquid cooler.

Meanwhile, the TUF Gaming T700 Mini is tailored for competitive gamers while maintaining a compact, battle-tested chassis.

It has an Intel Core Ultra 5 225F desktop processor, paired with with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics.

This combination provides seamless multitasking, crisp visuals, and reliable frame rates across today’s popular titles.

The internal hardware is cooled by a custom thermal matrix featuring dedicated copper heat pipes and a heavy-duty 90mm cooling fan.

True to the TUF Gaming legacy, the T700 Mini is likewise MIL-STD tested to endure extreme operational demands.