Announced at a Microsoft press conference yesterday, the software company is making the upcoming revision to the Windows operating system, Windows 11, completely free to download and use if you are already using Windows 10. But there’s a couple requirements you have to meet.

1. CPU Requirements

You will need a 8th Gen or newer Intel Core processor. Or you will need an AMD Ryzen 2000 and newer processor. Here’s the full list of supported Intel processors and here’s the full list of supported AMD processors.

That being said, Microsoft is calling the CPU requirements a “soft floor”. This likely means that any CPU not supported by Windows 11 could possibly still work. But it could make running specific programs problematic and your Windows 11 experience may suffer as a result.

2. You have to enable TPM

You need to have TPM (Trusted Platform Module) turned on in your motherboard’s bios. Before you check your bios, you can use Microsoft’s PC Health App (LINK) to see if your computer is ready for Windows 11. If you are like me, you will see a “not compatible” warning. This means it’s time to dive into your computer’s bios.

Windows 11 requires a TPM capable of at least 1.2 support (most of the newer chips are 2.0), and UEFI Secure Boot. Both are used to help security on Windows PCs.

If you don’t know how to get into your computer’s bios, simply restart your computer and wait for the first splash screen to pop up. It will tell you the key you need to press to get into the bios. For me, it was either F2 or Delete. When you are in, it’s likely that you will need to go into the Advanced settings.

You aren’t looking for something labeled TPM quite yet. Both AMD and Intel have different terms for it, wonderfully confusing. If you have an Intel system, look for the “PTT” settings. On an AMD system, look for “PSP fTPM’. When you find that, flip on TPM. On my AMD system, I had to select “Discrete” to turn it on. Then you simply save and reboot.

Other system requirements for Windows 11 include at least 4GB of RAM, at least a 64GB hard drive, a Direct 12 compatible graphics card and an Internet connection w/ Microsoft account.

Freebie Alert: Windows 11 is going to be free, but there’s a catch

With the Sony PlayStation 5 and the Microsoft Xbox Series X currently slated to hit shelves at the end of 2020, we’ve come up with a handful of tips to help you save money on the upcoming next generation consoles as well as the games / services that come with each platform.

Tip 1: Invest in cheap subscriptions to PlayStation Plus & Xbox Live Gold now before prices potentially go up.

As of late, sales on 1-year of PlayStation Plus has been hovering around the $30 price point (MSRP: $60). Those sales are extremely frequent, not specifically limited to big sales like Prime Day or Black Friday. Xbox Live Gold sales are less frequent, but usually around the $40 price point.

If you plan on investing in the next generation of consoles, you run the risk of a price increase on services like PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Gold at some point in the product life cycle. It’s always a good idea to stock up on these 1-year subscriptions as you can stack multiple years. You can stack up to 4 years of PlayStation Plus and 3 years of Xbox Live Gold.

The same advice goes for game subscription services like PlayStation Now and Xbox Game Pass. Look for more aggressive deals on both of those services prior to the launch of the new consoles and avoid any potential price increase after the PS5 / Series X launches in North America.

Tip 2: When buying games this fall for your PS4 or Xbox One, look for a free next gen upgrade option.

Some publishers are announcing free, next gen versions of a game when you purchase the current gen version. The upcoming Avengers game from Square Enix is one such game. The developer is promising the ability to move your save files easily to next-gen consoles, transfer all player profiles / progression stats, and cross-platform play with PS5 / PS4 players.

They are also promising an upgraded gaming experience with faster load times (likely due to SSD drives in the PS4 and Series S), ray tracing, higher resolution textures and features like 60 frames per second at 4K resolution.

Other upcoming games that will get free upgrades on next gen are Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Cyberpunk 2077, Far Cry 6 and Watch Dogs Legion. Free upgrades will be a great way to see how the next gen consoles can scale up titles originally programmed for previous gen hardware.

It’s likely that these upgrades will be digital-only, thus you will have to prove ownership by popping in the disc if you purchased a physical copy of the game. Digital versions of the game (purchased on Ps4 / Xbox One) will likely just automatically unlock on the new consoles.

Tip 3: If you want to take advantage of 4K, October / November is the time to a new display on sale.

With Amazon pushing Prime Day into October this year (most likely) and November being the month of the best sales on electronics due to Black Friday, there will be no better time to make the jump to a dedicated 4K display for your gaming needs.

Both consoles will support 4K gaming at 120 Hz, both will support HDMI 2.1 for 48 Gbps data transfer rates. Be aware that if you purchases a 4K TV in the last few years, you may be stuck with a HDMI 2.0 port (which is limited to 18-Gbps bandwidth). Samsung’s QLED TVs are probably a good bet for the functionality you will need as well as LG’s OLED lineup of TVs. I wouldn’t invest in 8K until pricing drops considerably.

As for sale timing, watch throughout November for flash sales at Amazon, Best Buy, eBay and other retailers for great prices on your next set. The same advice goes for any other home theater electronics you want to upgrade to like speaker systems, high end cables and other gear.

Be aware that Sony is attempting to roll out a 3D audio format (Tempest Engine ) directed at headphones for the PS5. It may be more cost effective to spend money on a solid set of headphones rather than a full Dolby Atmos system for your audio needs. Microsoft is offering a similar 3D audio technology called Window Sonic (but it can be flipped off in favor of Dolby Atmos instead).

For those interested in HDR, Microsoft is attempting to include a HDR reconstruction technology in the Series X, specifically designed to improve graphics in older games. It’s likely the PS5 and Series X will support all available HDR display tech for both gaming and movie playback.

Tip 4: Look for bonus credit deals when trading in your old console.

This happens quite often when a new console is released. Companies like GameStop will offer bonus in-store credit when selling your old console. It’s possible that Amazon and Best Buy will copy that model when the PS5 / Series X release dates are finally announced.

In previous years, GameStop has added $50 to $100 on top of the normal trade-in price. That can be applied to your new console purchase or applied to any games / accessories you will need on day one.

Of course, the potential disadvantage to this is that your existing console needs to be in pristine working condition to receive the full store credit. This means you will have to include the original controller, all original cables, any included headset and other accessories that came in the original box. Personally, I hang onto my original box as well, just because it’s easier to keep all the accessories I’m not using in a single place.

If you want to avoid the trade-in process entirely, you could also save money by utilizing a PS4 or Xbox One as a dedicated multimedia hub rather than a gaming console. It can be installed at a secondary TV in your home and used as a 4K disc player, streaming media player, etc…

One final point, it’s possible that Microsoft or Sony could surprise everyone with a trade-in offer of their own. Watch the reaction when the prices of the consoles are announced and see if there’s push back from the community. A trade-in deal might be a response to a high price point of the next gen hardware.

Tip 5: Beware of the Bundle / Beware of Digital-Only Consoles

As with every console launch, there will inevitably be bundles offered by all kinds of retailers. Bundles are specifically designed to help the retailer make money on additional games and accessories (since the margins are razor-thin on the hardware).

Bundles aren’t inherently a bad deal; you can save some money IF you want everything in the bundle. But bundles typically are packaged with at least 1 game that’s reviewed poorly or simply not a popular option. Ideally, you should preorder early on sites like Amazon and choose the console only option.

The same advice goes for digital-only consoles. While you will be able to save money on a digital only console (usually $50 to $100 off the versions that plays discs), SSD storage space will be limited in the first generation version of the PS5 and Xbox Series X. In addition, you wouldn’t be able to trade-in or sell physical copies of games (if you like doing that to save money).

A digital version of the consoles will likely make more sense when 2TB options are available for a reasonable price. I can tell you that I already struggle with data management on a 1TB SSD drive on the PS4. I can’t imagine how worse data storage is going to get with larger resolution files.

Interestingly, the PS5 will be coming with a NVMe SSD Slot for storage expansion. The company hasn’t stated what the capacity of that storage slot will be though. NVMe SSD storage scales up to 4TB, but can get considerably pricey. Microsoft is going a proprietary route and selling 1TB expansion cards created by Seagate.

Bonus Tip: Become a Patient Gamer, just wait.

If you don’t mind waiting a couple years, you are really in the best financial position when it comes to next gen hardware. Within two years, both companies will likely have released new & improved versions of the PS5 & Series X for less than the first generation hardware will cost.

The cost of games will plummet, especially all the first party exclusives released for both consoles during the first two years. You could even pick up a steal on first-gen hardware as the impatient gamers rush to upgrade their existing hardware.

There’s even an entire Reddit sub dedicated to this gaming lifestyle.

5 Ways to Save on your upcoming PS5 / Xbox Series X purchase

Last year, as I mentioned in our Hardware Gift Guide, it wasn’t the easiest experience to simply go out and pick up the latest Xbox or PlayStation console over the holiday season, as the variety of models had saturated the shopping experience.  Pros and cons of all the systems – including monetary investment and the newness of premium consoles – made it difficult to choose, even for the ardent gamers out there.   However, the past year has brought more focus toward what’s worth the investment and what’s not, particularly in terms of Xbox’s newest iteration of the Xbox One: a $500 machine, the Xbox One X (click here for our review) that has justified the extra dollars spent with proven elevation in gaming performance and media functionality.

With that said, this year has also proven to be lopsided in terms of the quality of exclusive titles, heavily in Sony’s favor. Between a return – well, a rebooted return — to a popular mythical franchise from the heyday of the PS2 era to a well-executed, endlessly enjoyable portrayal of a beloved superhero and his swinging across New York, there’s no disputing the popularity of the games that could only be played on the PS4 this time around. While the Xbox One plows away at backwards compatibility and offering the technically superior way to enjoy cross-platform releases, the PS4 has substantial gaming tricks up its sleeve that Microsoft cannot deliver, making the decision between Option A and Option B tough as always.

Below, this guide will attempt to bring a little more focus onto which systems might be best to pick up over the holidays for both veteran and new gamers, either as the prized gift for a loved one or as the best usage of one’s giftcard funds.  Remember to also check out Bens’ Bargains Software Gift Guide to see which games not offered in bundles would best pair with any of the below systems.

For Those Gearing Up for 4K Warfare, Gift This.

Xbox One X 1TB Gears 5 Bundle

Pros: 4K Gaming/Media, Backwards Compatibility, Gears 5 Included | MSRP: $399

Click Here to Buy on Amazon Or Search Ben’s for Xbox One X Deals

As I mentioned in our software guide, Gears of War has sustained a reputation as one of the leading exclusive properties for the Xbox, turning into one of the big system sellers for the 360. While other entries in the series have been released on the One to mostly positive but mixed receptions, Gears 5 seems to be the one that’s designed to evolve the franchise for a new era. Whether it’s for newcomers to the franchise or those that have fondness of it for generations past, this Xbox One X bundle will be a wonderful way to enter the fray.

Several years have passed since the release of Microsoft’s juiced-up version of the One, and the years since then have further cemented its position in the market as the versatile machine of the bunch. It still bests the competition as a media device by coming preloaded with a 4K Blu-ray player, which has been tightened in functionality since its initial buggy release.  More graphically impressive titles continue to come out bearing the “Xbox One X Enhanced” label as well, and while the output has slowed down for the backwards compatibility feature, the catalog now stands as a length roster titles across several platforms for lots of legacy gaming. Having the entire Gears of War remastered catalog included with a stylishly designed Gears-themed Xbox One X for $400 bucks … well, it warms the heart.

For Those Wanting to Answer that Call of Duty, Gift This.

Being completely honest here? There aren’t many video game gifts better than this bundle. Now, that isn’t a comment on the quality of the latest Call of Duty: Modern Warfare itself; it has received strong, if reserved praise as well as some controversy about the brutal realism depicted in it. However, objectively and on the surface, it’s tough to find a more reliable complete package to wrap up and give somebody than a state-of-the-art PlayStation with the latest COD included, loaded and ready just as soon as it’s plugged in and set up.

Are there any extra goodies packs with this PS4 Pro bundle? Negative.  It comes in the standard all-black iteration of the 1TB console, the ergonomic and highly lauded PS4 controller, the standard components of the system, and Call of Duty.  That’s it, and that’s all it needs at the $400 price point, as it’s a fine-tuned 4K gaming machine; note, however, that it still doesn’t come with Blu-ray media playback. The Spider-Man bundle from last year comes close to being a “better” package, and I still wholeheartedly recommend grabbing that one if possible, but these bundles have a tendency of selling out pretty quick due to the intrinsic value built into ‘em.  Definitely set sights on this one.

For Those Who Need Just the Essentials to Explore, Gift This.

Last year, I recommended grabbing the Fallout 76 bundle for the Xbox One X because it was a convenient, marginally more cost-efficient way to give Bethesda’s online open-world game a chance. Similar logic applies to this bundle, though this year we’re talking about the Xbox One S and BioWare’s newest game, Anthem. Since its release, much like Fallout 76, this game has gotten a beating for its loot issues and perceived monotony of missions, though others have spoken up about it being a better sci-fi loot shooter than it gets credit for. Microsoft gives players the opportunity to dive into BioWare’s world with this budget-minded bundle of their Xbox One S system.

The longer the Xbox One X remains on the market, the more the S model moves further away from the spotlight, and that’s a shame.  It may have been a gap-bridging version of the console, but it made a number of reputable, welcome tweaks to the original clunky Xbox One, from its general size and power supply placement to the inclusion of 4K UltraHD disc playback; it can upscale games to 4K resolution but cannot process them as such natively. At $250, the system itself remains one of the best values for the buck in the gaming spectrum, and the inclusion of Anthem elevates that value.

For Those Who Like Portable Consoles in One Package, Gift This.

By now, everybody understands the novelty and popularity of the Switch, to the point where you can just — *gasp* — walk into stores and buy them whenever you want now. Part of the appeal of Nintendo’s latest system lies in its portability, but it’s also within the versatility of the system, in that it can either be a fully transportable unit or set up in one’s living room as the main gaming console. A dedicated mobile gaming system has become a tricky area in the realm of tablets and mobile phones that can simply play high-resolution games, but if anyone can nail it, it’d be Nintendo.  So, of course they’ve made an attempt with the Nintendo Switch Lite: a fully-functional Switch + screen that isn’t convertible.

The experience one gets from traveling with their Switch has been fully duplicated with the Lite: so long as the game has the requisite handheld mode, it can be played here either digitally or by cartridge. That’s the vast majority of games available, which of course includes titles like Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey to Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, even though the portable format may not be the most ideal way to play ‘em.  What makes this desirable above a regular Switch, outside the price difference? It’s lighter, more streamlined, and less clunky than its multi-component counterpart, and doesn’t sacrifice the quality of screen or resolution by scaling down about an inch. This is clearly the move that hopes to nudge the 3DS out of the way for Nintendo’s portable slate, and it just might happen.

For Those Who Dig a Little Character In Their Controller, Gift This.

Several years ago, I mentioned the Xbox Design Lab as a gift option when the customize-your-own controller service was in its infancy.  Even when it only features an array of color options, it made for a great way to personalize one’s own gear or give the gamer in your life something personalized; the engraving option’s a nice touch, too. Several years later, Microsoft’s still at it with their Design Lab, only they’ve brought in several other options that might be worth another look, perhaps if simply selecting different colors wasn’t enough customization for some in its early stages.

While you can’t go wild with a bunch of different patterns, Microsoft has opened their signature geometric camouflage and color-fade umbra designs, each available in five different color options. From there, the variety hinges on what colors you’d like to make the buttons, triggers, and battery chassis; while there are plenty of (the same) color options for the elements that can be a variety of colors, the core ABXY and menu buttons remain the same monochrome-ish options. And if you want to show team spirit, there’s a (somewhat hidden) option to select from a series of NFL logos that will be placed in large fashion on the face of a white controller.

For That Player Running Low On Hard-Drive Space, Gift These.

As consoles get more advanced, the games they run take up even more digital space with their installations, updates, and downloadable content. Base models of this generation’s consoles – some at 500GB, but most now getting to 1TB of space – can’t store very many games, which throws a conundrum at owners: should they upgrade their systems to newer ones with bigger hard-drives, or upgrade their storage solutions?

Thankfully, it’s a fairly easy problem to solve on both consoles, as the Xbox One supports external USB hard-drives and the PS4’s internal hard-drive can be swapped out. Seagate has affordable, compatible options for both, with each of their 2GB varieties priced at around $85.

For Online Players and Freebie/Deal Hunters, Gift These.

Xbox Live 12 Month / PlayStation Plus 12 Month

Pros: Free Monthly Games, Weekly Exclusive Deals, Online Gaming Access | MSRP: $59

XBLA 12 Month on Amazon PSN 12 Month on Amazon

While the primary reason for purchasing subscriptions to either PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live used to boil down to having access to online gaming, both companies have taken strides to make their paid memberships really worth the monthly, quarterly, or yearly investments.

Weekly exclusive deals on a variety of digital games can be nice, of course, but how they’ve upped their value games can be found in the monthly free game offerings (regularly covered here at The Checkout), which range from quirky indies and day-one releases to the occasional high-profile title. And in the case for Xbox, their 360 offerings are routinely backwards compatible on the newer console, too, bringing Xbox One owners up to four available freebies per month.

For Switch Users Who Want Nostalgia and Functionality, Gift This.

PowerA Wireless Gamecube Controller for Nintendo Switch

Pros: Duh, a Wireless Gamecube Controller; Motion Controls; Officially Licensed | MSRP: $35-50

Click Here to Buy at Amazon Or, Y’know, Grab Nintendo’s Pro Instead

So, the $60 price tag for Nintendo’s Pro controller seems intimidating, especially for a regular old black controller without much personality.  It seems too … smooth, regular, indistinctive, and perhaps that conjures memories of gaming sessions past. Obviously, one of the controllers on the other side of that spectrum would be Nintendo’s very own Gamecube controller: y’know, the funky-shaped one with buttons in all sorts of weird areas, yet positioned in such a way that managed to be both comfortable and near-perfect in responsiveness.  PowerA remembers, and hopes to take players back to that time with their Switch Gamecube Wireless controller, at nearly half the price of Nintendo’s primo device.

An officially licensed replica bearing the Switch logo, this wireless controller mimics the wired Gamecube controller in just about every way, with some additional buttons and features to bring it closer to the functionality of Nintendo’s official offering.  While there isn’t any vibration or Amiibo interactivity, it does – perhaps surprisingly — include motion control reactivity for the games that require or benefit from it.  Moreover, PowerA have increased the size of the D-pad in an effort to boost responsivity, and the thumbsticks both click downward for use with other Switch games. Smash Bros. aficionados will have preferences in feel, but as a general Pro controller alternative, it’s a winner.

2019 Gift Guide: Video Game Hardware and Accessories

Jumping up from $0 to $120 on July 30, 2016, Microsoft’s free upgrade offer to all Windows 7 and 8.1 users will expire at the end of July. After July 29th, anyone that wanted to upgrade to Windows 10 from an older operating system will be force to pay $119.99 to get the new operating system. Of course, any new Windows-powered device you purchase will have Windows 10 already installed as the main operating system.

The $120 price isn’t new, of course. Microsoft have already been selling the full version of the Home version for that price via download or USB stick. The ability to upgrade for free has always had an expiration date, however it was always possible that Microsoft would extend the promotion. However, the latest blog post from Microsoft seems to indicate the promotion will expire as promised at the one-year anniversary of the operating system’s release.

Interestingly, Microsoft is also releasing the Windows 10 anniversary update at the end of July. That’s a free upgrade for anyone that’s using Windows 10. Upgrades include biometric security in apps and other programs, Windows Ink (integrating handwriting with a pen into the interface), an upgraded version of Cortana in more than 1,000 apps and a unified app store with the Xbox One platform. It’s also possible that Microsoft will package deeper integration with the HoloLens platform in the anniversary update.

To upgrade to Window 10, you can visit Microsoft’s upgrade page and follow the instructions. If you do plan an upgrade, consider moving to a SSD drive for faster boot times as well as instant-on access when your computer is sleeping. You can check out the latest deals on SSD drives in our Internal Hard Drive section.

But most of all, remember that all Windows 10 installations come with a ninja cat riding in your house on a unicorn.

Want Windows 10 for free? Upgrade now. It’s $120 in July

Firing a warning shot toward the line of inexpensive Google Chromebooks, Microsoft announced this week at WPC 2014 that the company is working with HP to release a Windows 8 laptop at a $199 price point as well as a 7-inch Windows tablet at a $99 price point. In order to accomplish this new low price point, the software company recently removed the licensing cost to installing Windows 8 on hardware under a specific price point.

In addition to the $199 HP laptop, Acer and Toshiba will be producing a similar low-cost laptop at a $249 price point. While HP is keeping quiet on specifications details, Toshiba’s laptop will feature a 11.6-inch display with a 2.16GHz Intel Celeron processor, while Acer will be having a 15.6-inch display screen. These specs are somewhat similar to the Chromebooks manufactured by Acer and Toshiba.

Interestingly, the top 20 selling laptops on Amazon currently include Chromebooks and Apple MacBooks almost exclusively. It’s clear that Microsoft wants to regain a foothold on the low-end laptop market, a segment that’s alluded them despite efforts to discredit Chromebooks using arguably unsuccessful marketing campaigns (See Scroogled).

Since the majority of these laptops will be released in time for the holiday shopping season, we can predict what type of deals will appear for these new models. Joe Warner, the assistant managing editor for Ben’s Bargains, said “During Black Friday month, the most likely discounts for these models will appear on the Microsoft Store and HP’s own online store. Microsoft usually offers up a five percent coupon code that could be applied to the new models. However, it’s also possible that Microsoft will offer a larger discount when bundled with a subscription to Office.”

Warner continued “Regarding HP, the company often releases a $15 off $100 code on their Slate line of tablets. It’s possible that we will see a similar code around Black Friday, potentially discounting the $99, 7-inch Windows tablet by 10 to 15 percent.”

If you are interested in being notified when we post a deal on one of the new Windows 8 laptops or tablets, be sure to set up a Deal Alert on Ben’s. When a deal hits the price point you are willing to pay, we will immediately fire an email to you so you can take advantage of the deal while it lasts.

Goodbye Chromebooks? $199 Windows 8 laptops are coming soon

Recently announced last week and arriving in the hands of consumers on June 20, 2014, Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 is already garnering positive reviews. Receiving accolades for a vibrant, high resolution 12-inch screen as well as solid performance and a slimmer form factor compared to previous models, the Surface Pro 3 will debut at an MSRP of $799 for the base 64GB / Intel i3 model. Microsoft is also offering four other options with additional storage space up to 512GB and processors up to the i7 at price points between $999 and $1949.

Of course, just because Microsoft is releasing a new tablet doesn’t mean you should run out and order it immediately. Historically, Microsoft has struggled to gain market share on the Surface line of tablets and will be fighting against the extremely popular iPad models form Apple as well as the plethora of Android tablets from companies such as Google, Samsung, ASUS and Toshiba. This high level of competition has translated to aggressive price cuts within the first nine months of a Surface tablet release as well as an escalated release schedule on new models.

Another factor that could be important in any potential Surface 3 price drops is the accessibility of the tablet before the start of the new school year. During 2013, Microsoft was particularly aggressive in offering sales on Windows 8 tablets that included a bundled Office 365 subscription. It’s possible that students (with a valid student email address) will be able to get a 10 percent discount on one of the new Surface Pro tablets shortly after the tablet launches in June.

To help you figure out, based on your budget, when the best time to purchase the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 will be, we dove deep into Ben’s deal history data to analyze all the previous generation deals that we posted since the Surface RT was first released during October 2012. On average, Ben’s posts about 40 to 50 deals per year for each entry level model in the Surface line of tablets as well as deals on the previous generation’s more expensive models when the new model is released. We know exactly when tablets go on sale and can predict some obvious price drop trends that the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 will follow over the next 12 months.

What do the previous Microsoft Surface models tell us about the Surface Pro 3?

At launch, you aren’t going to see any discount on the tablet, unless you pre-order it or it’s being bundled with Office software. In fact, there’s currently a 5 percent off deal for pre-orders. Regarding the difference between the prices of models with higher storage capacity, be aware that the Surface Pro 3 comes with a microSD card slot. That slot is capable of taking a card up to 128GB in size, thus you could expand your 64GB model to 192GB if you choose (128GB MicroSD cards run about $120).

3 months from the release date, it’s unlikely that you will see any significant discount on the base model of the Surface Pro 3. In fact, pre-orders are already sold out until late August. At best, you may find small sales between 5 to 10 percent off. However, it’s likely that those sales will be limited to holiday sale periods, like back-to-school.

6 months out from release and you will finally start to see some price movement. Historically, Microsoft has specifically cut the price on the Surface tablets by $100 within the first six months of launch. Look for that price cut during late December. However, it’s possible that you will see a similar sale price during November 2014 since the Microsoft Store gets extremely aggressive during Black Friday. Be aware that many of those Black Friday deals are offered on a limited time basis, some of which only last an hour or two before expiring.

9 months out, this was the tipping point for all previous Surface Pro and RT tablets. At this point, the Surface tablets drastically drop in price and cut another $200 to $300 off the purchase price just three months prior. You will also see an influx of refurbished tablet deals for even lower prices. Interestingly, the Surface Pro 2 tablet is getting ready to make that slide. By late July 2014, you will see deals on the Surface Pro 2 around $500 to $600. In fact, the price drop could be even more precipitous since the Surface Pro 3 is debuting at a cheaper price than the Surface Pro 2 did during October 2013 ($799 versus $999). However, if you have your heart set on the Surface Pro 3, look for a $500 price on the base model around March 2015.

12 months from launch, the price drops level out a bit with just another $75 to $100 off the 9 month price. By June 2015, the base model of the Surface Pro 3 will be between $400 to $450. However, you will see a larger quantity of deals for the Surface Pro 3 models with more storage capacity and faster processors. It’s also likely that Microsoft would release the Surface 4 by that point in time. In fact, it could come even earlier in the life cycle, perhaps the 9 month mark.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the release of a new iPad drive down the price of the Surface Pro 3?

• No. Microsoft has released models of the Surface during various times of the year, but has followed the exact same price reduction model despite the influence of competing tablets.

Does it matter which retailer I purchase the Surface Pro 3 from?

• Possibly. Microsoft has been extremely aggressive with sales on the Microsoft Store, particularly during shopping holidays. For instance, we ranked their recent Memorial Day sale as an ‘A’ on our grading scale due to some massive price cuts. Be sure to watch the Microsoft Store on Black Friday if you are interested in the Surface tablets. In addition, both eBay and Newegg have offered aggressive cuts on Surface tablets late in the life cycle.

So When Should I Buy the Surface Pro 3?

Our advice would be to wait until the 9 month tipping point to get the maximum value on the tablet for your dollar. However, if you are shopping for a Windows tablet right now, watch for the upcoming price drop of the Surface Pro 2 tablet happening during Summer 2014. Also, if you set up a deal alert on Ben’s, we will be able to email you the second that we post a deal on the Surface Pro 2 or 3 that meets your price point!

Search for Surface Pro Deals on Ben’s

When will the price drop on the Microsoft Surface Pro 3?

Just one week after the launch of the PlayStation 4, Microsoft has sold over one million Xbox Ones in the first 24 hours, and gamers are digging into exclusive games like Dead Rising 3 and Forza Motorsport 5. We’ve had a chance to put the new console through some extensive testing and are fairly pleased with the results.

Xbox One Hardware

Everything you loved about VCR product design during the late ’80s!

At first glance, the Xbox One looks more like the original Xbox than the Xbox 360. The boxy, large casing definitely sticks out in a home theater setup. In addition, the large power brick returns, although smaller and lighter than the Xbox 360 version. The new Kinect also has a similar boxy design, but fits comfortably at the base of most television stands.

However, the upside to the large case is that the case (and likely the parts inside) remain cool during use, thus avoiding the high heat, red ring scenario of the previous generation. This can also be attributed to the vents on the left and right side of the system as well as the top. Of course, you will find the white Xbox One logo on the front of the console, the Kinect and the controller to indicate that all devices are on. There’s also a single USB 3.0 port on the left side for charging a controller.

On the back of the Xbox One, you will find an array of digital-only ports. Identical to the PlayStation 4, you will need HDMI to enjoy this console. The ports on the back include the power connection, HDMI IN and HDMI OUT, S/PDIF optical out, two more USB 3.0 ports, the Kinect port, a gigabit Ethernet port (also supports 5GHz wireless networks) and an IR Out port.

The Xbox One’s power usage is relatively low when in standby mode, ideal for quick boot ups. In fact, you can boot up from standby mode and resume playing your most recent game within about 15 to 20 seconds. Also, the Xbox One is just as quiet as the PlayStation 4. I had a hard time picking up on any noise, beyond the disc spinning when watching a movie.

User Interface

Snippitty Snap!

If you currently use Windows 8 or a Windows Phone device, you will be familiar with the design of the Xbox One menus and general user interface. On the main screen, you will find the content window, your gamertag account information, recently used applications and a features section to advertise new content. If you slide the menu to the left, you will locate pinned applications. To the right, you will find the Xbox Store for purchasing new games or media. Navigation is very simple with the controller and even the most advanced settings are easy to locate. It’s significantly less convoluted than the old Xbox 360 menu system.

Much like a traditional computer, the Xbox One can multitask two video functions at a time using a feature called Snap. For instance, you can play Dead Rising 3 while watching an episode of the Walking Dead on Netflix. In order to accomplish this, the second application plays in a window on the right side of the screen.

To be exact, the window takes up 25 percent of the television screen (480 by 1080 on a 1080p television) while the primary application fills up the other 75 percent (1440 by 1080). The performance of Snap is extremely slick and fluid, although I’d imagine there will be bandwidth issues with video stability when attempting to watch an HD stream on Netflix while playing an online multiplayer game at the same time.

Ultimately, Snap is incredibly useful when searching for tutorial videos on YouTube. Basically, you are able to sync up a walkthrough video on how to solve a particularly tough section of a game while playing through the game yourself. I tested this out with an early Dead Rising 3 video and it worked perfectly. It also works well for written walkthroughs using a snapped version of Internet Explorer. Besides video, Snap is useful if you want a real-time feed of what your friends are doing on Xbox Live, especially if you are attempting to keep an eye out for a close friend.

One aspect of the interface that certainly feels next generation is the speedy responsiveness. There are very few times where the Xbox One lags when navigating the menu or using applications. The load times seem much quicker than the Xbox 360, especially when pulling up information about friends. I also love the extremely visual achievement interface. Providing achievements that expire after a specific time period is also a fun addition, likely to spur on competition among the Xbox Live community.

Xbox One Controller

Development paid for by the disposable battery industry.

Microsoft’s hardware development team has done an excellent job fixing all the issues that gamers had with the Xbox 360 controller. All the buttons seem more responsive, especially the D-pad. The mushy D-pad on the Xbox 360 is no more. Instead, you can double or triple tap to your heart’s content in fighting games.

In addition, there’s a new textured feel around the top of the thumbsticks, the shoulder buttons are larger as well as easier to hold down, there are two independent rumble devices for directional effects and the size of the controller is less spread out than the Xbox 360 controller. All of these small improvements add up to an excellent design.

That being said, a couple downsides to the new controller include the proprietary connection for Xbox Live headsets as well as the inclusion of two AA batteries instead of a rechargeable version. That’s one area where Sony beats out Microsoft, since users can plug any microphone into the Dualshock 4 and it includes an internal rechargeable battery. It seems a bit cheap that Microsoft still makes users buy the Play-and-Charge kit, but I’d imagine the profit margin on that accessory is huge for Microsoft.

However, Microsoft has beaten out Sony significantly when it comes to the length of battery life. While the Dualshock 4 is about 6 to 8 hours on a single charge, many reviewers are reporting that it’s been a week or two of heavy use (20 hours) and the included AA batteries are still going strong. This is partly due to a neat power-saving feature that’s tied to the Kinect. If the Kinect camera sees the logged-in player put down the controller, a low-power mode is activated. This allows the controller to remain active when the user needs it, but dormant when the user is playing a motion-control game or watching a television show on Netflix.

Kinect / Voice Commands

Xbox, do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?

This was actually my first experience with using Kinect technology as I never picked up the accessory with my 360. The experience has been overwhelming so far, mostly because Microsoft does a poor job of explaining how voice commands work. I feel like I need a cheat sheet next to me in order to access all the commands. For instance, you have to say the full name of a game in order to launch it. You also need to say a specific phrase in order to launch apps or execute functions like turning the console off. If you need a cheat sheet, try these commands out.

Regarding accuracy, the Kinect performed significantly better than the PlayStation Camera, but it’s still not perfect. For example, I’ve had trouble getting the Kinect to launch Netflix (no issue with Hulu). Rather than Netflix launching, the Kinect will push me into another application or attempt a function related to the music player.

Overall, my accuracy on general “Xbox” commands has been around 80 percent so far, definitely enough to give me pause when I have the option of the controller or voice. The Bing and Snap commands seem to work particularly well though. My accuracy was around 90 to 95 percent on those commands.

Outside of voice commands, I absolutely love the Kinect camera. Sitting down in front of the console and having the Kinect recognize me automatically is fantastic. It’s vastly superior to the Xbox 360 login process. The quality of the camera is also top notch. Everyone whom I Skype video-chatted with commented on the clarity, both audio and video. Regarding gameplay, the Kinect works just as well as the Xbox 360 version for motion-controlled games. I also love the little touches in the launch games like yelling at a psychopath in Dead Rising 3 or making faces at animals to get them to react in Zoo Tycoon.

On an added note, I can’t tell you how amazing it is to scan QR codes to activate purchases like an Xbox Live subscription or DLC. Rather than typing out those ridiculous 25-digit codes, you can simply hold up the image of the QR code to the Kinect camera in order to activate a product. It’s incredibly fast and vastly superior to the old system.

Xbox SmartGlass

Replaces Xbox SmartGas, smell-o-vision fumes that shot out from the controller.

I’m impressed with Xbox SmartGlass. It’s significantly more polished than the PlayStation 4 companion app for mobile devices, mostly due to the design and integration with the Xbox One.

Available for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and Windows 8 devices, the app connects to the Xbox One through your home’s Wi-Fi rather than through Xbox Live. This provides an incredibly responsive experience that’s pretty much identical to any remote control.

Within the app, users can launch games / video / apps, check out profiles / achievements and use the virtual controller for specific Xbox One functions. There’s also some interactivity with games, but similar to the PlayStation 4, it’s limited at launch.

The most interesting implementation I’ve seen so far are updates from Dead Rising as if the virtual smartphone in the game was your phone in real life. It will be interesting to see how developers include second screen support in games in the future, especially since all three new consoles support the technology.

Home Theater Functionality

Wait until you have to explain to your girlfriend / wife that the Xbox has to be turned on to watch TV. Just wait…

As a next generation set-top box, the Xbox One is both delightful and disappointing at the moment. Setting up the Xbox One to interact with your television and cable box is a breeze, assuming both are fairly popular brands. In just a few minutes, I was up and running controlling functions on my Vizio HDTV as well as my TiVo box. Opposite from the PS4, the Xbox One does support universal remotes, definitely ideal for homes where some members of the family are more comfortable with a standard remote control over a gaming controller. The Kinect can also send out remote control commands, assuming you would prefer to use your voice instead of a remote control.

The beauty of integrating television content into your gaming console is that you are essentially always available for Skype video chatting or a quick game with friends. In addition, the Snap function feels like an evolution of picture-in-picture technology. If you are watching something live on network television, it’s extremely easy to pop back into a game for a few minutes while the commercial break is playing. With the snapped window in the top right corner, you can immediately see when the programming resumes.

However, there are some downsides. If you have a DVR, like a TiVo, there’s no option for recording shows through the Xbox One Guide interface. I often find myself defaulting to the TiVo user interface over One Guide, simply because I can schedule and navigate to my recordings.

In addition, One Guide pulls channel listings from a Web database rather than the cable box. If you are a cord cutter, this means all the HD channels being pumped into your cable box or DVR from an indoor or outdoor antenna won’t show up in the One Guide. There’s also no way to directly connect a coaxial cable connection into the Xbox One, thus an external box with HDMI output is a requirement.

Regarding video streaming applications, the usual suspects are all there with the exception of HBO GO (coming next month). Each are very easy to install and, as a cool addition, you aren’t required to enter in your login information for each app (like Netflix or Hulu Plus), assuming you had it installed on your Xbox 360. All the applications work smoothly, but I should mention the new layout Netflix recently rolled out on the PS4, PS3 and Xbox 360 feels superior to the custom Xbox One version.

When it comes to DLNA support, users can stream video from Windows 7 and Windows 8 PCs to the Xbox One, but it’s a one-way street that has to be initiated from the PC. However, that’s still a step up from the PS4 which doesn’t have any DLNA support. Interestingly, you can upload content to your SkyDrive account and view it on your Xbox One. However, you cannot connect a USB flash drive or portable hard drive to the Xbox One in order to access media.

After downloading the Blu-ray player application, I had no issues playing multiple discs in the Xbox One. Every disc loaded quickly and the menus were all responsive.

Exclusive Games

The zombie death toll has never been higher.

Interestingly, Microsoft has more exclusive titles out for the Xbox One than Sony does for the PlayStation 4 right now. It’s odd that Sony pitched themselves primarily as a platform for gaming and launched with such a limited lineup of exclusives. A couple of Microsoft’s exclusives seem to be fairing slightly better with the critics than PS4’s top tier titles, but there are still a handful of stinkers in the mix. Take a look at the early Metacritic averages (at the time of this post):

The Good

The Average

The Terrible

Similar to Sony’s current predicament with the PS4, Microsoft will have to rely on multi-console titles available for the Xbox 360 / PS3 for the next 6 to 9 months while developers get a better handle on the Xbox One’s capabilities. There’s also vastly more money in creating multi-console titles at this point, thus exclusives will be limited. Assuming the title doesn’t get pushed back, March 2014’s Titanfall could be the first true exclusive that will push Xbox One systems out the door. However, both Dead Rising 3 and Forza Motorsport 5 are strong launch titles.

One pet peeve I have with the Xbox One games is the ridiculous amount of time it takes to install new games. On the PlayStation 4, you are up and running in a few minutes. It took me about 15 minutes to install Dead Rising 3 from the disc, an aspect of the previous generation that has stuck around on the Xbox One. While I do like background downloading of games and being able to start before the entire installation is complete, it’s significantly slower than the PS4.

Xbox Live

It’s like Twitter now, but with real people. And games. And profanity-laden messages from 13-year-old idiots.

One of the most interesting tweaks to Xbox Live on the Xbox One is the adoption of a Twitter-like follower system. Users will be able to follow an infinite amount of Xbox One owners and view their daily activity. If the person being followed decides to follow back, that relationship becomes a friendship. Microsoft has also upped the total friends list to a new cap of 1,000 friends. That’s a 10x bump from the Xbox 360’s 100-friend cap.

Similar to the PlayStation 4, Microsoft has included video recording and uploading on the Xbox One. Using a voice command on the Kinect, the Xbox One will record the last 30 seconds of video and upload that clip to the player’s SkyDrive account.

You can also use the Xbox One’s Game DVR app to record longer clips, then edit those clips within the Upload Studio. Upload Studio (a separate app) is very easy to use and allows players to add commentary, multi-angle PIP views and video effects to spice up video.

Those 720p MP4 clips can be shared with Xbox Live friends and followers as well as uploaded manually to YouTube. It’s a bit odd that Microsoft didn’t include more direct access to social sharing within the video applications, but I’d bet that’s on the roadmap for the console if that feature becomes very successful on the PlayStation 4. Identical to the previous generation, many features are locked behind Microsoft’s Xbox Live gold subscription. Look for deals on Black Friday to drive the cost of Xbox Live down to $30 to $40 for a one year subscription.

Should You Buy the Xbox One?

If you already own an Xbox 360, you already have access to the majority of 2013’s best games. Purchasing the Xbox One for multi-console games like Assassin’s Creed 4 or Need for Speed would be unwise. Any level of improvement between the Xbox 360 and Xbox One versions of these games is nominal at best.

Going head-to-head with Sony, there’s definitely a stronger argument for purchasing an Xbox One over the PS4 this holiday season. The exclusives are more plentiful on the Xbox One at the moment. The user interface has significantly more depth and features—for instance, Xbox Snap. Kinect 2 integration is more impressive than the PS4 camera. The impact on the home theater is vastly superior on the Xbox One, mostly due to the TV integration.

That being said, Remote Play is a big deal if you own a PlayStation Vita, a feature that Microsoft currently can’t match. In addition, the PS4 is the only console that streams video on Twitch / UStream, a feature that won’t hit the Xbox One until early 2014.

If you currently don’t own a gaming console, investing in the Xbox One now over the Xbox 360 will pay off significantly down the line. Microsoft has developed an impressive platform that will only become more useful with each software update. It will definitely be interesting to see how Microsoft continues to develop the Xbox One over the next several years.

Final Rating: Success Kid

Search for Xbox One Deals on Ben’s Bargains

Xbox One Review: A Solid Start With Strong Potential

Earlier today, Microsoft announced that the Xbox One will hit store shelves one week before Black Friday on Friday November 22, with a price tag of $499.99. Specifications for the Xbox One have been finalized at last, and the processor will receive a 10 percent bump in power up to 1.75 Ghz specifically to help with graphics output. In fact, the first pallet of Xbox One consoles have rolled off the production line according to Microsoft spokesperson Major Nelson.

One week prior to that date, Sony will launch the PlayStation 4 for $100 less than the cost of the Xbox One. However, it’s getting more difficult to preorder the PlayStation 4 due to significant demand. Last month, Amazon sold out of all launch day bundles, the more expensive package of the console that comes with an additional game or hardware.

In addition, Microsoft released a statement today mentioning that all day one Xbox One preorders have nearly sold out. If both companies have issues fulfilling preorders in November, it could create a shortage of the consoles for the holiday shopping season. Microsoft is in a more precarious position than Sony as they will only have one week to restock store shelves prior to the official kickoff of the holiday shopping season which is November 29, aka Black Friday.

If you’re interested in preordering the Xbox One Day-One edition, Best Buy still has them in stock here. Otherwise, you will likely have to preorder a bundled version of the console at a retailer like Gamestop.

Xbox One hits stores November 22, Sony PS4 on Nov 15

If you recently purchased a new laptop or ultrabook with the dreaded Windows 8 operating system and are longing for the simplicity of the Windows 7 desktop, don’t fret; there’s hope! While you are waiting for the joys of Windows 8.1 to fix many of the issues plaguing Windows 8 users, there are steps you can take during the interim to bring back the Windows 7 look and functionality.

If you don’t mind skipping your next $5 frappuccino at Starbucks, the simplest, most user friendly way to get that Windows 7 look and feel back is to install Stardock’s Start8 and pay $4.99 to register the software. Why? Five reasons:

• You will get the Start button in the Windows desktop back along with the Windows 7 theme for the start menu. You also have some fun customization options for the design, but the point is that vital functionality has been restored.
• When starting up the computer, you can boot directly to the desktop. You don’t have to look at that Windows 8 tiled interface each time you turn on your computer, especially nice for anyone who didn’t pay an extra $50 to $100 for a touchscreen display.
• The Start button menu brings back the unified search function in the menu. You will be able to look through all your files, folders, applications and settings by using the search function, identical to Windows 7.
• You can disable all the Windows 8 hot corners. This means you don’t have to deal with the annoying menus pop up when your mouse hovers over a specific side or corner of the screen.
• It’s extremely user friendly, ideal for users who don’t understand technical methods for modifying Windows 8.

However, there are other alternatives, as well. For a registration cost of $3, StartIsBack will install a theme that’s identical to the Windows 7 Start menu and overall design. Similar to Start8, you can boot directly to the desktop and disable hot corners. The difference between the software is that Start8 is more user friendly and plays nice with other Stardock products that you may be using on your system.

There are also some freeware options available. Start Menu 8 can provide similar functionality, but the interface is worse than StartIsBack and there’s bundled software included in the download. Pokki is a fun, free option that provides a completely different look and feel to the Windows Start menu, but there’s a much heavier focus on Windows 8 within the interface.

Pokki’s take on the Start Menu

Classic Shell is another free option, but it’s really designed for more technical users. However, it could be a good option for someone who’s used to much older operating systems like Windows XP, assuming someone with technical expertise sets up the software for them.

For further help, be sure to check out this guide at Laptopmag detailing how to install the Windows 7 Areo theme, bypassing the lock page in Windows 8 and how to run Windows 8 applications in the desktop mode.

How to Turn Windows 8 Back Into Windows 7, Visually Anyway

After the news broke earlier today regarding Microsoft’s major policy shift on DRM on the Xbox One, the response from the gaming community ranged from elation to disgust to complete confusion. One piece of late breaking news, anyone that purchases a launch day Xbox One will have to download a day-one patch in order to remove all the DRM from the console.

As always, we collected all of our favorite memes detailing the reactions from the core gaming community. You can see the batch related to the Kinect hate here as well as the Sony / Microsoft E3 conferences here.

Check out 25 of our favorite memes and other graphics below:

25 Reaction Memes to Microsoft’s DRM 180 on the Xbox One