PC Pro – Issue 359, August 2024

PC Pro Issue 359: Inside the August 2024 Edition 💻

PC Pro’s 359th issue arrives in August 2024 with a mix of hands-on reviews, investigative features and practical tutorials. The cover story centres on Copilot+ PCs and the Asus Vivobook S 15, one of the first laptops built around Microsoft’s new AI-driven platform. But that is only the opening move in a packed issue.

Copilot+ PCs and the New Laptop Landscape

Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC initiative promises a shift in how we use computers, with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processor leading the first wave. PC Pro puts the Asus Vivobook S 15 through its paces and asks whether the hardware lives up to the billing. The issue also examines the wider industry reaction, with AMD, Intel and major laptop makers all positioning themselves for the next phase of AI-assisted computing.

Photoshop’s AI Secrets 🎨

Barry Collins digs into Adobe’s generative AI features and explains how to get useful results rather than gimmicks. The feature covers creating AI images from scratch, adding convincing backdrops, and preparing prints and posters. It also looks at how Photoshop can play nicely with Midjourney, making the most of both tools in a single workflow.

Smart Cities and the Long View of Technology

Nicole Kobie traces the roots of smart cities back to Victorian London before moving to the present and future of connected urban planning. Why have smart cities never quite taken off as promised? The feature offers historical context and a clear-eyed look at the technical, social and political hurdles that remain.

Build Your Own Cloud and Keep Windows 10 Alive ⚙️

Two practical projects stand out. First, a step-by-step guide to running your own private cloud server on a Raspberry Pi, giving you an alternative to monthly fees for Dropbox, Google and Microsoft storage. Second, a method for moving Windows 10 into a virtual machine so you can keep using it after upgrading to Windows 11. The issue also explores five common ways cloud computing projects go wrong.

The Labs: Laptops, Cloud Backup and More

A major group test examines ten everyday Windows laptops from £450, covering battery life, performance and value. Cloud backup services for business come under scrutiny, with four contenders tested and compared. Reviews also cover tablets, e-readers, 3D printers, smartphones, action cameras, mini PCs, all-in-one PCs, scanners and Wi-Fi 6 access points.

Futures: The Zilog Z80 and Interface Innovation

David Crookes looks back on the Zilog Z80 as the last units roll off the production line. The chip powered countless personal computers and game consoles, and its story from 1976 onward is a reminder of how long hardware legacies can last. A separate futures piece considers eye tracking, head control and other alternative computer interfaces.

Regulars, Reviews and Reader Voices

The issue includes Tim Danton’s editor’s letter, the A-List, readers’ letters and viewpoints from Barry Collins, Nicole Kobie and Dick Pountain. Columns from Jon Honeyball, Davey Winder, Steve Cassidy, Lee Grant, Darien Graham-Smith and others cover Windows on ARM, email authentication, selling AI, cloud migration and more. It is a full, opinionated and useful snapshot of computing in mid-2024.