Skip to main content

Fly, shoot, EVA, and die during Star Citizen's free week

star citizen free week of play starcitizenfree
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Star Citizen is free to play this week, which means that whether you’ve spent hundreds of dollars on pre-order ships, or have never even heard of it, everyone can battle it out in the game’s Alpha 2.1.2. Included are several space stations and environments, a few scripted missions, and a stellar range of interstellar scenes to explore.

As per the game’s steady release of various modules from its development, free players will also be able to have a go in its Arena Commander mode, which lets you take a shot at competitive multiplayer. You will also be able to have a play with the social module, which might make teaming up with other players a little easier, or at the least give you an idea of what first and third person movement will be like in-game.

If you would like to take part in the free week of gameplay you can sign up here, but think a bit about what your flight-handle might be, as it must be devoid of special characters.

Related: Star Citizen’s long-promised virtual reality support arrives in 2016

This isn’t the first time Cloud Imperium has run a free fly week though, so for those who have taken to the stars before but still haven’t purchased, your old login information should still work correctly. The game has changed a lot since then though, with this being the first event in which the Crusader planet is available.

While the game does feature a large number of in-game ships that are fully featured, accessible and flyable, the free-player will only be able to use the Hornet F7C military fighter, the Aurora LN starter, and the Mustang Delta interceptor.

It was recently announced that Star Citizen would be splitting its Squadron 42 single-player gameplay into a separate entity altogether, though it will be purchasable with the main game. As with every aspect of its development, Cloud Imperium is suggesting that people buy it now rather than later to save money.

Speaking of which, Star Citizen continues to break new records as the most impressively crowd-funded game and project ever, currently sitting at a total of over $107 million, with more than 1.2 million individuals having pledged at least a few dollars towards its creation.

Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale is the Evergreen Coordinator for Computing, overseeing a team of writers addressing all the latest how to…
HP Envy deals: HP’s most popular laptop starts at $630
An HP Envy 17-inch laptop sits on an office desk.

HP is one of the best laptop brands in the laptop space, with a huge selection of laptops to pick from, including some of the best laptops on the market. More specifically, though, the HP lineup is probably at the top when it comes to versatile and relatively well-valued laptops. While there are quite a few variations and configurations of the HP Envy, we've gone ahead and put together the ones that we think will give you the most bang for your buck. That said, if you haven't found something you're specifically looking for, be sure to check out some of these other great laptop deals as well.
HP Envy x360 2-in-1 laptop 15Z-FH000 — $650, was $900

The HP Envy x360 convertible laptop is a great option for just about anyone, particularly anyone who enjoys the touchscreen functionality of a tablet. It’s well designed and super slim, making it a truly go-anywhere device. Despite its portability, it still has an immersive 15.6-inch touchscreen that’s great for creators, note-takers, and binge watchers. Top notch build quality and durability, fast charging technology, a fingerprint reader, and great battery life round out the top features of the HP Envy x360 convertible touchscreen laptop. It competes well with the best 2-in-1 laptops. Its versatility and all-around capability make it a worthy companion on any desk, and on any lap.

Read more
I use these simple printer tips to save money on ink and toner
Printing is fast and economical with the HP Smart Tank 7602.

The cost of a printer can range from under $100 for some good, low-cost inkjet printers to several hundred for the best color laser printers. However, the price you pay upfront doesn’t include paper, and the included ink and toner only lasts so long.

A bargain printer can end up costing you more overall if the cartridges are small and replacements are expensive. Follow these tips to minimize ink, toner, and paper waste, reducing the ongoing expense of using your printer in the long run.
Print in monochrome
Adobe Acrobat's print settings includes a grayscale option. Digital Trends

Read more
Best refurbished laptop deals: How to find cheap used computers
microsoft surface laptop go 2020 on desk

If you're shopping for laptops on a budget, then you probably don't want to aim for the best laptops on the market, since they often cost thousands of dollars and usually give you diminishing returns the more expensive they get. On the other hand, refurbished laptops are a great way to save money while also helping the environment and reducing e-waste. Not only that, but most refurbished laptops tend to be refurbished by the brand and are backed by warranties and return windows, so even if something is not right with your refurbished laptop, you can get a replacement or your money back.

To that end, Best Buy, Amazon, and Dell all have really great refurbished laptop sales that you can check out, and the prices really are great. Alternatively, if you're in the Apple ecosystem, take a look at these refurbished MacBook deals, or if you still want to go for something new, you could consider checking out these laptop deals instead.
Best Buy refurbished laptops -- starting at $113
Best Buy's refurbished laptops are -- you guessed it -- Geek Squad Certified and while they may not be free and clear of absolutely all cosmetic scuffs they are still exceptionally clean and always in working order. Some of them even come with additional software like virus tools, streaming access, like Apple TV+, and much more. Of course, the best part is that you can get a premium and fully upgraded model for less, often with more storage, more power, and more features than you would when buying a base model brand new. You've got some great options from Lenovo, Acer, HP, Dell, Gateway, and even Apple to choose from. The cheapest models start around $120 and increase from there. The best way to know what's available is to head over and browse for yourself.

Read more