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Chris Stobing

Chris Stobing

Former Digital Trends Contributor
Author/Co-Author of 131 articles

Self-proclaimed geek and nerd extraordinaire, Chris Stobing is a writer and blogger from the heart of Silicon Valley. Raised around tech from birth, he's had an interest in PC and mobile hardware for years, and has come to Digital Trends to contribute his extensive knowledge on both. When not blogging about technology, he can be found at the record shop hunting for music, shredding Mt. Hood on his snowboard, or whipping up a dish for friends in the kitchen.

Bitdefender Box desk

Bitdefender Box review

The team behind the BitDefender Box has made some big promises about the future of Internet security, but living up to them is another matter entirely. Let’s see if the antivirus company can deliver.
Computing Reviews
Dell XPS 15 review touchscreen

Touchscreen PCs and laptops are all the rage, but are they worth the hype?

Touchscreen PCs and laptops are everywhere, but with so many different options and potential applications, how do you know the technology is right for you?
Computing Guides
hps zvr virtual reality display puts you in the picture hp left facing

Updated: HP’s Zvr Virtual Reality Display is your desktop holodeck

The HP Zvr brings your graphical models and projects out of the second dimension and into the third with its new Blended Reality technology.
Computing News
ThinkPad X1 Carbon

Hands-on: Lenovo’s super-thin ThinkPad X1 Carbon and X250 make the leap to Intel’s 5th-gen Core

Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon and X250 continue the brand’s long legacy as manufacturer of the most reliable workhorses PC enthusiasts and business travelers can buy.
Computing News
Samsung ATIV Book Blade 9

Update: Samsung ATIV Book 9 hits stores on March 1st

Samsung believes the affordable and powerful ATIV Book Blade 9 will shake up the market with its extraordinarily thin design, feather-weight chassis and high-resolution display
Computing News
decrypt professional grade encryption average person decryptthisthumb

Professional-grade encryption for the average person

Staying protected on the web is more important today than ever before. Follow our encryption guide to get yourself and your computer locked down.
Computing Features
steam

Want to try a game before you buy? Valve’s new return policy doesn’t judge

Steam has announced that starting immediately, all purchases made in the Steam Store will be refundable as long as you don't play for two hours or more.
Gaming News

Decrypt This: How a cookie ruined routers for the rest of us

Even after 30 years in business, consumer routers still struggle to keep us safe from the bugs and infections that plague the web today.
Computing Features
Velocity Micro Edge Z40 mini PC

Velocity Micro Raptor Z40 review

Velocity Micro’s new Raptor Z40 is a mini-tower that tries to deliver a knockout performance punch despite its small size. Does it succeed, or should you look elsewhere for a light-weight champion?
Computing Reviews
Falcon Northwest Tiki-Z

Falcon Northwest Tiki-Z review

Falcon Northwest's Tiki Z proves you don’t need a premium plot of real estate for a premium gaming experience.
Computing Reviews
Syber Vapor 1 review front

Syber Vapor I review

Not quite a Steam Machine, but still a strong contender, the Syber Vapor I proves that Valve's failure to deliver Steam OS on time doesn’t mean the PCs built to take advantage of it can’t hold their own with the best gaming PCs.
Computing Reviews
iBuyPower SBX review 2

iBuyPower SBX review

The iBuyPower SBX makes a valiant effort to bridge the gap between hardcore PC gaming rigs and casual consoles, but falls short in execution due to the lack of Steam OS and a hardware profile that struggles to keep up with next generation graphics.
Computing Reviews
what is ransomware and should you be worried about it shutterstock 189825605 1

Ransomware is the new hot threat everyone is talking about; what do you need to know?

We're going to break down everything you need to know about the spread of ransomware, and how it affects average users in the threat landscape.
Computing Guides

Play the role of a cheapskate with these 5 free RPGs

Just because you want to play a premium RPG, doesn't mean you have to a pay a premium price. These five role-playing titles will allow you to explore distant galaxies and familiar worlds without dropping a dime.
Computing Best Ofs
asus shows off their new rog gaming monitors at ces mg279q wqhd game display

Asus gives gamers the best of everything with new 4K, IPS, G-Sync monitor

These two new ASUS Republic of Gamers gaming monitors will give all hardcore PC gamers something to look forward to in 2015.
Computing News
Samsung SE790C

Samsung new monitors are ultra-wide or 4K panels with a pinch of style

Samsung's SE790C and UE590 monitors surprise and mesmerize with low response times and beautiful screens. These could be a staple purchase for any display enthusiasts in 2015.
Computing News
Acer B326HK 4K monitor front

Acer B326HK review

If there’s anywhere the Acer HB236K shows it's worth the price, it's in the sense of awe you’ll feel turning it on for the first time. Fresh out of the foam packaging the display stuns anyone caught in its gorgeous glare, an effect made all the more noticeable by the company’s decision to use stunning IPS technology.
Computing Reviews
AOC U2868PQU hero

AOC U2868PQU review

As every manufacturer from around the globe hedges its bets on the 4K revolution, can Taiwan’s AOC U2868PQU low-cost 4K monitor keep pace with competition from the likes of Dell, Acer, and HP?
Computing Reviews
HP Z34c

HP joins the curved bandwagon with 3 widescreen monitors

HP’s new curved displays promise an immersive widescreen experience that's sure to attract videophiles and multi-taskers like moths to a flame.
Computing News
hp caters business set pro tablet 408 g1 elite x2 1011 vb7uj06

HP caters to the business set with the Pro Tablet 408 G1 and Elite X2 1011 G1

New from HP, the Pro Tablet 408 and Elite x2 1011 are two devices ready to handle all the productivity you can throw their way.
Computing News
eero promises make wi fi dead spots thing past dwdljs9

Eero now taking pre-orders for its innovative Wi-Fi router

The Eero promises to combat dropped Wi-Fi connections, slow streaming, and dangerous malware with a new router designed to blanket your home in wireless.
Computing News
fove vr headset hopes to unseat oculus as king of head mounted sets fovevr

Fove VR headset hopes to unseat Oculus as king of head-mounted VR sets

A new VR HMD headset called the Fove has hit officially hit Kickstarter, which claims to support eye-tracking technology unlike anything we've seen so far.
Computing News
Oculus Rift DK2

Diving into a bushel of hay never felt so real; Ubisoft plans VR titles for 2016

In an analyst call this Tuesday, CEO of Ubisoft Yves Guillemot revealed his company's plans to develop games designed for VR headsets to release in 2016.
Emerging Tech News
AVA Direct Corsair X99

Gaming laptops have come a long way, but desktops still reign supreme

If you've been mulling over whether a gaming laptop or desktop is best, don't fret. We've broken down the pros and cons, and the answer is clear.
Computing News
new zotac mini pc favors packs a core m in fanless case zotacfeatured

Fanless Zotac Nano shrinks down your PC without sacrificing performance

The new Zotac Nano PC has peeked its head out a week ahead of its debut at Computex in Taiwan, showcasing its fanless design aesthetic to the world.
Computing News
Intel NUC i7

Updated: New, more affordable NUC systems arrive on Amazon for pre-order

Intel has leaked a new spec sheet containing details on their refreshed line of low-power NUCs, featuring the company's Braswell CPU.
Computing News
nsa spying powers arent dead yet as the obama administration seeks to revive bulk collection f5lpaxl

NSA spying powers aren’t dead yet, as the Obama administration seeks to revive bulk collection

In a statement from US officials, it has been confirmed that the Obama administration will attempt to revive the NSA's bulk collection for six more months.
Computing News
ultimately flexible hp spectre x360 breaks cover hpmagnify

HP is dead; long live Hewlett Packard Enterprise and HP Inc.

As of November 1, HP will be shedding half of its enterprise operations and splitting into two entirely separate companies.
Computing News
democrats sit in live stream joint session of congress

Update: USA Freedom Act passes the Senate, President Obama signs it into law

In a session held this Tuesday, the United States Senate has voted to pass the USA Freedom Act, which will curtail permissions granted by the PATRIOT Act.
Computing News
great news for job seekers in 2016 especially if youre tech programmer

Cybersecurity firm Tiversa accused of blackmailing potential clients

In a move that could be ripped right from the screenplay of Goodfellas, a federal court has heard a case levied against Tiversa security for extortion.
Computing News
Intel NUC i7

The Intel NUC line will dive into Skylake later this year

A new slide leaked by the website FanlessTech is said to have specific details on the release schedule for Intel's next line of portable NUC boxes.
Computing News
Dell Chromebook 11

Dell’s SupportAssist takes the ‘technical’ out of tech support

Dell has announced that its SupportAssist technical support service, previously only available to the enterprise market, will be coming to consumers PCs.
Computing News
hello is anyone there nsa forced to halt surveillance ops until senate vote g7mop9d

NSA surveillance operations come to screeching halt as Senate stalls on resolution

Thanks to the efforts of Senator Rand Paul, the passage of the USA Freedom Act has hit a snag in the Senate as representatives duke it out over details.
Computing News
windows, microsoft, computing

Windows 10’s minimum requirements present an olive branch to outdated PCs

In line with dropping the details of the Windows 10 official launch coming on July 29th, today Microsoft has also released the minimum system requirements.
Computing News
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