2022-08-01 PC Magazine

Switching to HDR, we ran the brightness test again, and the Inzone M9 climbed to 492 nits. That’s shy of its DisplayHDR600 rating but still good for a monitor of its size. It’s brighter than almost every one of its 27-inch and 32-inch competitors we’ve tested, with the exception of the ViewSonic Elite XG320U. In our color-gamut testing, the Inzone M9 clocked 100% of sRGB coverage, 87% RI$GREH5*%DQGRI'&,37KRVH¿JXUHVDUHDERXWWKHVDPHDVWKH+3 Omen 27u 4K’s results and a very good range considering the monitor’s price of under $1,000. The color-accuracy results were quite solid for a gaming panel, with an average Delta E of 1.96. When considering the color accuracy, the higher the Delta E, the further a common color strays from its purest form. It’s something that won’t faze many gamers, but it’s worth noting for content creators who work in color- sensitive applications. MEDIA AND GAMING PERFORMANCE In addition to benchmark tests using a PC, we also connected the Inzone M9 to a PlayStation 5 to get a grasp of the monitor’s main calling card: exclusive PS5 features. These include Auto HDR Tone Mapping, which detects your PS5 at start up and optimizes HDR settings. There’s also Auto Genre Picture Mode, which switches the monitor to Game Mode when you’re gaming (to minimize input lag) or to Cinema Mode when you’re watching movies via a streaming service or from a Blu-ray disc. Minor niceties, perhaps, but having one less PHQXWRQDYLJDWHLVDOZD\\VZHOFRPH7KHSRZHUEXWWRQHYHQWXUQVR̆WKH FRQVROHZKHQ\\RXWXUQR̆WKHPRQLWRU 6SHDNLQJRILQSXWODJJRRGQHZV²WKH,Q]RQHUHJLVWHUHGOHVVWKDQPLOOLVHFRQG of input lag in our test with the HDFury 4K Diva HDMI matrix. Why should you care about input lag? For general gaming, you’ll likely not notice it, but high LQSXWODJLVDPDMRUWXUQR̆IRUHVSRUWVSOD\\HUV7KHFRPSHWLWLYHFURZGZLOOQR doubt enjoy the monitor’s smooth response, whether they’re playing on a console or a PC. So, what did I play? Thanks to the PlayStation Plus revamp, I had tons of games DWP\\GLVSRVDO,VWDUWHGZLWKDIHZURXQGVRI7HWULV(̆HFW&RQQHFWHGWKHQ jumped into Astro’s Playroom. I ran through the opening of Returnal, swung through Harlem in Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and caught a dub on Fortnite with the frames per second cranked up to 120.

Smooth performance and excellent visuals abounded in all titles, but the experience was especially striking with PS5 games that make use of ray-traced UHÀHFWLRQV6ZLWFKLQJWRWKH3&,SOD\\HGDIHZURXQGVRI+DOR,Q¿QLWHZLWK settings on high and the frame rate uncapped. The sailing was smooth here, too. I was disappointed by the Inzone M9’s integrated speakers, though. The sound is loud but hollow-sounding, likely in part because it shoots out of the back of the monitor and partly because monitor-integrated speakers seldom are better than so-so. Bass was also lacking. Sony might have done better to relocate the speakers to a more advantageous position. THE VERDICT: A FINE 4K FIT FOR CONSOLES AND PCS ALIKE $V6RQ\\¶VIUHVKPDQJDPLQJPRQLWRUH̆RUWWKH,Q]RQH0JHWVDORWULJKW7KH slick, sexy monitor has tons of forward-thinking automation features sure to pique the interest of gamers, especially those lucky enough to be gaming on a PlayStation 5. Low input lag will surely captivate the competitive crowd, while solid brightness and color results will please casual viewers looking for a clean picture while binging TV shows. Sony is also planning to release the Inzone M3 gaming monitor later this year. It cuts the resolution down to just 1080p but will feature a higher 240Hz maximum refresh rate. The M3, along with a lineup of Inzone headsets, FRPSOHWHV6RQ\\¶V¿UVWQHZJDPLQJKDUGZDUHR̆HULQJVLQDORQJWLPH:LWK Sony’s games expanding to become more platform-agnostic, it’s good to see the FRPSDQ\\¶VKDUGZDUHSRUWIROLRH[SDQGLQJZLWKWKHP,I\\RX¶UHDJDPHUZKRÀLSV EHWZHHQD3&DQGDFRQVROHFRQVWDQWO\\\\RX¶OO¿QGDORWWRORYHLQWKH,Q]RQH0 especially if you have a PC video card that’s amped-up enough to push decent frame rates at 4K. Photos by Molly Flores PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I AUGUST 2022

REVIEWS HARDWARE Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2: A Top Budget Option Go sequel packs a bit more pep than the first Go-around. BY MATTHEW BUZZI Consider it a successful compromise computer. Microsoft has refreshed its in- between portable, the Laptop Go, which occupies the middle ground between its small Surface Go 3 tablet and the conventional Surface Laptop 4. The Surface Laptop Go 2 is a modest update to the original, replacing the processor with a IDVWHU,QWHOWK*HQHUDWLRQFKLSDQGWZHDNLQJDIHZFRPSRQHQWV2̆HULQJ features including a 3:2-aspect-ratio display (which is rarely found on budget laptops), this Microsoft mini is more stylish and better made than many of its D̆RUGDEOHULYDOV

A PORTABLE DESIGN IN A FRESH COAT OF PAINT PROS Microsoft has populated just about every potential price and size point in the Surface line. The original Surface •Competitive Laptop Go, as its name implied, combined the DNA of the petite Surface Go detachable and the traditional performance from Surface Laptop. Smaller than the latter, this portability- updated CPU ¿UVWODSWRSWDUJHWVHYHU\\GD\\SURGXFWLYLW\\XVHUVRQWKH well, go. •Stylish, colorful design •Quality build and 7KH¿UVWWKLQJ\\RXQRWLFHDERXWRXUUHYLHZXQLWWKRXJK it’s less visible in our photos than in person) is the comfortable keyboard lovely new sage-green color. This pale shade is pleasing to the eye, stands out from the crowd, and adds style to •Reasonably priced a machine you’ll be seen carrying out and about. One of •Swappable SSD and four color options (the others are ice-blue, sandstone, and platinum), it’s quite Apple-like in style, as the chassis parts for longevity Surface devices have always represented Windows alternatives to the MacBook and iPad concepts. CONS The Surface Laptop Go 2 measures 0.62 by 11 by 8.1 •Less-than-1080p display inches and weighs 2.48 pounds, just as slim and portable as the original. The same premium aluminum with nonstandard is used on the lid, promoting the MacBook feel, though resolution •Updated (but still ho- hum) webcam THE BOTTOM LINE The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 doesn’t reinvent the original, but some minor upgrades and a new CPU put this affordable, stylish notebook back among your best budget options for 2022.

as an economy notebook the system isn’t all metal—the base mixes aluminum and polycarbonate composite UHVLQZLWKJODVV¿EHURIZKLFKLVSRVWFRQVXPHU recycled material. The bottom portion does feel more like plastic than Between its size PHWDOEXWLWGRHVQ¶WIHHOFKHDSRUÀLPV\\%HWZHHQLWV and materials, size and materials, the Surface Laptop Go 2 delivers a the Surface near-premium experience despite its low price point. Laptop Go 2 The display, somewhat disappointingly, is also delivers a near- unchanged. I say that because the 12.4-inch PixelSense premium screen’s resolution falls short of full HD at 1,536 by SL[HOV)URPWKHSL[HOFRXQW,¿JXUHGLWZRXOGEH experience close enough to mimic full HD or 1080p, but I found despite its low some text appeared blurry or grainy compared to the higher resolutions to which most laptop users are price point. currently accustomed.

7KHVFUHHQR̆HUVWRXFKVXSSRUWDQGLVIDLUO\\EULJKWDWLWVPD[LPXPVHWWLQJVR it’s not a total loss. On average, its color and quality are okay—but the text in Google Docs doesn’t look super-sharp. Another disappointment is the lack of a backlit keyboard. I realize this is a budget laptop, but even many low-priced Windows notebooks and &KURPHERRNVR̆HUEDFNOLJKWLQJWKHVHGD\\V,GLGVRPHZRUNLQDGLPURRPDQG instantly missed the option for key illumination. Otherwise, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is quite enjoyable to use: The keycaps are maybe a touch small, depending RQ\\RXU¿QJHUWLSVL]HEXWWKHNH\\ERDUGKDVVDWLVI\\LQJWUDYHO$QGWKHWRXFKSDG is relatively roomy, and pans and clicks smoothly. FINGERPRINTS, CAMERAS, AND CONNECTIVITY $¿QJHUSULQWUHDGHUFRPHVLQWHJUDWHGLQWRWKHSRZHUEXWWRQDOORZLQJHDV\\VLJQ LQVZLWK:LQGRZV+HOOR7KHZHEFDPODFNV,5IDFHUHFRJQLWLRQVR¿QJHUSULQWV are the only way to use Windows Hello, but that’s acceptable at this price. The camera itself has been improved for today’s video-call culture; Microsoft LPSURYHGWKHVHQVRUDQGDGGHGGXDO¿HOGPLFURSKRQHVWRXSJUDGHWKH conferencing experience. Unfortunately, the webcam hasn’t been promoted to 1080p resolution; it’s still a 720p device.

The webcam’s video quality is decent, but its low resolution shows, and it doesn’t handle low light especially well. In fairness, many more-expensive laptops are still stuck with cheap 720p cameras, but a sharper webcam would have been nice. $VIRUFRQQHFWLYLW\\\\RX¶OO¿QGRQH86%7\\SH$SRUWRQH86%7\\SH&SRUW and a headphone jack. The laptop is charged via the proprietary Surface &RQQHFWRURQLWVULJKWÀDQN7KLVWRRLVWKHVDPHORDGRXWDVWKHSUHYLRXV model. The lack of an HDMI port for plugging in an external monitor is a letdown, though.

One change to this model is the inclusion of replaceable parts. Like the use of recycled materials, this is partially a sustainability endeavor, letting users at least partially rejuvenate an aging system. A more serviceable mass-production ODSWRSLVDOZD\\VDSOXVIRUFRQVXPHUVDQGṘFHXVHUVDOLNH Which parts are replaceable? The solid-state drive is again swappable (Microsoft provides a guide to SSD replacement), but it’s now joined by the “C-Cover,” which includes the keyboard and touchpad; the “AB-Cover,” which is WKHGLVSOD\\WKHEDWWHU\\DQGWKH6XUÀLQNLQWHUQDOFRQQHFWRUFDEOH2QHRWKHU DGGLWLRQ7KH6XUIDFH/DSWRS*RLVWKH¿UVWVHFXUHGFRUH,QWHO3&LQ Microsoft’s lineup with Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 support. That may appeal to enterprise shoppers.

CONFIGURATION OPTIONS Despite the minor revisions, new processor, and generally rising PC costs, Microsoft has kept the Surface Laptop Go 2’s starting price pretty close to that of the original. The base model has risen $50 to $599.99, which trends out of the extreme-value range but is still ZHOOXQGHUIRXU¿JXUHV/HW¶VGLYHLQWRZKDWWKH GL̆HUHQWFRQ¿JXUDWLRQVHQWDLO The base unit is pretty modest, pairing a quad-core Intel Core i5-1135G7 CPU with an inadequate 4GB of PHPRU\\DQG*%VROLGVWDWHGULYH,W¶VR̆HUHGRQO\\LQ the platinum color. Spending another $100 gets you the middle model, which hikes memory to 8GB and lets you choose among the other colors. Finally, another $100 step up (to $799.99) doubles the SSD storage to 256GB. That’s the model reviewed here. No, you can’t buy a Surface Laptop Go 2 with a faster Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, or a 512GB or 1TB drive. If you’re looking for something more robust, Microsoft steers you to the 13.5-inch or 15-inch Surface Laptop 4.

TESTING: SMOOTH SAILING (AMONG BUDGET LAPTOPS) We put our Surface Laptop Go 2 to the test with our standard benchmark suite, comparing its results to those of the following systems: This is mainly a group of other budget machines, some of them a bit less expensive than the Surface Laptop Go 2. Lenovo’s IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 convertible is equivalent in price to today’s Microsoft laptop; the IdeaPad 3 14 costs less; and the Surface Go 3 detachable occupies a tier below its stablemate in power and price. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 13 is a more expensive laptop but in some aspects similar to the Surface to show what a few hundred dollars more can get you. Productivity tests: The main benchmark of UL’s PCMark 10 simulates QXPHURXVUHDOZRUOGSURGXFWLYLW\\DQGFRQWHQWFUHDWLRQZRUNÀRZVWRPHDVXUH SHUIRUPDQFHIRUṘFHFHQWULFWDVNVLQFOXGLQJZRUGSURFHVVLQJVSUHDGVKHHWLQJ web browsing, and videoconferencing. We also run PCMark 10’s Full System Drive test to assess the load time and throughput of a laptop’s storage. Three more benchmarks focus on the CPU, using all available cores and threads, to rate a PC’s suitability for processor-intensive workloads. Maxon’s Cinebench R23 uses that company’s Cinema 4D engine to render a complex scene, while Primate Labs’ Geekbench 5.4 Pro simulates popular apps ranging from PDF rendering and speech recognition to machine learning. Finally, we use the open-source video transcoder HandBrake 1.4 to convert a 12-minute video clip from 4K to 1080p resolution (lower times are better).

2XU¿QDOSURGXFWLYLW\\WHVWLVZRUNVWDWLRQPDNHU3XJHW6\\VWHPV¶3XJHW%HQFKIRU Photoshop, which uses the Creative Cloud version 22 of Adobe’s famous image editor to rate a PC’s performance for content creation and multimedia applications. It’s an automated extension that executes a variety of general and GPU-accelerated Photoshop tasks ranging from opening, rotating, resizing, and VDYLQJDQLPDJHWRDSSO\\LQJPDVNVJUDGLHQW¿OOVDQG¿OWHUV It’s worth keeping in mind that in this quintet, only the Surface Go 3 is at a real CPU disadvantage. Two rivals have the same processor as the Surface Laptop Go 2, and the IdeaPad 3’s chip is an AMD equivalent. The Surface Laptop Go 2 FDPHR̆ZHOOPRUHRUOHVVODQGLQJLQWKHPLGGOHRIWKHSDFNEXWFORVHHQRXJKWR the lead. It’s more than capable for everyday operations; it costs more than some rivals with the same CPU but has arguably superior build quality. Graphics and gaming tests: We test Windows PCs’ graphics with two DirectX 12 gaming simulations from UL’s 3DMark: Night Raid (more modest, suitable for laptops with integrated graphics) and Time Spy (more demanding, suitable for gaming rigs with discrete GPUs). Two more tests from GFXBench UXQR̆VFUHHQWRDOORZIRUGL̆HUHQWGLVSOD\\UHVROXWLRQVZULQJRXWWKH OpenGL operations. All these systems rely on their processors’ integrated graphics rather than a GLVFUHWH*38DV\\RX¶G¿QGLQDJDPLQJODSWRSVRWKHUH¶VDKDUGXSSHUOLPLWWR their results. The Surface Laptop Go 2 managed to separate itself from all but the Samsung, but none of these PCs pretends to be suited for demanding games or professional graphics applications. Battery and display tests: We test laptops’ battery life by playing a locally VWRUHGSYLGHR¿OHWKHRSHQVRXUFH%OHQGHUVKRUWTears of Steel) with GLVSOD\\EULJKWQHVVDWDQGDXGLRYROXPHDWXQWLOWKHV\\VWHPTXLWV:H make sure the battery is fully charged before the test, with Wi-Fi and keyboard EDFNOLJKWLQJWXUQHGR̆ The Surface Laptop Go 2 isn’t a battery record-setter, but it avoids the budget- laptop pitfall of too-brief battery life. The Galaxy Book Pro’s unplugged runtime topped the chart, but that’s part of what you get for its higher price. You should be able to get through a day of classes or commuting without worrying about where the nearest AC outlet is. The display proved middling in terms of color coverage but was one of the brightest at its peak setting.

A MODEST IMPROVEMENT FOR 2022 The Microsoft The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is a moderate Surface Laptop LPSURYHPHQWRQLWVSUHGHFHVVRU6LJQL¿FDQWFKDQJHV Go 2 is a are few. The quicker processor is the main step forward, moderate joined by minor improvements to the webcam and a improvement more sustainable design with some replaceable parts. on its Otherwise, it’s the same nice budget notebook we saw predecessor: WKH¿UVWWLPHDURXQGZKLFKLVQ¶WDEDGWKLQJ7KHEXLOG Significant is more premium than many in this tier, and the changes are few. starting price is attractive—even our bumped-up FRQ¿JXUDWLRQLVUHDVRQDEOH7KHFRPSXWHUKDVDIHZ shortcomings, but that’s true for any laptop at this price. If it’s a good match for your budget and you like its extra bit of style, the Surface Laptop Go 2 could be one of your best budget buys. PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I AUGUST 2022

REVIEWS SOFTWARE & APPS Duolingo: Best Free Language App The best free app for learning or practicing a language BY JILL DUFFY 'XROLQJRZDVWKH¿UVWIUHHODQJXDJHOHDUQLQJDSSWRULYDOH[SHQVLYHSDLG SURJUDPV,WR̆HUVSOHQW\\RIVHOISDFHGH[HUFLVHVWRKHOS\\RXEXLOGDEDVH XQGHUVWDQGLQJRIGR]HQVRIODQJXDJHVRUUHYLHZRQH\\RXDOUHDG\\NQRZ,W¶V HDVLO\\WKHEHVWIUHHODQJXDJHDSS\\RXFDQ¿QGDQGLW¶VRXU(GLWRUV¶&KRLFH ZLQQHU(YHQZKHQPHDVXUHGDJDLQVWSDLGSURJUDPVWKHFRQWHQWLVVRJRRGWKDW 'XROLQJRVWLOOUDQNVDPRQJWKHEHVWVRIWZDUHIRUOHDUQLQJDODQJXDJH:LOO\\RX EHFRPHSUR¿FLHQWLQDODQJXDJHLI\\RXXVHRQO\\'XROLQJRWROHDUQ\"1R7KDW¶V QRWZKDWODQJXDJHOHDUQLQJDSSVGR7KH\\VXSSOHPHQW\\RXUOHDUQLQJDQGJLYH \\RXDSODFHWRSUDFWLFHGDLO\\ZKLFKLVPHUHO\\RQHSDUWRIOHDUQLQJDODQJXDJH $QG'XROLQJRLVWKHEHVWDSS\\RX¶OO¿QGIRUWKDW

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FEATURES Credit: Zain Awais THE BEST LAPTOPS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS IN 2022 Whether for remote learning or carrying around campus, start your “best laptops” short list with these top-rated, value-focused models. BY JOHN BUREK & TOM BRANT For students, a laptop is as essential as textbooks and a school ID—and not just for taking notes and doing homework. It should also be able to handle your big extracurricular activities: keeping up with your social networks, streaming movies, listening to music, posting photos, gaming, and video chatting with the ‘rents back home. Laptops are more necessary now than ever, as many colleges and universities have implemented a mix of in-person and remote learning as part of their response to the coronavirus pandemic. If you’re learning from home a few days a week and heading to campus the rest of the time, a laptop you can use wherever you are is essential.

A laptop for college students also needs to be budget-friendly and last for the long haul, preferably through four years of undergrad and maybe a year of grad ZRUN/XFNLO\\IRU\\RXZHKDYHPDQ\\UHFRPPHQGHGPRGHOVWKDW¿WWKDW description perfectly—and since most of them are below $1,000, they won’t drain your savings account in a big way (at least, relative to tuition payments). Here are the basics you should keep in mind while you’re looking for a laptop for college. FIRST: RESEARCH YOUR COLLEGE 7KH¿UVWDQGPRVWLPSRUWDQWWKLQJWRGRLVWRFKHFNZLWK\\RXUVFKRROIRUVSHFL¿F system requirements. It may have hard-and-fast hardware recommendations (or not). Some colleges and universities want their students equipped with Windows- based laptops, to cut down on software incompatibility issues or to keep technical support concentrated on one platform. Others don’t care which operating system you use: Windows, macOS, or even Linux, if you’re a hard- core type. Some institutions have onsite computer repair centers that service RQO\\ODSWRSVSXUFKDVHGIURPWKHXQLYHUVLW\\RUDQḊOLDWHGFRPSXWHUVWRUHRQ campus; when you use one of these facilities for repairs, the turnaround time will be much quicker than if you have to send it back to the manufacturer. $OVRQRWHWKDWPRVWVFKRROVR̆HUSULFHEUHDNVIRUSDUWLFXODUYHQGRUVDQGLQFOXGH H[WHQVLYHVRIWZDUHEXQGOHVZKLFKFDQVKDYHR̆DJRRGDPRXQWIURP\\RXU laptop purchase. So you might want to look into buying from the campus store before you hit your local superstore or favorite online seller. KEEPING IT LIGHT: WHY WEIGHT MATTERS Depending on how far you’ll need to haul it every day, a big-screen notebook may not be such a good idea. It’s nice to have a mini home theater in your dorm room or to play the latest games in big-screen, 1080p glory, but a 5-pound-plus laptop with a 15-inch or 17-inch screen will be a chore to carry across campus as \\RX¶UHUXQQLQJIURPFODVVWRFODVV<RX¶UHEHWWHUR̆ZLWKVRPHWKLQJWKDW¶VOLJKW If screen size matters less to you than convenience, a super-thin ultraportable might be the way to go. For most people, a maximum 13- or 14-inch widescreen panel is ideal, as it will make room for other items in your backpack and minimize the weight burden.

Depending on your tolerance level, a smaller display works as long as you understand that full web pages and productivity applications will involve more scrolling, and fonts will appear smaller than they do on larger screens, assuming the same resolution and zoom level. Essays, papers, and chatting online with your classmates will take up most of your computing time, so a full-size keyboard and a comfortable touchpad are crucial. Also note that when you venture smaller than a 13-inch-class laptop, you run the risk of not getting the same typing experience. The easiest way to ensure that you have the best keyboard is to stop by a brick-and-mortar store DQGVSHQGVRPHWLPHW\\SLQJRQSURVSHFWLYHFKRLFHVRIGL̆HUHQWVL]HV If you do decide to buy a smaller, less expensive laptop, it’s probably worth investing in a standalone keyboard you can keep at home or in the dorm for when you need to do a lot of typing. A desktop monitor attached via HDMI could be a nice complement, too. HOW MUCH POWER DO YOU NEED? /DSWRSVR̆HUDZLGHVHOHFWLRQRISURFHVVRUVDFURVVERWKEXGJHWVDQGXVDJH cases—you can choose one that maximizes performance or one that favors battery life. Or you can select one that plays to both strengths: Intel’s Core &38VFRQIHUWKHEHQH¿WVRIERWKSRZHUDQGEDWWHU\\ḢFLHQF\\$0'¶V5\\]HQ mobile chips are less common but are also emerging as a viable pick for ultraportable laptops. When you want all-day battery life and spend most of your time in a web browser, you might want to consider going with a Chromebook. These typically run on low-powered processors—Intel Celeron and Pentium chips, in most FDVHV%XWWKHVH&38VVẊFHIRUWKHNLQGVRIZRUNDGD\\RQOLQHWDVNVWKDW Chromebooks excel at. If performance, on the other hand, ranks high on your list, a Mac with an Apple M1 chip or a Windows laptop with at least an Intel &RUHLRU$0'5\\]HQJLYHV\\RXWKHPRVWRRPSK Those who like playing games during their downtime might want to splurge on a more expensive gaming laptop. Most general-purpose machines, especially those costing less than $800, won’t have the kind of discrete graphics chip (GPU) necessary to make the hottest AAA game titles look good and play VPRRWKO\\%XWLI\\RXKXQWDURXQGDOLWWOH\\RXFDQ¿QGJDPLQJODSWRSVWKHVH days starting at around $700 with a decent Nvidia GeForce GTX or (less

FRPPRQO\\ $0'5DGHRQ5;*38IRUSOD\\LQJJDPHVDWSDQGPRGHUDWHRU EHWWHUVHWWLQJV$SRZHUIXO*38FDQDOVRKHOSLQFHUWDLQKLJKHQGDQGVFLHQWL¿F DSSOLFDWLRQVWKDWEHQH¿WIURP*38DFFHOHUDWLRQEXWOLNHDKLJKSRZHUHG processor, they also feast on the battery. The good news: In most other cases (unless, say, you’re an architecture major with a heavy reliance on CAD software), integrated graphics solutions should VẊFHIRUWKHGD\\WRGD\\WDVNV\\RX¶OOIDFH7KLVLVWKHJUDSKLFVVLOLFRQEXLOWLQWR the processors of most budget and midrange laptops. Today, that overwhelmingly means some form of Intel integrated graphics: Intel HD graphics, Intel UHD graphics, Intel Iris/Iris Plus graphics, or Intel Xe Graphics. Our reviews detail their comparative performance levels, but none is a match for even a moderate dedicated GPU. STORAGE SOLUTIONS IN LAPTOPS: SSDS ARE TOPS With the increasing prevalence of cloud storage and web applications, having plentiful local storage space is less vital now than it used to be—but you should still make sure that your laptop meets your needs. If you plan to install a lot RISURJUDPVRUZDQWWRKDQJRQWRORWVRIODUJHPHGLD¿OHV\\RX¶OOQHHG*% or more. :KLFKHYHUZD\\\\RXJRUHPHPEHUWKDWVWRUDJHD̆HFWVVSHHGWRR,I\\RXJRZLWK a hard drive because you get more storage for less money, know that it will be noticeably slower than a snappy-feeling solid-state drive (SSD). The higher cost DQGORZHUFDSDFLW\\RIDIDVWHU66'LVDWUDGHR̆WKDWVRPHVWXGHQWVDUHZLOOLQJ to make. We strongly recommend SSDs for laptops that are carried around campus a lot, since the SSDs (if not the laptop itself) are impervious to drop damage. Also, they’re much faster than hard drives. The good news is that by plugging an external hard drive or external SSD into one of your laptop’s USB ports, you can add more memory whenever you need it. Although you probably won’t have to do this unless you’re a video junkie or DQDVSLULQJ¿OPPDNHULW¶VDJRRGRSWLRQWRKDYH *DPHUVPD\\ZDQWWRWDNHDQDOWRJHWKHUGL̆HUHQWYLHZ:LWKPDQ\\$$$JDPH installations topping 40GB or 50GB each, a small SSD can get eaten up fast. You’ll want to think about that before you buy a machine with, say, a 256GB 66'DORQH²RUDWOHDVWEHSUHSDUHGWRVZDSJDPHVRQDQGR̆WKHGULYH

BATTERY LIFE: HOW LONG MUST IT LAST? $VL]DEOHEDWWHU\\FDQEH\\RXUELJJHVWDOO\\RQDGD\\¿OOHG with classes and extracurricular activities. A few school- oriented laptops come with multiple battery options. But most have only one—and it’s not removable. ,QWKLVFDVH¿JXUHRXWZKHUHEDWWHU\\OLIHUDQNVLQWKH grand scheme of things. When removable batteries are an option, you can get a second one or a larger “extended” one if available, at the time of purchase. The more “cells” the battery contains within a given model line, the better the battery life, all else being equal. A big battery can mean some heft, but the weight gain is worthwhile if it means leaving the system unplugged from dawn until dusk. This is where our reviews come in especially handy; we’ve tested every laptop that passes through our labs for battery runtime with nonstop video playback, so you can get a good idea of relative endurance between models. WHAT ABOUT CHROMEBOOKS? In the past several years, we’ve seen a strong push into the education market by Chromebook manufacturers. &KURPHERRNVKDYHJRQHIURPEHLQJJORUL¿HGQHWERRNV running the Chrome OS to laptops that are still web- centric but have a relatively full feature set. If the school you’re attending puts its coursework in the cloud, a &KURPHERRNFDQR̆HU\\RXPXFKRIWKHIXQFWLRQDOLW\\RI a regular laptop, and it may deliver longer battery life. It will also likely cost you a lot less than other types of notebooks. Prices for basic Chromebook models typically run between $200 and $400 (although higher- end models can go for as much as $1,000). Just be sure you have ready access to constant, stable Wi-Fi, as these systems have scant local storage, and you have to plan DKHDGWRXVHWKHPH̆HFWLYHO\\R̈LQH

3&JDPHUVRIFRXUVHZRQ¶W¿QGPXFKXVHIRUD&KURPHERRNWKH\\UXQRQO\\ Chrome OS apps and Android apps from the Google Play store. But a Chromebook can also be a good, inexpensive second laptop to carry around campus for taking notes, while your beastly gaming rig (or desktop gaming PC) hangs back at the dorm or at home. CONSIDER A HYBRID 2-IN-1 FOR SCHOOL In recent years, a new category of laptop has emerged: Hybrids, also known as 2-in-1s, are capable of functioning as traditional clamshell-style laptops but can transform into tablets. Some (generally called “convertibles”) sport a folding GHVLJQWKDWÀLSVWKHNH\\ERDUGRXWRIWKHZD\\XVXDOO\\E\\URWDWLQJDOOWKHZD\\ around its hinge. Others (“detachables”) allow you to dock a tablet/screen portion of the PC with an accessory keyboard for laptop-like functionality. $EXGJHWLQPLJKWEHMXVWZKDW\\RXQHHGWR¿OODQXPEHURIUROHV2QHWKLQJ to be mindful of: If you’re considering a detachable 2-in-1 design, make sure the keyboard base is included in the price. In some cases, it’s an added-cost accessory that bumps up the price, sometimes by more than you’d expect. A WORD ON WARRANTIES Almost every laptop today is backed by at least a one-year warranty on parts and labor. Extended warranties are also available, but whether they’re worth paying for depends on who you are as a user. For starters, the standard warranty doesn’t cover accidents that stem from a spilled drink or a drop on concrete. Most manufacturers sell accident coverage as a separate plan, on top of extended warranties that supplement a standard one, so you might end up spending close to $300 for three years of coverage. $SSOHR̆HUVDPD[LPXPH[WHQGHGZDUUDQW\\RIWKUHH\\HDUVZKLOHVRPHPDNHUV RI:LQGRZVODSWRSVR̆HUXSWRIRXU\\HDUV In our opinion, if the warranty costs more than 15% of the total laptop price, \\RX¶UHEHWWHUR̆VSHQGLQJWKHPRQH\\RQEDFNXSGULYHVRUVHUYLFHVWKDWPLQLPL]H downtime in case something does go awry. Of course, you can’t put a price on peace of mind. In rare instances, the logic board or the display—the most expensive pieces of a laptop—can fail, and repairs could cost half of what the ODSWRSLVZRUWK)DXOW\\FRPSRQHQWVXVXDOO\\EUHDNGRZQGXULQJWKH¿UVW\\HDU anything afterward is probably caused by regular wear and tear.

This again is a case in which the college itself may be a factor. Some schools KDYHVSHFLDODUUDQJHPHQWVZLWKVSHFL¿FYHQGRUVIRURQVLWHVHUYLFHRIWKHLU laptops, so check with the college’s bookstore or computer store to see whether any such special circumstances apply. OUR TOP PICKS MSI MODERN 14 EDITORS’ CHOICE $449.99 PROS • Pleasing light design, with aluminum construction • Backlit keyboard • Solid port and slot selection, including USB Type-C and microSD • Eight-hour battery life CONS • Though common at this price, 128GB SSD is limiting THE BOTTOM LINE MSI’s under-$500 Modern 14 is a compelling budget laptop for day-to-day tasks, packing reasonable battery life, a good mix of ports, and proper build TXDOLW\\<RXFDQ¿QGPRUHD̆RUGDEOHDOWHUQDWLYHVLIEXGJHWLV\\RXUPDLQ FULWHULRQEXW\\RXFDQH[SHFWFRPSURPLVHVJDORUH,QFRQWUDVWLW¶VWRXJKWR¿QG PXFKWRFRPSODLQDERXWZLWKWKH0RGHUQ,I\\RX¶UHORRNLQJIRUDQD̆RUGDEOH everyday laptop that leans on the side of portability, reasonable connectivity, and overall comfort, the MSI Modern 14 balances all those items better than most budget machines we’ve seen.

LENOVO IDEAPAD FLEX 5I 14 (2021) EDITORS’ CHOICE $559.99 (BASE CONFIGURATION) PROS • Practical, sturdy design • Comfortable keyboard • Generous memory and storage amounts • Two USB Type-A and HDMI ports • :HEFDPSULYDF\\VKXWWHUDQG¿QJHUSULQWUHDGHU CONS • 5HODWLYHO\\KHDY\\IRUDLQFKXOWUDSRUWDEOH • Dim 250-nit display THE BOTTOM LINE Lenovo’s IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 is exactly the sort of 2-in-1 convertible you’d expect from the company that pioneered this category. It’s a sensible machine that’s pleasing to use as a conventional laptop or propped up for a presentation in easel or tent mode. The chassis is well-engineered, even if it’s not the sleekest or lightest around. And the processing power is decent, thanks in large part to the JHQHURXV*%RI5$0DQG*%66'RIRXUWHVWXQLW)RUDURXQGLW¶V KDUGWREHDWWKLVFRQ¿JXUDWLRQRIWKH)OH[LZKLFKFODLPVRXU(GLWRUV¶ Choice award for best midrange 2-in-1 convertible.

APPLE MACBOOK AIR (M1, LATE 2020) EDITORS’ CHOICE $999.00 (BASE CONFIGURATION) PROS • Good value, especially for a MacBook • Much-improved performance, thanks to Apple’s new M1 processor • Exceptional battery life • Sleek, portable metal design • High-quality keyboard, touchpad, and display • Multiple color options CONS • Port selection limited to two USB Type-C connections • Still no touch-screen option THE BOTTOM LINE The new M1-based MacBook Air is simply an amazing laptop. The build quality LVDPRQJWKHEHVW\\RXFDQ¿QGWKHGHEXWRIWKH$SSOH06R&LVYHU\\LPSUHVVLYH (even if the jury is still out in some areas), and the battery life is longer than all but a few alternatives. What’s more, not always a given with Apple products, is that it’s a fantastic value. As usual, Windows diehards (or those who simply need programs that are not available on macOS) in this price tier will still probably stick with the Dell XPS 13, Microsoft Surface Laptop, or Microsoft Surface Pro. Some users will never be tempted to switch from one OS to the RWKHUDQGWKDW¶V¿QH)RUHYHU\\RQHHOVHZKHWKHU\\RX¶UHDQ$SSOHIDQLQQHHGRI an upgrade, a long-time Windows user interested in jumping camps, or a platform-agnostic shopper seeking the best deal on an ultraportable laptop, the MacBook Air represents the cream of the crop.

HP PAVILION AERO EDITORS’ CHOICE $749.99 (BASE CONFIGURATION) PROS • Aggressively priced for the set of specs • 3RZHUIXOHLJKWFRUH5\\]HQ&38 • Handsome and ultralight metal chassis in choice of four colors • HDMI, USB-A, and USB-C ports CONS • No touch screen available • 7HVWFRQ¿JXUDWLRQ¶VNH\\ERDUGQRWEDFNOLWWKRXJKDRSWLRQ • No SD or microSD card slot THE BOTTOM LINE Weighing just 2.2 pounds, HP’s Pavilion Aero is the fastest and fanciest laptop WRZHDUWKHFRPSDQ\\¶VFRQVXPHUEUDQG7KHUHDUHVHYHUDO¿QHODSWRSVSULFHGDW $1,000, and there are some brilliant, desirable ultraportables, but most of the VHFRQGJURXSFRVWZD\\WRRPXFKWRMRLQWKH¿UVW7KH+33DYLOLRQ$HURQRWRQO\\ meets both criteria, but weighs less than most of its rivals and has a processor that’s downright overpowered for everyday tasks. It’s a bummer that our test FRQ¿JXUDWLRQODFNVWKHEDFNOLWNH\\ERDUGWKDWHYHU\\ODSWRSRYHUVKRXOG have, and it’d be nice to see a higher-resolution OLED display—though that ZRXOGFKDQJHWKHV\\VWHPIURPDQD̆RUGDEOH3DYLOLRQWRDSUHPLXP6SHFWUH%XW the Aero easily earns a place in our Editors’ Choice lineup.

MICROSOFT SURFACE LAPTOP GO $549.99 (BASE CONFIGURATION) PROS • Inexpensive • Light weight • Comfortable keyboard and touch pad • Multiple color options • Attractive styling and excellent build quality • USB Type-A port CONS • Less-than-1080p display • No face recognition camera or keyboard backlighting • Internal storage tops out at 256GB • Middling audio quality THE BOTTOM LINE Although it’s missing some nifty features from the pricier Surface Laptop 3, the Surface Laptop Go is what many people are looking for right now: a well-designed, lightweight laptop with adequate performance that

won’t break the bank. The Surface Laptop Go boils down the best Surface features down into a smaller, wallet-friendlier package. That recipe has enormous appeal right now, as many people require capable laptops to work from home but are also concerned about their budgets in this rocky economic climate. Since the Surface Laptop Go is more capable than the Surface Go 2, especially when it comes to computing power, it’s a better choice for most budget-minders eyeing a Microsoft device. The clamshell design will also be a ORWPRUHSOHDVDQWWRW\\SHRQWKDQWKH6XUIDFH*RDQGLWVVQDSRQVQDSR̆ keyboard. PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I AUGUST 2022

FEATURES Credit: Getty Images/SEAN GLADWELL MASTERCLASS VS. SKILLSHARE: WHICH SERVICE FITS YOUR LEARNING GOALS? We consider price, course selection, production quality, and more to help you decide which of these top online learning sites is a better place to study. BY JUSTIN POT Apples are better than oranges. I kid: The entire point of the expression “comparing apples to oranges” is that you can’t directly compare the two. Sure, WKH\\¶UHERWKIUXLWVEXWWKH\\VHUYHGL̆HUHQWSXUSRVHV$SSOHVDUHEHWWHUIRU making cider; oranges are better for juicing and mixing with champagne or vodka. I suppose you could also eat either of them. 6LPLODUO\\FRPSDULQJ6NLOOVKDUHZLWK0DVWHU&ODVVGLUHFWO\\LVGL̇FXOWDQGD PRUHIUXLWIXOH[HUFLVHZRXOGEHWRSRLQWRXWKRZWKH\\¶UHGL̆HUHQWDQGXQGHU

which conditions you might choose one over the other. <HVWKH\\ERWKQRPLQDOO\\R̆HURQOLQHFODVVHVEXWWKH WZRFRPSDQLHVXVHWKHZRUG³FODVV´LQGL̆HUHQWZD\\V And they’re both very good at what they do. They’re both Editors’ Choice winners among online learning VHUYLFHV%XWZKDWWKH\\¶UHWU\\LQJWRGRLVTXLWHGL̆HUHQW I’d compare Skillshare to a local community college. It’s a great place to stop by and learn something new, especially if you’re looking for practical skills. MasterClass, meanwhile, is more like a prestigious guest lecture series hosted by a university. You’ll learn a little about how to do something, but the focus is almost most on why you might want to do it—the philosophy behind the thing. MasterClass has a collection of brilliantly presented FODVVHVWDXJKWE\\UHQRZQHGOHDGHUVLQHYHU\\¿HOG%XW that doesn’t mean it’s better than Skillshare in every ZD\\7KHUHDUHVSHFL¿FUHDVRQV\\RXPLJKWVSHQGPRQH\\ on one or the other. Let’s take a closer look. MasterClass has courses taught by A-listers in their fields.

PRICING MasterClass costs more than Skillshare. Cost and value are not necessarily the same thing, however. 6NLOOVKDUHR̆HUVDIUHHYHUVLRQZLWKDOLPLWHGVHOHFWLRQRIFRXUVHV$VRIWKLV writing, a Premium membership costs $167.88 per year. You won’t see the price until you create an account and choose to upgrade, however, and people in some markets outside the US may see much lower pricing. There’s a 30-day free trial of the Premium version, but you have to have an account and add your payment information to get it. 0DVWHU&ODVVGRHVQRWR̆HUDIUHHYHUVLRQ0DVWHU&ODVVPHPEHUVKLSVWDUWVDW $180 per year for the Individual plan, which can run on a single device with no R̈LQHVXSSRUW0DVWHU&ODVV'XRVXSSRUWVWZRGHYLFHVZLWKR̈LQHVXSSRUWDQG costs $240 a year. A Family plan works on eight devices and costs $276 per year. Note that all billing is annual—there’s no option to pay month-to-month. There is no free version of MasterClass, but you can get a free trial if someone with a MasterClass account sends you a special link. That trial still requires payment details, however. There are some free live classes, but they really don’t represent the quality or tone of the paid courses. Winner: Skillshare Skillshare classes tend to teach skills related to creative fields and creative businesses.

COURSE SELECTION AND COMPOSITION Skillshare focuses on teaching skills with a real emphasis on the creative space. It includes everything from graphic design to animation to creative writing. Skillshare also touches on skills related to building and maintaining businesses in the creative world, with classes on topics such as how to run an Etsy store. Skillshare does create some courses in-house, generally labeled Skillshare Originals. Those courses tend to have celebrity(ish) instructors and high production qualities. %XWPRVWFRXUVHVR̆HUHGRQ6NLOOVKDUHDUHXSORDGHGE\\ independent instructors. They vary more in quality. Classes on Skillshare tend to be about an hour long or less, split into shorter chunks. You can complete these classes at your own pace, generally stopping to work on exercises, or you could watch an entire course from VWDUWWR¿QLVKRQ\\RXUOXQFKEUHDN MasterClass, meanwhile, is less directly focused on VSHFL¿FVNLOOV7KHLQVWUXFWRUVDUHDOO$OLVWHUVLQWKHLU ¿HOGVDQGVRPHDUHKRXVHKROGQDPHV$ORWRIWKHYDOXH is hearing these celebrities talk about their individual ZRUNÀRZDQGSKLORVRSK\\<RXOHDUQVRPHWLSVDORQJWKH way, and some courses might even give you assignments. The focus, though, is watching or listening to someone who is the best in the world at something demonstrate those skills and give you tips. MasterClass courses are much longer than Skillshare’s. A 20-hour MasterClass isn’t unheard of, though they’re broken up into sections, and the site makes it easy to NHHSWUDFNRIZKHUH\\RXOHIWR̆,WXVXDOO\\PDNHVVHQVH to complete a course over multiple days or weeks. Winner: Tie. These two services are trying to do FRPSOHWHO\\GL̆HUHQWWKLQJVDQGHDFKGRHVDJRRGMRE

MasterClass courses include supplemental materials that you can download. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS You’ll be forgiven if, after watching a commercial for MasterClass, you thought you’d get feedback on your songwriting from Saint Vincent or on your standup comedy routine from Steve Martin. The truth is, you won’t interact with any of the “instructors” on this service—you’ll mostly just watch them. 6WLOOWKHYLGHRVDUHQ¶WHYHU\\WKLQJ(YHU\\0DVWHU&ODVVFRXUVHR̆HUVD3')HERRN that summarizes a lot of the points made in the course and in some cases even supplements it. The booklets can be 50 pages long. Some of the courses encourage you to practice a skill, and a few even have worksheets. You can keep these supplemental materials after your subscription expires, giving you something to reference later. 6NLOOVKDUHLVPRUHVFDWWHUVKRW6RPHFRXUVHVR̆HUVXSSOHPHQWDOGRZQORDGDEOH PDWHULDOV6RPHR̆HUSURMHFWVWRZRUNRQDQGXSORDG7KHLGHDLVWKDW\\RXU “classmates,” meaning anyone else who happens to be taking the class at the time, will comment and give you feedback. In some cases, the teacher might even comment, though in practice it’s rare. It all amounts to more interaction WKDQ0DVWHU&ODVVR̆HUVEXWWKDW¶VQRWVD\\LQJPXFK It’s hard to pick a clear leader here. If you want a polished summary of the videos you watched, MasterClass is better. If you’re hoping for projects to work RQDV\\RXOHDUQDVNLOO6NLOOVKDUHFRXUVHVPLJKWEHDEHWWHU¿W Winner: Tie

MasterClass has stunning production values. PRODUCTION QUALITY Skillshare videos vary wildly in video quality. The worst user-submitted courses are clearly shot at the instructor’s desk using a webcam. The best courses have a much higher level of polish than that, particularly the Skillshare Originals. But even the best Skillshare videos don’t come close to MasterClass courses, all of which are extremely well produced. It’s hard to make 20 hours of someone talking interesting. You have to do a lot of pre-production planning, in addition WRSRVWSURGXFWLRQHGLWLQJWRPDNHLWZRUN0DVWHU&ODVVFRXUVHVSXOOR̆WKLV feat, which must cost a fortune. This isn’t to say that Skillshare’s quality is bad. It’s just that MasterClass’ is spectacular. Winner: MasterClass WATCHING SKILLSHARE AND MASTERCLASS: APPS AND ACCESS MasterClass and Skillshare both work in your browser when you’re on a FRPSXWHUDQGWKH\\ERWKR̆HUPRELOHDSSV7KHPRELOHYHUVLRQVRIERWKDSSV PDNHLWHDV\\WRGRZQORDGYLGHRVIRUR̈LQHZDWFKLQJDVVXPLQJ\\RXU VXEVFULSWLRQR̆HUVWKDW6NLOOVKDUHKDVDEXWWRQIRUGRZQORDGLQJDQHQWLUH FRXUVHWR\\RXUPRELOHGHYLFHZKHUHDV0DVWHU&ODVVR̆HUVWKHIHDWXUHIRU individual videos only.

Skillshare has a well designed interface and video player on the web, plus mobile apps. 0DVWHU&ODVVDOVRR̆HUVDSSVIRUHYHU\\PDMRUVPDUW79SODWIRUP6NLOOVKDUH doesn’t have dedicated smart TV apps, but you can use Chromecast or Airplay on your mobile device to send the videos over to your television. The 0DVWHU&ODVVZHEVLWHDQGDSSVDUHYHU\\FOHDQPDNLQJLWHDV\\WR¿QGZKDW\\RX¶UH looking for. Skillshare is a little more cluttered and a little harder to navigate. It’s close, but I’m giving MasterClass the edge in this category. Winner: MasterClass AND THE WINNER IS… MasterClass wins, but it isn’t a blowout! MasterClass took two categories: Production Quality and How to Watch. Skillshare won just one category: Price. The other three categories were ties, because in many ways, it’s impossible to GLUHFWO\\FRPSDUHWKHVHWZRVHUYLFHV7KH\\¶UHVLPSO\\WU\\LQJWRGRGL̆HUHQWWKLQJV ,I\\RXZDQWWROHDUQDVSHFL¿FVNLOOVWDUWZLWK6NLOOVKDUH,I\\RXZDQWWRVHHVRPH of the best lecture-style courses ever created, taught by world famous instructors, go straight to MasterClass. But you really can’t go wrong with either, if you actually take the time to complete the courses. PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I AUGUST 2022

FEATURES Credit: Vicky Leta THE BEST PROGRAMS FOR LEARNING TO CODE We should all learn to code, and no matter your skill lev- el, there’s an online school that can teach you how. BY MOLLY MCLAUGHLIN & JORDAN MINOR Coding is a critical skill these days, and not just for web developers. Whether you’re creating a website, assembling a professional portfolio, or contributing to an online publication, knowing even the basics of coding can go a long way. Of course, if you’ve ever tried to learn how to code—and we’ve taken many a course over the years—you know that it can be a frustrating and overwhelming process. Online learning programs can make the education process less intimidating, enabling you to move at your own pace, seek help when you need it, and repeat lessons as needed until you have a real grasp on how and why your code is working the way it does.

We looked at a wide variety of online schools aimed at GL̆HUHQWDJHJURXSVDQGVNLOOVHWVWR¿QGWKHEHVWFRGLQJ classes. If you want to learn to code online, these services will put you on the right path. Here’s what to look for when making your selection. ONLINE CODING COSTS Price is always a concern, no matter what you’re buying. There are subscription-based programs, such as Code Avengers, Treehouse, CodeHS, and SitePoint (formerly /HDUQDEOH WKDWR̆HUDFFHVVWRDOOFODVVHVLQWKHFRXUVH catalog for a monthly or annual fee. Check to see if the program lets you pause your membership, which is helpful if you want to save your progress without racking up fees while you’re away on a trip or too busy to access the classes. Khan Academy and LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) feature classes on every topic under the sun, as do similar general education services not featured here, such as Coursera, edX, and Udemy, and there are more than enough coding options to make a

subscription or individual purchase worthwhile. If you only care about coding, \\RXPLJKWEHEHWWHUVHUYHGE\\DSURJUDPVSHFL¿FDOO\\WDLORUHGWR\\RXUQHHGV especially if you’re willing to pay. Safari Books Online and Code School, which we previously covered here, have now been fully absorbed into their parent companies, O’Reilly and Pluralsight, respectively. Those robust, broad, business-oriented education platforms cater toward business teams that want WROHDUQPRUHPRUHWHFK¶VEHQH¿WVLQWKHZRUNIRUFH &RGHFDGHP\\RQWKHRWKHUKDQGR̆HUVPDQ\\RILWVFRXUVHVDQGPDWHULDOVIRU free, though it charges a monthly fee for you to access quizzes and other OHDUQLQJWRROV3DLGFODVVHVJHQHUDOO\\R̆HUPRUHLQWKHZD\\RIFRXUVHGHSWK breadth, and presentation, but if you’re determined and resourceful, you may ¿QGWKDWIUHHFODVVHVDUHVẊFLHQWIRU\\RXUQHHGV COURSE VARIETY After price, the most important thing to consider in a coding service is the QXPEHUDQGYDULHW\\ RIR̆HUHGFRXUVHV6RPHIHDWXUH+70/&66DQGRWKHU web technologies, while others contain advanced languages (such as Python and C++,) mobile app and video game development, and working with APIs. In terms of the sheer number of courses, paid classes usually have the edge over free ones. A huge library can also be overwhelming, so starting with a smaller, focused program is a good option.

The course format is worth paying attention to, as well. All you really need to code is a functional text editor, and most of these programs feature one of those. Depending on your learning style, you might appreciate the polished video tutorials from Khan Academy and LinkedIn Learning. 0DQ\\RIWKHVHRQOLQHFRGLQJVFKRROVLQFOXGLQJ6LWH3RLQW&RGH$YHQJHUV &RGHFDGHP\\DQG7UHHKRXVHQRZR̆HUFXUULFXOXPVVR\\RXFDQFKRRVHDEURDG topic—like choosing a major in college—and then access all the necessary courses you’ll need to master the topic. This organize your studies and lets you VNLSDKHDGLI\\RX¶YHDOUHDG\\PDVWHUHGSDUWLFXODUVNLOOV7UHHKRXVHHYHQR̆HUVD VWUXFWXUHGFHUWL¿FDWLRQSURJUDP EASY ENTRY If you’re a beginner, you need a program that’s easy to dive into as the material becomes more complex. In fact, that’s ideal for learners at all levels. You’ll also QHHGHQFRXUDJHPHQWWRNHHS\\RXJRLQJ0RVWRIWKHVHVHUYLFHVR̆HUEDGJHVRU other rewards when you hit milestones and show your progress on your GDVKERDUG7KHEHVWVHUYLFHVR̆HUTXL]]HVDQGFKDOOHQJHVVR\\RXFDQWHVW\\RXU skills. Testing isn’t just for beginners—even experienced programmers want feedback on how they are doing. Newer programs also like to treat progress like a game, rewarding students with shiny badges as they level up their skills. You ZRQ¶W¿QGWKHVHIHDWXUHVLQDOOSURJUDPVWKRXJK

But if you’re serious about pursuing coding as a career, eventually you’ll need to GLWFKWKHHDV\\VWX̆DQGWDNHRQVRPHPRUHFKDOOHQJLQJPDWHULDO&RQVLGHU switching to a paid program such as Code Avengers or Treehouse to continue your coding education. Free Code Camp will help you take the knowledge you’ve learned and use it to help start your career at a real-life organization. Google GLUHFWO\\R̆HUVFRGLQJHGXFDWLRQUHVRXUFHV$ORQJVLGHWKHLURQOLQHSURJUDPV Coding Dojo and General Assembly host physical campus locations where you can (safely) learn alongside fellow students. KID-FRIENDLY LESSONS If you’re a parent or teacher, getting kids to learn to code makes sense. Programming teaches kids to think logically and develops problem-solving skills, and it improves how they interact with technology. And it can prepare them for the workforce of tomorrow. CodeHS has special features educators can use in the classroom, and a wonderful sandbox mode that students can use to express their coding creativity. CodeCombat and similar programs treat coding more like a video game to help keep kids interested. Coding is just another way to make cool things they can VKRZR̆ZKLFKPHDQVNLGVRIDQ\\DJHFDQOHDUQWRFRGH&RGH&RPEDWDQG 7UHHKRXVHR̆HUVSHFLDOSULFLQJDQGFXUULFXODIRUWHDFKHUVDQGVWXGHQWV +RSVFRWFK6FUDWFK0RYHWKH7XUWOH'DLV\\WKH'LQRVDXUDQGVLPLODUDSSVWUHDW

coding like a video game, keeping the interest of even very young kids. With coding, as with any kind of language, the younger someone can start learning, the better. 0RYLQJEH\\RQGWKHVFRSHRIWKLVSDUWLFXODUURXQGXS*DPH0DNHU6WXGLRDQG other dedicated video game design software go even further with gaming, teaching coding (and animation) as an important part of their game-design curriculums. Licenses are pricey, but the lessons are robust. Plus, the apps teach NLGVKRZWRPDNHHYHU\\WKLQJIURP'SODWIRUPHUVWR'VLGHVFUROOHUVWR SURGXFWVWKH\\FDQR̆HUIRUVDOHLQ3&JDPLQJPDUNHWSODFHV If you’re an educator interested in other ways technology can help your school, check out our list of the best learning management systems. CODING HELP AND SUPPORT You’ll need help when you get stuck on an exercise or a quiz. We like &RGHFDGHP\\7UHHKRXVHDQGRWKHUVHUYLFHVWKDWR̆HUDFWLYHVWXGHQWIRUXPVWR help you work through problems, and get a second eye on long code blocks. Code Avengers has live chat and an exclusive Slack channel. Support for bugs DQGZHEVLWHSUREOHPVZKLFKPRVWRIWKHVHVHUYLFHVR̆HULQVRPHZD\\LVDOVR key. Some communities encourage you to create a GitHub account, so you can

easily collaborate on code with fellow students. Although LinkedIn Learning DQG.KDQ$FDGHP\\DUHH[FHOOHQWJHQHUDOLVWVHUYLFHVWKH\\FDQ¶WR̆HUWKLVOHYHORI FRGLQJVSHFL¿FKHOSDQGVXSSRUW All these considerations depend on your level of skill. You may not need a lot of handholding, in which case you can download ebooks and teach yourself by signing up with SitePoint, or you can dive right into a new language with Codecademy. 1RWVXUHZKHUHWRVWDUW\"0RVWRIWKHSDLGVHUYLFHVKHUHR̆HUDIUHHRUORZFRVW trial or even a money back guarantee. You may try several online coding classes EHIRUH\\RX¿QGWKHULJKW¿W FIVE TOP PICKS CODECADEMY EDITORS’ CHOICE FREE PROS • 0DQ\\IUHHFRXUVHV • Exercises include building real websites • Dedicated, active forums for each class • YouTube video lessons CONS • Some features and later courses are locked behind a paywall THE BOTTOM LINE Learning to code needs to be a fun, since the learning curve can be tedious for beginners. Codecademy gets it right with a mix of entertaining lessons, practical exercises, and rewards for your progress. There is more than one way to learn a language. You can choose the process that works best for you. Getting help is easy, which is also key. To get the most out of Codecademy’s course catalog, though, you’ll need to pay for a pro subscription, so if you’re serious about your education you should also consider fully paid coding classes like our Editors’ Choice pick Treehouse (below). Still, Codecademy’s interactive lessons are easy to follow and keep you motivated, making it our Editors’ Choice pick for free online coding classes.

TREEHOUSE EDITORS’ CHOICE $25 PER MONTH PROS • A large variety of coding classes • Curriculums are easy to understand • Slick video lessons • Can pause and renew enrollment at any time • Useful user forums CONS • 0RQWKO\\IHHVFDQDGGXS THE BOTTOM LINE 7UHHKRXVHR̆HUVQXPHURXVIXQFRXUVHVDQGLVJUHDWIRUEHJLQQHUV,WPDNHV learning a bit of a game, awarding points as it tracks your progress. Treehouse’s forums are another high point, a place where students can get help from other students and teachers. After all, there’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to tell why your code isn’t working, and it’s also helpful to see that you’re not the only one struggling. As a result, Treehouse is a complete code-learning package, and our Editors’ Choice winner for paid coding education. GAMEMAKER STUDIO 2 EDITORS’ CHOICE STARTS AT $39.00 PER YEAR PROS • 'DQG'JDPHGHYHORSPHQW • Visual and text-based programming languages • Lets you export to the web, mobile, PC, and consoles, including PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X • Permanent license options • Robust marketplace