Stanford scientists are using stem cells to 3D print heart tissue

3D printers are changing the way we build our cars and homes Even our food. And thanks in part to scientists at Stanford University, they’ve been able to change the way transplant patients get new organs.

Mark Skyler Scott and his team of bioengineers have developed a technology that allows them to do just that 3D printing on living heart tissue. The goal is to one day have the ability to print important parts of the heart, like the valves and ventricles, that can actually grow with the patient.

One in 100 children in the United States is born with a heart defect. Although they can perform implants, these implants can be rejected by the body for up to 20 or 30 years afterward. Bioprinting a new organ using the patient’s own cells can reduce these cases.

Stanford scientists can write vascular networks directly into 3D-printed tissue.

Stanford University / Andrew Broadhead

“It’s ambitious, but we think a lot of the building blocks to start a project like this are there,” Skylar Scott told CNET. Watch the video above to see how the printing works.

This technique is an example bio print, a process that uses living cells to create organ-like structures. Modern bioprinting is not a new concept, but it is generally a slow process. It usually requires printing one cell at a time. Even printing 1,000 cells per second, it would take more than a thousand years to make a single human heart.

Skyler Scott and his team developed a way to speed up the process, by printing with groups of thousands of cells called organelles. “We take millions of these and condense them into what is essentially mayonnaise from human stem cells, which we can then print through a printer.”

The technology is an example of bioprinting, a process that uses living cells to create organ-like structures

Stanford University / Andrew Broadhead

Once the cells are printed, they take on the general shape of a tissue within which networks of blood vessels can then be printed.

The team has already printed a tube-like structure similar to a human vein, that can actually pump out fluid on its own. The next step will be to print a larger structure, such as a functional chamber that can be grafted onto an existing core.

Skylar Scott said he believes a heart valve printed using this technology could be implanted in a human patient in as little as five years, though we’re likely at least two decades away from a fully printed heart.

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Best Internet Providers in Oakland

AT&T Fiber – Best overall among internet providers in Oakland

Prices from $55 – $180 per month

Speeds from 300 – 5,000Mbps

Unlimited data

Sonic – Best regional internet provider in Oakland

Prices from $40 – $50 per month

Speeds from 5 – 10,000Mbps

No data caps or contracts

Verizon 5G Home Internet – Best fixed wireless among internet providers in Oakland

Prices from $50 – $70 per month

Speeds from 85 – 1,000Mbps

Unlimited data

Xfinity – Best cable internet provider in Oakland

Prices from $20 – $300 per month

Speeds from 75 – 6,000Mbps

Data caps on some plans

Oakland is a town that appreciates having a choice of internet service providers. The Internet Choice Ordinance — a directive that prohibits many multiunit property owners from restricting tenants’ choice of ISP — went into effect in 2022. That was a win for renters who want to shop around among Oakland ISPs. 

With options from fiber to 5G, there’s plenty to consider when it comes to finding the best ISP for your needs. AT&T Fiber, our top pick for Oakland, dukes it out with regional fiber company Sonic, a local favorite that’s been expanding its availability in recent years. Cable provider Xfinity and fixed wireless ISPs Verizon and T-Mobile round out the top options. Your ultimate choice will depend on availability, your need for speed and your budget. Here are the best, most affordable and speediest home internet options for Oakland. 

Best internet providers in Oaktown

AT&T Fiber tops our recommendations for best overall home internet provider in Oakland. thanks to its broad coverage area and fast speeds. Fiber competitor Sonic, however, is worthy of strong consideration if it services your address. If you’re not fortunate enough to have fiber as an option, or if you’re looking for a bargain deal, then check out Xfinity for cable or Verizon and T-Mobile for affordable fixed wireless plans.

Sarah Tew/CNET

AT&T Fiber

Best overall among internet providers in Oakland

Check availability

Product details

Price range

$55 – $180 per month

Speed range

300 – 5,000Mbps

Connection

Fiber

Highlights

Unlimited data, no contracts, equipment included

Wide availability and fast speeds of up to 5 gigabits push AT&T Fiber to the top of our recommended list of ISPs for Oakland. But AT&T has stiff competition from beloved local provider Sonic, our choice for the best regional internet provider in Oaktown. AT&T also offers DSL plans in some areas not serviced by its fiber network, but keep in mind those DSL speeds won’t be able to touch the zippiness of fiber.

Availability: California’s interactive broadband map tracks internet availability across the state and shows AT&T fiber reaching much of Oakland, with especially strong coverage in neighborhoods like Glenview, Longfellow and the Dimond District. The communities of Piedmont and Alameda are also well covered.

Plans and pricing: AT&T’s budget fiber plan is $55 for up to 300Mbps with no annual contract or data caps. Keep an eye out for deals, like a recent $55-per-month offer for up 1,000Mbps. The fastest speed tier, a whopping 5 gigs, will cost you a pretty penny at $180 per month (though it offers solid value with a cost per Mbps of under 4 cents). The lowest monthly prices require signing up for autopay and paperless billing. 

Fees and service details: Equipment is included, and there is no data cap or annual contract. AT&T often dangles carrots like a $150 reward card for ordering online. A $99 installation fee may apply, but you may be able to get that fee waived or opt for a no-fee do-it-yourself setup.

Read our AT&T home internet review.

Check AT&T Fiber availability
Sonic

Sonic

Best regional internet provider in Oakland

Check availability

Product details

Price range

$40 – $50 per month

Speed range

5 – 10,000Mbps

Connection

DSL, fiber

Highlights

No data caps or contracts

If you eavesdrop on Oakland Reddit discussions about internet providers, many residents will share their love for Sonic, an independent ISP that services parts of Northern California. Sonic brings the goods with up to 10 gigabits in some areas, making your internet feel like a Lamborghini. 

Availability: Sonic has been expanding its coverage across the Bay Area, though the fastest 10-gigabit speeds are available to a select few. More likely, you can expect speeds around 1 gigabit. Ookla ranks Sonic as the fastest internet provider in Oakland, with a median download speed of about 297Mbps.

Plans and pricing: Sonic keeps pricing pretty simple. Its standard plan runs $50 monthly for whatever speed is available at your address. A $60 service level adds a home phone into the mix, but most customers will likely opt for the savings and skip the phone. Sonic offers a free first month to let you test-drive the service with no worries.

Fees and service details: Sonic encourages new customers to rent equipment for an additional $10 per month, but you can opt out of that and use your own gear. However Sonic won’t help troubleshoot your equipment should you run into any problems. There are no contracts and no data caps.

Check Sonic Internet availability
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Verizon 5G Home Internet

Best fixed wireless among internet providers in Oakland

Check availability

Product details

Price range

$50 – $70 per month (50% off for eligible 5G mobile customers)

Speed range

85 – 1,000Mbps

Connection

Fixed wireless

Highlights

Unlimited data, no contracts, free equipment, 50% discount for qualifying Verizon mobile customers

There’s a battle in the 5G home internet arena, but Verizon edges out T-Mobile in our evaluation because it offers speeds up to 1,000Mbps in some areas of Oakland. If fixed wireless is your thing, then the choice between Verizon and T-Mobile may come down to availability and which phone service you prefer. Both companies offer generous bundling discounts. 

Availability: Verizon’s 5G coverage map shows its fastest 5G offering, dubbed 5G Ultra Wideband, blankets the Oakland area except for a few pockets. Parts of Emeryville, for example, aren’t well covered, but the community still has access to Verizon’s regular 5G network and home internet speeds up to 300Mbps. 

Plans and pricing: An autopay discount brings the starting price of Verizon 5G internet down to $50 per month, but mobile customers with select mobile plans can get internet for just $25 when bundling the services. Verizon’s typical speeds hit from 85 to 300Mbps, but your mileage will vary depending on the strength of the signal at your location and how much demand is on the network. Some customers may be able to pull down up to 1,000Mbps with the 5G Home Plus plan. That’ll run you $80 normally, $70 with auto pay or just $35 with select mobile plans.

Fees and service details: With equipment included, no contract and no data caps, it’s easy to start with Verizon’s 5G Home Internet. It’s an especially tempting deal if you’re bundling with mobile service and have a strong home connection.

Read our Verizon 5G Home Internet overview.

Check Verizon 5G Home Internet availability
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Xfinity

Best cable internet provider in Oakland

Check availability

Product details

Price range

$20 – $300 per month

Speed range

75 – 6,000Mbps

Connection

Cable

Highlights

Data caps on some plans, lots of plan options, solid customer satisfaction numbers

Xfinity may not have the absolute fastest internet service around, but it offers a wide variety of plans with different pricing options and is widely available. If fiber isn’t an option for you, then chances are Xfinity will be there for you instead.

Availability: When you check California’s broadband map, you’ll find that Xfinity’s cable service covers almost all of Oakland. That fact and a variety of internet speed plans make Xfinity a strong choice when budget is a top factor or when fiber isn’t available at your address.

Plans and pricing: Xfinity’s Connect plan gets you hooked up to 75Mbps for the low price of $20 per month, with a few caveats. That price requires a one-year contract, autopay, paperless billing and a stored bank account. Equipment is not included, but you can rent or provide your own gear. Where available, Xfinity offers speeds up to 1,200Mbps, with that tier clocking in at $80 per month for two years. There are multiple speed and pricing options between those two, but keep an eye on future price changes and be prepared to negotiate if needed. 

Fees and service details: Xfinity’s many options can be a little confusing, so dial into the details of your preferred plan. Some deals require a contract, and some don’t include equipment. There’s a 1.2TB monthly data cap, but you can get around that by paying an extra fee or renting equipment that comes with a no-data-cap perk.

Read our Xfinity home internet review.

Check Xfinity Internet availability

Internet providers in Oakland overview

ProviderInternet technologyMonthly price rangeSpeed rangeMonthly equipment costsData capContractCNET review score AT&T Fiber Fiber$55-$180300-5,000MbpsNoneNoneNone7.4AT&T Internet DSL$55 768Kbps-100MbpsNone1.5TB (no data cap for 100Mbps plan)None7.4Google Fiber Webpass Fixed wireless$70 Up to 1,000MbpsNoneNoneNoneN/ASonic Fiber$50-$605-10,000Mbps$10 (skippable)NoneNoneN/AT-Mobile Home Internet Fixed wireless$50 (as low as $30 with  mobile plan)33-182MbpsNoneNoneNone7.4Verizon 5G Home Internet Fixed wireless$50-$80 (50% off with select mobile plans)85-1,000MbpsNoneNoneNone7.2Xfinity Cable$20-$8075-1,200MbpsVaries1.2TBVaries7

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All available Oakland residential internet providers

AT&T Internet: If AT&T Fiber doesn’t reach you, then you may have the option for AT&T DSL instead. Prices start at $55 per month for speeds up to 100Mbps. That introductory deal is good for a year, but after that your rate may jump to $70. You may also bump into a $149 installation fee, but you could avoid that with a self-installation kit. The price-to-speed ratio isn’t great, so this may be a fallback option if there isn’t a faster or cheaper service available to you. Google Fiber Webpass: Google acquired fiber provider Webpass in 2016. Availability is pretty limited in Oakland, but some apartment buildings are hooked up to the service. The up-to-1,000Mbps plan runs $70 per month or $750 if paid annually. That works out to $63 per month, but keep in mind that yearly subscriptions aren’t refundable, so don’t commit if you think you might move. A router is included and there is no data cap.
Satellite internet: Chances are your Oakland address is covered by cable, fiber or fixed wireless. Satellite internet providers like Starlink, Viasat and HughesNet aim to fill in for remote areas that aren’t serviced by other ISPs. So why would you consider satellite internet if you’re a city dweller? It’s not likely to be your first choice, but an option like Starlink’s RV plan could make sense for people who travel a lot and need to stay connected on the road.
T-Mobile Home Internet: T-Mobile’s fixed wireless offering doesn’t reach the same max speeds as Verizon is capable of, but it’s an affordable way to get connected to the internet. Typical speeds range from 33 to 182Mbps for $50 per month. T-Mobile phone customers may qualify for a bundle deal that brings that cost down to $30.
Thomas Winz/Getty Images

Oakland internet details at a glance

Fiber internet is the premium option for Oakland. You can access reliable and fast download and upload speeds from AT&T Fiber or Sonic. For budget options or wider availability, look to Xfinity for cable, or to Verizon or T-Mobile for 5G fixed wireless internet. Your ultimate decision will come down to your speed needs, budget range and which companies service your address.

Pricing details on Oakland home internet service

Home internet pricing is all over the map in Oakland. The average starting price for Oaktown’s ISPs works out to $50. AT&T Fiber offers the priciest plan at $180 per month for 5-gigabit service. If you’re lucky to have access to Sonic’s fastest 10-gigabit fiber speeds, then you’ll pay a bargain price as low as $50 per month. Down on the low side of the fee scale, you can find deals from Xfinity starting at just $20 per month.

Cheap internet options in the Oakland metro area

Oakland ISPs have you covered when it comes to affordable options for getting online. Xfinity’s Connect plan comes in at just $20 per month. That’s super-cheap, but be mindful of the 75Mbps limit, the one-year contract and the need to either rent equipment or provide your own. Be sure to check into the federal Affordable Connectivity Program. Eligible households can get a chunk of their bill knocked off, usually $30. That could make your internet free if you qualify.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Oakland?

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Here are the internet speeds you can find in Oakland

Oakland is in the top half of Ookla’s ranking of internet speeds for the 100 most populous US cities. Oaktown’s 39th-place showing is due to a median download speed of about 218 Mbps, with Sonic reigning as the city’s fastest ISP. Sonic’s 10,000Mbps option should be enough for even the most demanding residential needs. On the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find Xfinity’s budget $20-per-month deal delivering 75Mbps.

*Data sourced from M-LAB speed tests taken by real users in Oakland.

Fastest internet providers in Oakland

Sonic’s 10,000Mbps plan blows everyone else out of the bay, but it’s not available everywhere. AT&T Fiber’s 5,000Mbps option is the next closest competitor. Here’s our rundown of the best multi-gigabit internet plans. AT&T offers lower gigabit tiers for much less than the high-end $180 plan. You may also be able to pull down near-gigabit speeds with Verizon 5G Home Internet if you’re in a good location. 

What are the fastest internet plans in Oakland?

ProviderMax download speedMax upload speedStarting priceData capContract Sonic 10,000Mbps10,000Mbps$50 NoneNoneAT&T Fiber 5000 5,000Mbps5,000Mbps$180 NoneNoneAT&T Fiber 2000 2,000Mbps2,000Mbps$110 NoneNoneXfinity Gigabit Extra 1,200Mbps35Mbps$80 1.2TBNoneGoogle Fiber Webpass 1,000Mbps1,000Mbps$70 None NoneAT&T Fiber 1000 1,000Mbps1,000Mbps$80 NoneNoneVerizon 5G Home Plus Internet 1,000Mbps50Mbps$70 (50% off with eligible mobile plan)NoneNone

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What’s the final word on internet providers in Oakland?

Sonic’s fiber service has a lot of fans in Oakland. If your address qualifies, you’re in luck with a very affordable multi-gigabit fiber plan. Otherwise, look to AT&T Fiber for fast speeds or check into Xfinity, T-Mobile Home Internet or Verizon 5G Home Internet for widely available budget plans.

Internet providers in Oakland FAQs

Is fiber internet available in Oakland?

Yes. Oakland has fiber internet and one of the fastest residential options available in the western US with Sonic’s 10,000Mbps offering. It’s not available everywhere in the city, but qualifying addresses can soak up the mighty speeds at a very reasonable $50-per-month price. AT&T Fiber is no slouch, either, with speeds up to 5,000Mbps, though with a heftier $180-per-month price tag on the top tier.

Who is the cheapest internet provider in Oakland?

Xfinity’s $20-per-month, 75Mbps cable plan is the champion of cheap internet, but you’ll need to sign a one-year contract and either provide your own equipment or rent your gear from Xfinity. T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizion 5G Home Internet both offer tempting discounts for customers who bundle certain phone plans. If you’re eligible, be sure to check out what the Affordable Connectivity Program can do for you. You may qualify for free or deeply discounted internet.

Which internet provider in Oakland offers the fastest plan?

Gigabit internet is nice. Multigigabit internet is even more impressive. But 10 gigabits? That’s what regional ISP Sonic offers to some households in Oakland for $50 per month. Speed like that may be a luxury for many, but it could be very useful for large households where the residents have heavy download demands or for anyone who needs to move a lot of data down or upstream.

Is T-Mobile Home Internet or Verizon Home Internet better?

T-Mobile and Verizon are locked in a tight battle for 5G fixed wireless supremacy in Oakland. They have similar monthly costs ($50), though Verizon has an edge by offering speeds up to 1,000Mbps in some city areas. T-Mobile maxes out at 182Mbps. Your decision will likely come down to bundling and connection quality at your location. Both providers offer discounts for bundling with certain phone plans. So if you already use one of those for your phone, start there. Fixed wireless can be fussy depending on your location and how much demand is placed on the network. That means speeds may vary, and you may find one ISP offers stronger service at your address than the other. Check out our shootout between T-Mobile and Verizon 5G services.

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Get ready for summer with up to 39% off all Worx power tools

Now that summer is upon us, it’s time to get back to yard work and make sure your garden is the envy of the neighborhood. And if you need some new tools to help you tackle this year’s projects, we’ve got some deals you won’t want to miss. Right now, Amazon is offering up to 39% off Worx yard and power tools, with discounts on mowers, string cutters, chainsaws and more. There’s no set expiration date for these deals, so you’ll need to get your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

No matter what jobs you’re doing this season, you’ll find all the tools you need for less in this sale. If your lawn mower is in rough shape, you may want to upgrade to this one Worx WG779 14″ Electric Mower. It comes with two 20-volt batteries for a total capacity of 40 volts, and can be used with or without the mulch bag, and now you can sell it for $217, saving you $83 compared to the usual price. Or, for a more refined work, you can disable this Worx WG163 GT Cordless Chain Trimmer and Aligner For $98, it’s a $42 discount. It weighs less than six pounds so it’s easy to maneuver, and it uses a push button to feed the line so there’s no awkward bumping. And if your trees and shrubs could use a few touch-ups, you can go easy on it with this one Worx Nitro Whopper Pruning Shears. With a titanium blade and a powerful brushless motor, it can cut branches up to an inch in diameter, and it’s now priced at $26, bringing the price down to $104. There are plenty of other tools and equipment for sale, incl fansAnd Leaf blowersAnd work tables And more, so be sure to shop at Choose a whole sale.

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The green revolution is revived by the red ribbon

If all goes as planned, construction on the second-largest wind power project on the planet will begin in the second half of 2023.

SunZia wind and transportation project Collect with ambition A 3.5 gigawatt wind farm in New Mexico with 500 miles of transmission lines to carry that power to Arizona. It’s a critical mission in the United States, a country in dire need of more renewable energy and an expanded grid.

But the construction road was arduous. The first permits for the project were submitted 14 years ago in 2009, setting an urgent issue. Part of the reason there aren’t more projects like SunZia is the time it takes to get a permit to build green energy infrastructure.

The Biden administration has proposed an impressive goal of decarbonizing the grid by 2035, which would require a fivefold increase in renewables. The government will transfer historic amounts of money to green energy, more than $400 billion By the act of reducing inflation aloneto achieve this goal. However, the glacial pace at which energy projects are moving threatens the goal. Wind and solar farms, geothermal plants and hydroelectric dams take between five and 15 years to obtain a construction permit.

At the heart of the issue is the National Environmental Protection Act, which requires companies to conduct environmental assessments of their energy projects to ensure local environmental preservation. This process is necessary, but some argue that it is bloated.

The average time period for NEPA reviews is four to six years, says Ryan Sood of the Brookings Institution’s Center for Regulation and Markets. SunZia’s 14-year agonies are at their most extreme, but Sud said it’s not unusual for environmental assessments to take 10 years. Then, and only then, can the building begin.

This may be where the real problems begin, says Hunter Armistead, CEO of Pattern Energy, the company that now runs SunZia. NEPA allows local groups to challenge the government’s decision to grant permits, which could delay the construction process further.

“It effectively keeps adding more and more requirements,” Armistead said.

Some of the challenges to clean energy projects are undertaken out of blatant self-interest—for example, objecting to wind turbines that diminish property values ​​by destroying the ocean landscape. In other cases, groups of “concerned locals” have been detected. Supported by the fossil fuel industry. But often those who resist green energy projects are really worried about animals and plants.

On the contrary, there are two different branches of environmental protection. Green revolutionaries want to preserve the planet by mitigating global warming. This requires huge amounts of new, renewable energy, the construction of which is often opposed by people trying to protect wildlife and vulnerable ecosystems.

The Minnesota frontier, known for its wildlife and canoeing, was among the first areas saved under the National Environmental Protection Act.

Andrew Lichtenstein/Getty

environment protection

The status quo was set by President Richard Nixon, an unlikely conservationist. Along with NEPA, his administration has signed legislation that sets air quality standards, regulates pollutants released into the ocean and protects endangered animals.

While these laws can make greenlighting new renewable energy projects difficult, they have been necessary safeguards for the environment.

Lisa Frank, chief of advocacy at Environment America, points to the example of Minnesota Boundary Waters, an invaluable land home to beavers, timber wolves, moose, and more than 240 other animal species. The Forest Service had planned to allow private logging in the early 1970s before an environmental assessment showed that such an operation would destroy the environment. It was an early example of NEPA’s work.

Forty years later, in the year 2022, same process Boundary Waters bailed out of a planned nickel mining operation. It is one of countless ecosystems saved by NEPA and its sister laws.

“Sure, it can sometimes take a long time to build projects, but that alone doesn’t indicate something is wrong with the process,” Frank said. She believes the biggest barriers to building green energy include subsidies to the fossil fuel industry and unwanted utilities’ resistance to seeing the cost of electricity fall.

Pattern Energy’s Armistead agrees that NEPA is critical and says many local objections to energy projects are justified. The issue is how slow government transition often is. It took the Bureau of Land Management six years to issue the first permit for the SunZia project. When a permit is revoked based on community response, it can take months or years for it to be re-granted, even after those concerns are alleviated.

“One of the key issues that we were hoping to gain more clarity on is what needs to be actually done [to obtain a permit]There are set turnaround times and government response times so you don’t end up with a long, drawn-out wait,” Armistead said.

Not even the NEPA rules need to be relaxed, Armistead said. It’s okay to get rejected for a project, but it’s the fruitless waiting period that hurts. “We’ve looked at a lot of our projects and decided either for genre reasons or permitting reasons, this isn’t the right place to develop,” he said. “If you are going to fail, you better fail fast.”

The Biden administration, through the Building a Better America and Lower Inflation Act, has funneled unprecedented amounts of money into green energy.

Drew Angerer/Getty

Barriers to renewables

Environmental laws established by the Nixon administration responded to the growing environmental sentiment of the 1960s and 1970s. But that was before climate change became an urgent concern. Fifty years later, the environment is at war with itself. On the one hand, there are conservationists, whose main goal is to preserve the local environment. On the other hand, there are activists who are primarily interested in stopping man-made climate change.

“It’s a really tough question,” said Sanjay Patnaik, director of the Center for Regulation and Markets. “In macro, we know we need to process [both] Climate change and biodiversity. In the micro domain, what is the benefit to be gained in a particular place? “

This battle is currently taking place near Martha’s Vineyard, where an offshore wind farm called Vineyard Wind aims to supply electricity to 400,000 Massachusetts homes. It’s an important part of the state’s pledge to get to net zero by 2050, and the federal government’s plan to have 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030 (up from 42 megawatts in 2021). The Biden administration gave the green light to the project after the Trump administration previously held it up.

Since then, Vineyard Wind He was sued By a group that claims the turbines will hinder withdrawals from local fisheries, as well as by local citizens who say the project could affect endangered whales. It’s typical of offshore wind resistance, something Patnaik says is an American phenomenon. “In Europe, you don’t see much of that,” he said. As of 2021, Europe had more than 30 times more offshore wind capacity than the United States.

In the United States, many jurisdictions see local opposition by wealthy homeowners and landowners. “If you look at the East Coast, for example, a lot of these properties are owned by really rich people, and they don’t want to impede their vision,” Patnaik said. Wind farms are easy targets to challenge because they take up more space than any other type of energy source — and because they tend to “destroy” an otherwise pristine landscape.

Sud points to an additional difficulty for offshore wind projects: Many ships transporting materials from a state shore to national waters require EPA approval, something he says could take just two years.

Expanding wind power and other renewables is just one part of the equation. Renewable energy is often produced in remote locations and needs to be transported to dense population centers. At the same time, the grid needs more electricity for services that currently run on fossil fuels, such as heating and transportation. In short, we will need more transmission lines.

“You have three networks that are almost disconnected in the US,” Sood explained. “You have a western interconnection, an eastern interconnection, and then Texas. Only very, very small amounts of energy flow between those three. … If you just put one or two transmission lines connecting east and west — or Texas and east, or Texas and west — it’s going to be a bargain.” huge.”

Unfortunately, transmission lines can be more difficult to install than wind turbines. Unlike gas pipelines, which can largely be approved by a federal agency, transmission lines require approval from every jurisdiction they cross. This means not only states, but often counties as well, warrant a lengthy approval process. A 300-mile transmission project seeking to connect Oregon and Idaho remains in regulatory limbo, even though it was proposed in 2007.

In general, wind farms are more difficult to obtain approval than solar farms, and transmission lines are even more difficult.

Pete Salutos/Getty

build the chart

Allowing reform caught the attention of lawmakers. Last year, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin proposed Energy Independence and Security Act of 2022a bill that seeks to shrink critical infrastructure construction timelines by three years or less from the current five to 10 years (or more).

It was a polarizing bill for a polarizing cause. Patnaik said some Democrats in Congress voted against it because it weakened environmentalism, while many Republicans rejected it because Manchin, a Democrat, voted for Biden’s inflation-lowering law.

Lisa Frank of Environment America considers herself someone glad to see the bill fail, arguing that weak legislation seeking permit reform could do more harm than good.

“These proposals are written on the assumption that building more projects faster is generally in the public interest and anything that slows things down is bad,” she said. “Most of the projects currently under NEPA review are still fossil fuel projects. Weakening NEPA at least in the near term would do more for fossil fuels than for clean fuels.”

Patnaik and Sood would like the federal government to enact a “proactive licence”. They advocate creating maps that show areas of low environmental sensitivity, as sites can be pre-approved for certain types of energy production.

Pattern Energy’s Armistead hopes megaprojects like SunZia can set the blueprint for others by highlighting what problems are likely to arise, what solutions are possible and how local communities can be won.

“This is really tough stuff, but we need more big, tough stuff,” he said. “If our world is going to decarbonise, it’s going to be hard to do it in small pieces.”

The scheme is still being drawn. In January, New Mexico gave SunZia the go-ahead, with construction hopes to begin in April. But later that month, An Arizona resident filed a lawsuit arguing that the project would endanger the fish, birds and mammals of the San Pedro River.

Despite the delay, Armistead said construction should begin later this year.

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Are EveryPlate meal kits cheaper than buying groceries?

when Meal groups On the scene, they were mostly seen as a cute — and expensive — date night project. Since then, meal kits have become more affordable, with top meal delivery brands like Blue Apron and HelloFresh being less of a special occasion and more of a handy service for busy families and home cooks with limited experience to make mealtime quick and easy. according to our measure, each plate Do Cheapest meal kit service, at about $5 or $6 per serving depending on which plan you choose. This made me wonder if EveryPlate is more expensive than buying groceries.

To find the cost difference between each plate And cooking from scratch, you priced a two-meal-to-serve account for Grocery cost needed to make exactly the same recipes. The difference was about a packet, and maybe closer to that, if you factor in the gas needed to get to the store.

Here’s how I got those numbers and what I learned about them meal kit Cost and value in 2023.

Meal kit in front of a grocery store

EveryPlate (Meals for 2) EveryPlate (Meals for 4) Grocery Store Meal Cost $7.48 $6.50 $5.44

Are meal kits more expensive than buying groceries?

If you’ve ever wondered which meal kits are more affordable than shopping for all the groceries yourself, you’ve done the math. While some meal kit services are still comfortable in the splurge category – sun basket And green chef to name two – The cheapest meal kits Around the clock about $5 or $6 a service.

After calculating the difference in cost between shopping for groceries and ordering meal kits for two recipes provided through the budget-friendly meal kit service, each plate, only a measly dollar separates the two ways to dine. The perception of meal kits as a splurge on an extravagant date may be more myth than fact.

How did you do the math

To calculate the cost of meal kits versus grocery shopping, I took two EveryPlate recipes and priced the ingredients. To keep things consistent, I used the cheapest results that populated FreshDirectthe popular online grocery delivery service here in the Northeast.

Since spices are generally sold in 1- or 2-ounce bottles, I divided the cost by 20 since each bottle of seasoning contains approximately 20 servings. The same goes for ingredients like sour cream and soy sauce, which are also sold in larger quantities. You’ve roughly divided the total cost by how much you need to make for each recipe.

How much does a meal kit service like EveryPlate cost?

EveryPlate is one of the cheapest meal kit services out there, with most plans About $5 a service. For a meal plan for two people and three meals per week, $5.99 per meal is a little more. I used a file More expensive two-person plan To compare with the cost of buying your groceries. There’s also a flat $9 shipping cost which I split across the three meals. When all is said and done, EveryPlate will cost you $7.48 for a two-person plan. Choose meals for four and it only costs $6.50 per meal.

EveryPlate is my favorite budget meal kit service and will set you back about $7 a service when you factor in shipping.

each plate

How much will meal kits cost if I buy individual groceries?

Below is a breakdown of what the two are EveryPlate recipes It will cost you if you buy the groceries yourself. These prices are calculated from FreshDirect In April 2022. I did not include the delivery fee for the grocery service or the gas cost required to get you to and from the store. It is also worth noting that the prices of the groceries listed below are much lower than what i find at local markets in brooklyn.

Scrambled Pork Chops with French Fries and Carrots (2 servings)

Carrots (12 ounces): $1.50, five Yukon gold potatoes: $1.50, one yellow onion: $0.90.
Two green onions: $0.50
Two 5-ounce pork chops: $4.93
One bottle of concentrated chicken stock: $0.60
Cayenne pepper: $0.20
Sour cream (4 ounces): $1.50

Total: $11.13

Meal cost: $5.56

EveryPlate offers approximately 15 weeknight meal recipes ranging from comfort classics to lean and healthy.

each plate

Cherry Meatballs with Zucchini and Garlic Mashed Potato (2 servings)

Five Yukon gold potatoes: $1.60 White bread (two slices): $0.50 One zucchini: $1.50 Ground beef (8 ounces): $4.30 Cherry jam (1 ounce): $0.85 Garlic powder: $0.10 Sour cream (4 ounces) Soy sauce (1 ounce): $1.50. An ounce: $0.50

Total: $10.85

Meal cost: $5.42

I loved all of the meals I tried when I tested the EveryPlate, but the hoisin meatloaf was my favorite of the group.

David Watsky/CNET

How much does a meal kit cost more than buying groceries?

When compared to the cost of buying all the necessary groceries at the store, EveryPlate works out to about $2 more per serving. If you were to opt for one of the four-person rationing plans, that would be more than a dollar. So, it’s pretty much a wash.

At the end of the day, it’s the convenience you pay a little extra for. But if you choose a budget-friendly service like EveryPlate or Dinnerly, those little extras hardly become anything at all.

What about environmental cost, packaging and waste?

There is no doubt that meal kit services use more plastic than if you were to buy your own groceries. However, cheaper services have found ways to cut costs. In many cases, that means using fewer packaging.

The inside of HelloFresh ships with its mostly recyclable packaging.

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EveryPlate, for example, is one of the more environmentally friendly services I’ve tried. The company puts all of its products and other components into one cardboard box, while others pack each component separately, which leads to more waste. Most of the packaging, including the cooler box and ice packs, is recyclable.

On the flip side, because meal kits generally give you exactly what you need per meal and no more, you’re less likely to have food waste. Who hasn’t gotten rid of those last few ounces of a bowl of sour cream or a few useless onions before they fade away?

What about other meal package services?

EveryPlate is the cheapest meal kit service, besides dinner. The most expensive fashion – sun basketAnd green chef And Martha Stewart and Marley Spoon – cost approximately $10 or $13 for a meal. The added cost is generally due to premium ingredients such as grass-fed beef and organic produce. With these, you will find a greater delta between the cost of the meal kit and the cost of preparing the meal at home. Services like HelloFreshAnd blue apron And Head chef They fall somewhere in the middle with meal kits ranging around $9 and $10 a serving.

Not interested in cooking at all? I’ve tested all the big guys to find Best takeaway services in 2023.

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The best portable projector of 2023

$548 at Amazon

Anker Nebula Mars II Pro

Best mini portable projector overall

$300 at Amazon

Anker Nebula Capsule

Best mini projector with battery

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I didn’t realize projectors could be so great outdoors until I tried one. The best portable projectors are easy to set up in any room of your home or in the great outdoors (or at least the great outdoors). Don’t worry about image quality: projectors have come a long way.

Whether you’re projecting onto a blank wall or a projector screen, you can capture the picture quality you crave without the bulk. They also offer quite a few connectivity options, incl WifiAnd HDMI port And bluetoothThey usually run on batteries. Several small monitors can give you access to files NetflixAnd Amazon Prime VideoAnd Disney PlusAnd Hulu and others broadcast services without the need to connect a flow device or laptop.

Portable projectors are included with some flaws, althoug. One is that many of them are relatively dim, lacking the traditional brightness home theater projector. Meaning, they can’t project a big picture like adults. Another is that most portable projectors, especially the cheaper ones, often have lower resolutions than their larger counterparts, in particular 4K projectors. If you’re not going to be far from the outlet, a standard projector will give you a much bigger, brighter, and better picture for the same money. But if you want something compact, portable, and possibly battery-powered, here are our top picks for the best mini projector.

Jeffrey Morrison/CNET

The Mars II Pro is our favorite portable projector here because of its light output, overall picture quality, ease of use, and affordable price. This portable device is a bit larger than most of the other portable projectors here, but it’s still small enough to hide perfectly under a six-pack of Coke.

The built-in 12,500mAh battery is good for three and a half hours, which is longer if you run it as a Bluetooth speaker. There are built-in apps, some of which consider the Mars II a portable device, which means you can download content to its 8GB internal memory for offline viewing. And the synthetic leather strap makes holding the outdoor projector in place very easy.

Read our Anker Nebula Mars II Pro review.

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Jeffrey Morrison/CNET

I like the overhead projector better but the AAXA P6X is my pick when money is tight. Not only is it less expensive than the Anker above, it’s also brighter with superior battery life. This mini projector fits in my hand, creates a 720p image, and has a massive 15,000mAh battery. HDMI input and USB connection allow you to connect and play a file running stick. Stick connectivity is important because AAXA lacks built-in apps.

Light output is impressive for its size and price, about 50% more than the Anker Mars II Pro, although its contrast ratio is slightly lower. The internal battery should last about 90 minutes in the mini-projector’s brightest mode, and an impressive 240 minutes in Eco mode—maybe a little less if you’re also powering a streaming stick. The internal speaker isn’t great, but there is a headphone jack that you can connect to a portable speaker.

Read our review of the AAXA P6X.

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Jeff Morrison/CNET

The Xgimi Halo Plus is a little big to really be considered “small”, but it is rather small. “Portability” is probably the more accurate description. It displays a 1080p image and has a battery that lasts two and a half hours. It has Android TV built in, so streaming is much easier than on many other mobile devices. It works much better than most mini projectors, but it’s also much larger and costs a lot more.

Read our Xgimi Halo Plus review.

Jeffrey Morrison/CNET

Unlike many of the other projectors on this list, the AAXA P8 can’t run on a battery—you need to plug its own power adapter in—but it’s so small, bright, and cheap it makes it stand anyway. There are certainly less expensive projectors out there, but nothing we’ve seen at this price or less, with the exception of the Vimgo P10, is worth recommending.

The P8 is tiny, about the same overall size as the Anker Capsule (which houses a battery), though it’s rectangular rather than cylindrical. It is noticeably brighter than the capsule. It even has a few streaming apps built in, as well as an HDMI port for connecting an external source. Image quality is ok but for the size, price and relatively high light output it’s hard to pass up.

Read our AAXA P8 review.

Jeff Morrison/CNET

Anker Nebula Capsule is smaller than a soda can, but it can make a big picture. Well, maybe not “big” but “TV-sized” for sure. It’s neither bright nor particularly loud, but it’s great for something that fits in your pocket. Other options here offer a better, brighter picture, but if size is your main concern, the Capsule looks better than you might expect for its price and stature.

Note that you can save $30 now at Amazon by activating the instant coupon on the product page.

Read our Anker Nebula Capsule review.

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Jeff Morrison/CNET

The Vimgo P10 fluctuates between $170 and $270, in the same ballpark as our favorite cheap projector, the AAXA P8. It’s much larger than the P8, the largest cheap projector we’ve already tested, which makes it a little less portable. However, it’s still “tiny” compared to more expensive full-size projectors.

Image quality is better than the P8 in some ways, and worse in others. The Vimgo P10 has a great contrast ratio and decent brightness, but the color is noticeably awful. The center of the image is noticeably sharper and brighter than the rest of the image. It’s not cool.

But the price. Viewable picture perfect, and now you can get it for $230 when you activate the instant coupon on the product page. Plus it has Netflix built in. The main downside is that, like the P8, it lacks a battery.

Read our review of the Vimgo P10.

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Other products we have tested

Anker nebula portable solarWe didn’t like the Solar Portable like the BenQ GS50, Xgimi Halo Plus, or even its sibling, the Mars II Pro. Its main drawback compared to others on this list is its relatively dim image, which means it can’t display a large image and still look good. If you want a sleek, budget-friendly 1080p portable and plan to keep the picture on the small side, this is a solid choice. Read our Anker Nebula Solar Portable review.

BenQ GS50: The GS50 is roughly the same size as the Xgimi Halo Plus, and it’s also 1080p and has a built-in battery. You can even use it as a bluetooth speaker. However, it is weaker than Xgimi Halo Plus for similar money. Read our BenQ GS50 review.

LG CineBeam PH30N: LG PH30N is very small compared to other portable projectors, even smaller than AAXA. However, it’s not particularly bright, and it doesn’t have built-in apps. The battery does not last as long as the AAXA although it is a bit cheaper. Read our LG CineBeam PH30N review.

Samsung Freestyle: an interesting cylindrical little freestyle idea, but it comes in short. About the size of a Bluetooth speaker, and in fact double as one, the Freestyle can pivot on its stand to project an image at any height onto walls and even the ceiling. The built-in broadcast is implemented much better than most portable projectors. However, it lacks a battery and its performance is average at best. Even worse, its price is 50% higher than it should be based on its looks and performance. Read our Samsung Freestyle review.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2: Another relatively expensive mini-projector we didn’t like, the Xiaomi one at least has a great Apple-like design. We appreciated the small size, 1080p resolution, and built-in Android TV streaming, but the cons outweigh the pros. It’s relatively dim, especially for the price, and it lacks a built-in battery and USB power supply compatibility, so it’s not really portable. Read our Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 review.

Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4KIt has a small handle and size, the Cosmos Laser 4K is technically portable, but it’s hardly small at just over 10 pounds. There is also no battery, so you’ll need to plug it in. It’s nice and bright, but the other downsides — lack of zoom, average overall image quality and the steep price for what you get — keep it off this list. Read our Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K Projector review.

BenQ HT2050The HT2050 isn’t technically a portable projector at all, but it’s compact and about the same price as one of the more expensive “portable” options. Its picture is also much better in all respects, so if you’re looking for a projector for use around the house, or maybe in the backyard, and it doesn’t need battery power, it’s worth considering. Read our BenQ HT2050 review.

How we test portable projectors

Every projector we review goes through detailed objective and subjective testing. CNET editors select the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.

Read more: How CNET tests projectors

questions and answers

What makes a mini projector different from a full size projector?

The biggest difference is the light output. Traditional full-size projectors can get much brighter than any portable mini projector. Most portable projectors use an LED lamp, while full-size projectors contain either UHP lamps (which are basically high power light bulbs) or laser light sources. Projector light output is measured in lumens. The brightest portable projectors we’ve reviewed measure around 350 lumens, while a traditional home theater projector measures 1,500 lumens or more.

A bright projector can produce a larger image, and it looks better when there is some ambient light. For this reason, dim portable projectors are best enjoyed with smaller images and in as dark an environment as possible.

In addition to brightness, mini projectors are much smaller (of course), can run on battery power and usually include a built-in streamer and decent speakers. Traditional projectors have more lens adjustments, including focus, magnification, and lens shift, and can run louder.

Are all mini projectors portable?

In that you can take them places with you, sure, but some are more or less portable than others. Mini projectors range in size from very small pico projectors like the AAXA P8 to models like the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K that have a handle, and are described as “outdoor” but are expensive and heavy (10.7 pounds) and require a large backpack to carry around. Many portable projectors contain batteries, but some do not, especially the cheaper models.

Should I connect a mini projector?

It depends. Many portable projectors have built-in batteries that can run for two or three hours before needing to be plugged in. Some can also be connected to external USB battery packs that allow them to operate without plug-in power. On the other hand, many smaller portable projectors, especially the cheaper ones, don’t include a built-in battery or work with battery packs. They will need to be wired to work.

Can you watch Netflix on a portable monitor?

Yes. Many mini projectors have a built-in streamer that allows them to display Netflix and other streaming services when connected via Wi-Fi. For projectors that do not have a built-in stream, you will need to connect another device flow devicesuch as a Roku or Fire TV Stick, to the display’s HDMI input to stream Netflix and other services.

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Get up to 50% off Hiboy electric scooters at Amazon

If you want a fun, comfortable, and eco-friendly way to get around, investing in a drivable electric car is a good idea. Electric bikes It has grown in popularity in recent years as a faster alternative to walking or using public transportation. And while it can be an expensive purchase, you can find good deals if you shop around. Right now, Amazon has a selection of Hiboy electric scooters discounted by up to 50%. We don’t know how long this offer will last, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later.

While there are many great options out there now, if you’re looking for a distance, you’ll want to check out Hiboy S2 Max. It has an LED display that keeps you updated on your speed, battery life, and more, plus it reaches speeds of up to 19 mph and has an impressive range of 40.4 miles per charge. Another great feature is its foldable design, which makes it easy to store in the trunk or carry on public transportation. It’s normally $1,100, but now you can snag this scooter for $550—that’s a 50% discount. Just be sure to clip the coupon on the page to unlock the full savings.

If that’s a bit of overkill for your needs, you can get by with a S2 Pro, which has the same top speed and up to 25 miles of range for just $400—that’s a $500 savings with this on-page coupon applied. And to get the absolute lowest dollar price on an electric bike, clip the coupon on the page to Hiboy S2And you can get it for $300. It has a limited range of just 17 miles, but if you’re cruising across campus or taking another short trip, it’s a budget-friendly option. Make sure to shop around Choose a whole sale to check out other available options.

Are you looking for electric bicycle instead of? Be sure to check out our report on the The best e-bike deals Available now to find a budget-friendly option for you.

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Best Desktop Computers for 2023: Apple, Dell, HP and More

$549 at Amazon

Apple Mac Mini (M2 or M2 Pro)

Best cheaper alternative to a MacBook or iMac

$2,796 at Amazon

HP Envy 34 All-in-One PC

Best big screen desktop computer (Update: Out of stock)

$416 at Amazon

HP Chromebase AiO 22

All-in-one for Chrome fams or fans

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In this article:

Modern laptops and tablets may be great for those on the move, but you just can’t beat the power and efficiency of a desktop computer. Only one-fifth of computers sold these days are desktops, but once you see what the right desktop has to offer, you’ll realize they’re worth considering. 

The best feature of most desktop PCs is their upgradability and longevity. Not only are desktops built more solidly, but they suffer far less wear and tear than a conventional laptop. You can often get a decent bit more power and expandability than you could from a laptop, including higher-end graphics cards and more storage options. That processor power and storage potential are particularly crucial if you’re planning to use your personal computer as a gaming PC or a graphics-editing powerhouse. 

A desktop computer is generally going to come in the form of either a tower or an all-in-one (with an integrated screen), though there are smaller designs (sometimes called “small form factor PCs”) like the Mac Mini for tighter spaces. 

Though laptops still occupy the majority of our editors’ time and effort with CNET’s hands-on reviews, we’ve rounded up recent products to bring you our top desktop computer options, listed below. This list starts with models we’ve tested, and then moves on to more general configuration suggestions that we haven’t specifically tested, but  the specs listed should deliver considerable value for the price, based on our experience with similarly configured PCs. 

Unless otherwise indicated, the products listed below don’t include a monitor, keyboard, mouse or webcam. You’ll need to bring your own or buy them separately. We’ll update this best desktop computer list periodically.

Desktop PCs: Tested and recommended

These are the best desktop PC models that we’ve recently tested and can recommend based on our hands-on experience.

Lori Grunin/CNET

Now available in a new, more powerful version, the Mac Mini desktop is one of Apple’s longest-standing product lines, dating back to 2005 (in a pre-Intel version), a year before the first MacBook. All these years later, it retains the same basic shape and appeals to much of the same audience. Unlike Apple’s MacBook Pro and Air laptops, or the iMac desktop, the Mini is designed to work behind the scenes, fitting into small spaces and pairing with your choice of display and input devices. 

At $599 (£649, AU$999) to start, the Mini remains the least expensive way to get a MacOS computer by a large margin. The relatively ancient M1 MacBook Air from 2020 is the closest competitor price-wise, at $999. The M2 Pro version of the Mac Mini starts at $1,299.

Read our Mac Mini review

Joshua Goldman/CNET

While we like all-in-ones for their convenience, they’re not easy to upgrade, if they can be at all. Dell’s XPS Desktop is compact and quiet enough for a small workspace but can be loaded with a 12th-gen Core i9 processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti graphics card, up to 64GB of memory and 4TB of storage — and there’s still room inside for more. And if you have modest needs now, but want the room to add in components down the road, the base XPS starts at under $800. However, if you do plan to upgrade down the road, spend a little extra for its 750- or 1,000-watt power supply. Want to spend a bit less? Check out the more affordable desktop computer options recommended further down the page.

Read our Dell XPS Desktop 8950 review

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Lori Grunin/CNET

Both Apple and Microsoft have discontinued their bigger-screen all-in-one desktops, so as one of the sole remaining premium big-screen options (as far as I can tell), the HP Envy 34 AIO is almost the best choice in that class by default.

It’s a fine system with a nice 34-inch display and some useful features, like a magnetically attachable webcam and Qi charging pad in the base, although you’re paying for pretty and not for performance (but it does have a laptop-version Nvidia 3060 GPU). We like the HP Envy 34 AIO, and it certainly feels like a nice home or traditional office system for people who need big screens in a small space.

Read our HP Envy 34 review. 

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Introduced in 2021, this fully redesigned iMac is still Apple’s current go-to all-in-one (note that the larger 27-inch iMac has been discontinued as of March 2022). It’s built on the same M1 chip found in many of Apple’s computers, with a gorgeous 24-inch screen replacing the previous 21.5-inch version. The 1080p webcam is a big upgrade, and the rainbow of available colors — hearkening back to the 1999 iMac G3 — is a welcome addition. Just be prepared to spend up for the myriad storage and accessory upgrades.

Read our 24-inch Apple iMac review

Origin PC

If you’re dissatisfied with the lack of configuration options available for prebuilt gaming desktops, going with a custom builder is the best way to sate your appetite. The $5,000-plus price of this custom-configured system fully decked out is too rich for, well, most people’s blood. And many people don’t need everything maxed out, even for gaming. But you can get reasonable configurations for about half the price of my evaluation unit. 

Origin PC builds good, solid systems. Unless you’re looking for something dirt cheap, you’ll be able to put together something you like at a price you tolerate.

Read our Origin PC 5000T review 

Richard Peterson/CNET

The Mac Pro has long been the top dog in Apple’s computer lineup, but the current version is an aging Intel model that starts at a whopping $5,000. By comparison, the new-for-2022 Mac Studio is powered by the latest, greatest Apple silicon chips — the M1 Max or M1 Ultra — and starts at less than half that price. It’s basically a Mac Mini on steroids, and — for anyone who doesn’t want to wait for the eventual Mac Pro revision — it’s your best bet for running creative-centric Mac apps, including animation, graphics, video-editing and audio-editing software. 

Read our Mac Studio review.

Josh Goldman/CNET

Compact all-in-one desktops make good centralized family computers. The HP Chromebase takes it a step further by pairing one with the simple and secure Chrome OS — the same operating system found on the Chromebooks your kids are probably using at school. With a 21.5-inch touchscreen attached to a gray fabric-covered base, the desktop looks like a supersized version of Google’s own Nest Hub smart display (and with Google Assistant baked in, you can use it like one, too). Inside, though, is up to an Intel Core i3-10110U processor, up to 16GB of memory and up to a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD. The full-HD display even rotates vertically, perfect for viewing vertical videos, following recipes or scrolling your favorite sites.

Read our HP Chromebase AiO 22 review.

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Other recommended desktop PCs

We haven’t reviewed the specific models below, but we have reviewed systems using very similar hardware. These general configurations should serve you well, especially if you shop around for frequent deals.

Basic Windows PC tower (starting around $620)

The specs we’d suggest for a basic Windows 11 machine:

Intel Core i5 (12th  or 13th-gen) or AMD Ryzen 5 (3000 or 5000 series)Default integrated graphics (such as Intel UHD or Iris or baseline AMD Radeon)512GB or larger NVMe SSD drive
16GB of RAM or more 
Four or more USB 3.1 or 3.2 ports with USB-C and USB-A formats (at least one or two on the front)
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless
At least one PCI-E (x16) expansion slot (for adding a video card)
Optional: DVD or Blu-ray optical drive (only if you need it for legacy software or media)

With those specs in mind, you should be able to find a good PC tower from brands like Dell, Acer, Asus or HP for between $500 and $600. Here are some that fit the bill, offering a great bang for the buck if you don’t need a laptop:

Acer Aspire TC-895-UA92 (under $650)
Aside from a slightly older 10th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU, this configuration otherwise includes everything listed above, along with Wi-Fi 6 compatibility and a keyboard and mouse, too. 

HP Pavilion Desktop TP01-2040 (under $700)
This system offers a capable AMD Ryzen 5 CPU, and HP throws in a mouse and keyboard.

PC tower for light gaming and creative duties (starting around $900)

Want to do some PC gaming, or do you spend time editing photos or video? You’ll want to level up the preceding configuration with more RAM and better graphics options. Expect price points to be between $800 and $1,200 — and even higher if you go for a more bleeding-edge video card.

Nvidia GTX/RTX or AMD Radeon RX graphics card (GPU)16GB of RAM or more350-watt (or more) power supply

Looking for a gaming computer with more muscle? Check out our list of best gaming PCs.

HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop (under $1,000)
This HP rig boasts an 11th-generation and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU and 16GB of RAM. 

Basic Windows All-in-One (starts around $800)

An “all-in-one PC” (also known as AIO PC) is basically a Windows version of an iMac. That means the PC “guts” are essentially built into a monitor or its base. Unlike the PC towers listed above, all-in-ones generally offer no ability to upgrade the graphics card, and maybe not even the storage or RAM. The advantage is having fewer cables, however, since everything is integrated into the body.

Recommended specs for an all-in-one are mostly similar to the basic tower above, albeit with compromises because of space considerations. Don’t expect an optical drive, for instance, and know that performance is often a step down from “real” desktop models because some all-in-ones use laptop components to better maximize available space. You’ll want a large screen with good resolution. The sweet spots we’d suggest are:

24 inches at 1,920×1,080 pixels (aka 2K or 1080p)27 inches at 2,560×1,440 pixels (aka 1440p)32 inches at 3,840×2,160 pixels (aka 4K)

The 24-inchers are good for kids, but adults should probably go for 27 inches and up. Expect to pay at least $800 at that latter size, especially if you want to avoid underpowered Intel Core i3 or AMD Athlon CPUs. The HP Envy 32/34 and Apple iMacs are examples of high end all-in-one computers, but here’s a more reasonably priced alternative.

Acer Aspire C27-962-UA91 (starts around $600; low stock) 
While the screen on this Acer Aspire model is a spacious 27 inches, resolution is only 1080p (also known as full HD) — but that’s par for the course below $1,000. This model also lacks a DVD drive and USB-C ports. That said, you get a 10th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU, on-board Nvidia MX graphics (not as good as a GTX or RTX card, but better than average), 512GB of SSD storage and a built-in webcam (along with a keyboard and mouse).

HP All-in-ones (recommended models starting at $800)

Back in early 2020, we reviewed the HP Envy 32, a Windows take on the basic iMac design. At that time, it had somewhat dated specs: a ninth-gen Intel CPU and a spinning hard drive backing up the 256GB solid-state drive. The 32-inch model appears to have been discontinued, but HP maintains a stable of current models in 22- to 27-inch screen sizes, with a new $2,000 34-inch HP Envy 34 now living at the top of the line.

What about a Mac Pro?

James Martin/CNET

While you’re paying a big premium for the Apple name, an iMac is generally a great option for Apple fans who want an all-in-one computer with a superior display. And now that the 24-inch iMac has gotten a nice overhaul, complete with the M1 chip, that’s a great starting point. And while the 27-inch iMac is no more, the new Mac Studio starts at $2,000, and offers some serious power, especially if you ramp up to the M1 Ultra chipset. 

Need even more power? While Apple has a Mac Pro living at the top of its desktop line, the current model is an aging Intel design, which the company has already pledged to replace with an Apple Silicon version. If the Mac Studio can’t handle your high-end Apple needs, we’d strongly recommend steering clear of the Mac Pro until that new version hits. 

Chromebox, Mini PCs and other niche options

When it comes to desktop PCs, towers and all-in-ones represent the vast majority of the market. There are alternatives, but in the 2020s, they generally represent increasingly narrow slices of that market.

Left to right: The HP Mini, Acer Revo, Intel Compute Stick and Apple Mac Mini. The Mac is the only one that’s been recently updated.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Mini PCs: Following the debut of the Mac Mini in 2005, Windows PC makers experimented with similarly tiny designs. In the wake of likable small models like the Acer Revo One and HP Pavilion Mini, we even saw (woefully underpowered) “PC on a stick” offerings starting in 2015, but interest seems to have ebbed since then. Outside of specialty vendors like Beelink, the best choices in this mini PC size are probably the Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing), most of which are sold as hobbyist options, requiring some BYO additions like user-supplied storage, RAM and other components — including the operating system. See more bare-bones Mini PCs at Newegg.

Chromeboxes: If you’re looking for very basic computing — browsing the web, email, social media, YouTube and the like — the Chrome operating system is the most affordable route for home computing. This Google operating system effectively is little more than the Chrome web browser. That makes it easy for multiple users (only a Gmail address is needed to log in), and — because there’s no heavy operating system beyond the browser — viruses aren’t really an issue. Colloquially known as “Chromeboxes” (versus a “Chromebook” laptop), these systems don’t have beefy CPUs, RAM or storage requirements. That said, if you need any software beyond browser-based web apps, or if you don’t have excellent broadband, you’ll want to stick with Windows or Mac options above. Now, before you spend any money, you should check out the free version of the operating system known as ChromeOS Flex, which you can install on most old PCs (including running it from an attached USB drive). But if that’s not an option and you want to buy new, expect to pay between $200 and $500 for a Chrome-based desktop. However, the closer you get to that $500 price point, the more you should consider stepping up to a Chromebook laptop or a basic Windows tower (see above) for just a bit more. See Chromebox options at Newegg.

Linux PCs: No, Windows, Mac and ChromeOS are not your only operating system options. There’s a wide world of Linux operating systems out there, many of which are effectively free. You can get PCs with Linux preinstalled, but the better, more affordable option is probably installing it (or dual-booting) on a used Windows PC. See Linux PC options at Newegg.

Raspberry Pi: You may have heard of a small computer that’s no bigger than a paperback book, and can be had for about $150. That’s the Raspberry Pi, and it’s 100% real and very cool — if you’re a hobbyist looking to build your own Lego-style computer and install your own custom Linux operating systems. We just wouldn’t recommend it as a primary computer if you’re looking to run mainstream software. See the Raspberry Pi 4 kit at Amazon.

Best laptops in every category

The review process for laptops, desktops, tablets and other computer-like devices consists of two parts: performance testing under controlled conditions in the CNET Labs and extensive hands-on use by our expert reviewers. This includes evaluating a device’s aesthetics, ergonomics and features. A final review verdict is a combination of both those objective and subjective judgments. 

The list of benchmarking software we use changes over time as the devices we test evolve. The most important core tests we’re currently running on every compatible computer include: Primate Labs Geekbench 5, Cinebench R23, PCMark 10 and 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra. 

A more detailed description of each benchmark and how we use it can be found in our How We Test Computers page. 

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