Stand and deliver

Is your chair bad for you? Here’s how to fix it.

Are videogames ruining your life? Probably not: or at least not in the Daily-Mail-approved, Keith-Vaz-baiting, won’t-somebody-think-of-the-children sense usually suggested by the question. But there’s another activity that goes hand in RSI-crippled hand with playing games, and it’s more pernicious than endlessly worrying about your Hearthstone deck or getting too emotionally invested in The Sims. The problem, of course, is sitting down itself. The solution? It’s the same one favoured by Ernest Hemingway, orchestral conductors and Britain’s greatest ever wartime prime minister. But more on that in just a second. First, the science bit.

Intel DC S3500 Series 800GB

Intel have two distinct SSD product lines: the 730 series (aimed at the home or light use consumer) and the DC S series (geared towards the commercial users). In reality, though, the line between business and home use can be extremely thin, which is why we decided to include this model in the high capacity group.

This drive, then, is an 800GB, 2.3" form factor SSD, utilising 20nm MLC NAND and a custom Intel controller, is built for endurance and longevity rather than blistering performance with extreme capacities. Indeed, the projected endurance capabilities of this drive are really quite impressive, when compared to the other drives on test. A two million hour mean time between failures rating, and a lifetime write rating of 450TB certainly speaks of its datacentre heritage. However, the model above this - the S3700 Series - claims a lifetime endurance of 14.5PB (yes, you read that right: 14.5 Petabytes), so considering both share roughly the same kind of technology, you can rest assured you're in good hands and that that’s probably a conservative prediction.

How-to Basics Choosing Free Anti-virus Software

Need protection for your PC but don't want to spend anything? Read on...

Unfortunately, we live in a world where it's nearly impossible to connect to other computers and visit websites without picking up nasties that can affect our own computer.

It doesn't matter if you're using Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android or any other modern operating system; you can guarantee that some little oik out there has developed a bit of code that will vandalise your setup and create untold havoc.

Thankfully, we have anti-virus programs to help combat and prevent such nasties from entering our system, or if they do, they can quickly be quarantined and dealt with. Many of these programs cost a few pounds, and if you're on a tight budget you could be left unprotected. However, there are many that are free to use and are just as good at protecting you as their paid-for relations. The problem, though, is knowing which one to choose.

Laptop batteries explained

They're essential to any laptop, and often a hot topic.

If there's one thing most laptop owners will agree on, it's that they'd all like a better battery. Poor battery life is the number one frustration laptop users have to deal with, and no matter how careful you are, the battery life gets worse and worse the more you use a laptop. Eventually, they fail to hold a charge entirely, meaning you have to shell out for a replacement - no small expense, especially when you haven't done anything with the battery that it wasn't designed for.

But why is that? And why, when processors, memory, hard drives and screens get better and better every year, does it seem like battery technology is standing still? We've looked into it, and while we may not be able to improve laptop batteries for you, at least we can explain them.

SteelSeries DeX Gaming Mousepad

Mark luxuriates in silicon and textured fabric combo of the SteelSeries DeX.

In my daily work I use an old SteelSeries mouse pad, one of its older S&S designs. Made from a very durable hard plastic, it adheres to my desk with a soft rubberised coating that stops it moving around.

Unfortunately, being at least seven years old, the rubber coating has started to shed like the tire of an F1 car that's done far too many laps.

With perfect timing, SteelSeries sent me its new DeX pad, and what a wonderful replacement it is. The DeX, as you can see in the images, is made from two distinctively different materials that are heat bonded into a single flexible pad. On the underside is a brightly coloured orange silicon surface that has sufficient tack to maintain zero slippage, however aggressively you move your mouse.