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Ultimate guide to SSDs (plus reviews of 7 new drives!)

Jon L. Jacobi has worked with computers since you flipped switches and punched cards to program them. He studied music at Julliard, and now he power mods his car for kicks.
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Installing an SSD in your PC, be it a laptop or a desktop, is one of the easiest and most effective ways to boost the machine’s overall performance. The change won't be merely noticeable—it will startle you. Your system will boot more quickly, windows and menus will jump open, and programs and data will load much, much faster.

In case you don’t know what an SSD is, the acronym stands for solid-state drive—that is, solid-state as in no moving parts, and drive as in the fact that an SSD appears as a hard drive to your computer. But instead of storing data on one or more spinning platters, an SSD writes and reads data to and from nonvolatile flash memory. In addition, an SSD contains a controller that's analogous to the memory controller in your PC’s CPU or core-logic chipset.

Many vendors sell SSDs, but the devices are far from equal. Flash memory and controller technology have both advanced so quickly that what was fast last year is now second-class. The drives you might find in the bargain bin will be faster than a consumer-grade mechanical hard drive, but they won't deliver the astounding performance boost you'll be looking for after you read this article.

To get the skinny on state-of-the-art consumer SSDs, we brought seven drives from five vendors into the PCWorld Labs and put them through the wringer. We tested Corsair’s Neutron and Neutron GTX drives; Kingston's HyperX 3K; OCZ's Vertex 4 and Vector drives; Samsung’s 840 Pro; and the SanDisk Extreme. We also retested Intel’s 240GB Series 335 SSD using our new benchmarking procedure (if you're curious, read our original review). Each drive delivers either 240GB or 256GB of storage, which is the current sweet spot in terms of price and performance. Each drive we tested proved to be a solid performer that will offer a significant boost over whatever conventional drive your machine has now. Some drives, however, are definitely faster than others.

If you’d like to upgrade a computer equipped with an older second-generation SATA interface (which maxes out at 3 gigbits per second), note that we also checked out the Apricorn Velocity Solo x2, an add-in card that upgrades any computer with an available PCIe 2.0 x2 slot to the newer SATA 6-gbps standard.

But before we dive into those reviews, here’s a primer on SSDs that will tell you everything you need to know about this technology.

The memory/interface controller proved to be a major factor in determining each SSD's performance. Three of the drives we tested use a SandForce SF-2281 controller: the Kingston HyperX 3K, the SanDisk Extreme, and the Intel Series 335 (the controller firmware on this drive is tweaked to Intel’s specifications). OCZ’s Vector and Vertex 4 drives both use OCZ's proprietary IndiLinx controllers, namely the Everest 2 in the Vertex 4 and the Barefoot 3 in the Vector. Corsair is blazing a path with its Neutron series drives (the GTX and Neutron) by using Link A Media's LM87800 controller. Samsung's 840 Pro utilizes the company's proprietary MDX controller.

As you'll see in our performance chart, drives with the IndiLinx, Link A Media, and Samsung MDX controllers boasted significantly faster write speeds than the SandForce-based competition. In fact, counterintuitively, each of the five drives using those controllers wrote faster than they read. The SandForce-based drives were all good readers, but their comparatively slower write speeds dragged down their overall scores.

On the next page (scroll down past product-reviews for the link), I'll discuss memory types, interfaces, and how we measured performance.

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Android Phone Updates: A Comprehensive Guide

Want to know whether your smartphone will ever be updated? This chart shows all currently available Android phones, as well as any that have been confirmed to receive the next major version of the Android operating system. The chart is arranged alphabetically by carrier, and we will update it regularly whenever a new phone is released or a new version of Android is announced.

If you're interested in learning how the different carriers and manufacturers fare against each other when it comes to issuing Android updates, check out our companion story, "Android Phones: Which Companies Do the Best Job With Android Updates?"

DEVICE NAMECarrierCurrent Android versionNext major updateSourceScheduled to receive Ice Cream Sandwich, but no time frame givenScheduled to receive Ice Cream Sandwich, but no time frame givenScheduled to receive Ice Cream Sandwich, but no time frame givenScheduled to receive Ice Cream Sandwich, but no time frame givenDEVICE NAMECarrierCurrent Android versionNext major updateSourceScheduled to receive Ice Cream Sandwich, but no time frame givenDEVICE NAMECarrierCurrent Android versionNext major updateSourceScheduled to receive Ice Cream Sandwich, but no time frame givenDEVICE NAMECarrierCurrent Android versionNext major updateSourceTo be determined by August 2012None scheduled, but Verizon claims the phone is upgradable to Android Ice Cream SandwichScheduled to receive Ice Cream Sandwich, but no time frame givenN/A = Not available

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The Gamer's Guide to the iPad

Apple's OS X isn't exactly a gamer's paradise. But the same can't be said about iOS--especially when it comes to the iPad. In some ways the iPad is the perfect gaming handheld: It has great battery life, and games are cheap. But before you run out to give Apple all of your money, there are a few things you should know before using the iPad as a gaming device.

Choosing an iPad

There are a few different iPad models, each with their own set of strengths and weaknesses. Do you get a Wi-Fi only version, or do you spring for a model with LTE? Will 16GB be enough, or do you plan on downloading hundreds of games? Should you buy the latest iPad, or pick up an older model on the cheap? These are all questions you'll need to ask yourself before you make your way to the Apple Store.

A 16GB Wi-Fi only model of the latest generation iPad will set you back about $499 (before taxes), with the 32GB and 64GB versions going for $599 and $699, respectively. The new iPad has a high definition Retina display, and apps optimized for a Retina display will require more storage than their standard definition counterparts did. Consider your budget and go for the iPad that has the largest amount of storage that is within your price-range.

If you can't rationalize spending over $500 on something you're just primarily using for mobile gaming, then you might want to consider picking up an older generation model instead. Apple is currently selling the iPad 2 for $100 less than the new iPad. Other online retailers might still have some extra stock of the first generation iPad left that you can pick up on the cheap. What you lose in specs and extra features, you make up for by getting a tablet while still having enough money left over for rent, and a few apps. Be warned: Some games won't run on the first generation iPad, and those performance limitations will only grow.

The new iPad can connect to 4G LTE networks, meaning you'll be able to download games and play online while away from a Wi-Fi connection. A new iPad with a cellular connection will set you back an extra $130, and you'll have to choose whether you want to use a Verizon or AT&T. Both networks are fast, and plans are pay-as-you go so you can turn on and off the service whenever you need it. If you plan on play a lot of multiplayer games far from a Wi-Fi connection, you'll want to get a plan with at least 2GB of data. Verizon offers 2GB for $30 while AT&T will give you 3GB for the same price. But if you are never far from a Wi-Fi connection, then a Wi-Fi only model should still fill your needs.

Game Center and Achievements

In iOS 4, Apple added Game Center to their iDevices. Game Center keeps track of games you played, and compares your progress to your friends'. Game Center is also lists achievements you've earned while playing games. Achievements work in the same way that they do on the Xbox 360: After completing a task in game, you'll get a small notification telling you which achievement you've unlocked. Each achievement is worth a certain amount of points, but not all games will have achievements. You can tell which games in the App Store are compatible with Game Center, thanks to an icon that appears under the game's price.

The Games

There are over half a million apps in the App Store--a good chunk of which are games. Every game genre under the sun, from casual games to first-person shooters, are available to download the moment you connect online. Some games will cost you between $0.99-$20.00, but a handful of games are free. Here is a breakdown of games you'll want to check out for your new iPad.

Asphalt Racing

Asphalt 6: Adrenaline plays a lot like Need For Speed.If you're looking for an arcade-style racing game, look no further than the Asphalt series by Gameloft. Similar to Need For Speed, you'll participate in a variety of race modes, picking up power-ups to give you an edge over the competition. The more races and crazy stunts you pull off, the more money you earn that can be put towards new cars. Feeling confident? You can challenge your friends in local multiplayer or take on the world in online races.

Asphalt 6: Adrenaline HD | Price: $0.99

Real Racing

Real Racing is great for car enthusiasts. For the car enthusiasts that want a more serious racing experience, Real Racing by Firemint should be your first stop in the App Store. With 30 real world cars, stunning visuals, and a variety of tracks, Real Racing is the closest you'll get to Forza on the iPad.

Real Racing 2 | Price: $2.99

Modern Combat

Modern Combat 2 will have you schlepping around taking out bad guys.While not as cinematic as Call of Duty or Battlefield, Gameloft's Modern Combat series does a decent job at keeping up with the big boys. You'll shoot your way through a variety of set pieces in the campaign mode, then take your skills online to show off how good you are at getting headshots. There is even DLC in the form of extra multiplayer map packs.

Modern Combat 2 | Price: $6.99

Shadow Gun

Shadow Gun uses the same cover mechanics you'd find in Gears of War.One of the best third-person shooters on the iPad, Mad Finger's Shadow Gun has all the makings of an epic. You'll explore huge levels, fight your way past waves after waves of bad guys, and take down massive bosses. The latest update added an expansion pack, giving you another adventure once you finish the main storyline. No multiplayer in the iPad version quite yet, but chances are we'll see it in a future update.

Shadow Gun | Price: $4.99

Final Fantasy 3

Final Fantasy 3 still holds its own after all these years.The most expensive game on this list, Square-Enix's Final Fantasy 3 should need no introduction. Redone with 3D visuals, Final Fantasy 3's gameplay still holds up in an era where games like Skyrim and Mass Effect 3 take center stage. But it's still the classic, Japense role-palying game we've grown to love. Final Fantasy 3 may cost a lot more than most apps, but it is definitely worth the price of admission.

Final Fantasy 3 | Price: $16.99

Civilization Revolution

Civilization Revolution on the iPad lets you conquer the world.Another game series that most gamers should be familiar with is Sid Meier's Civilization. The turn based strategy game works extremely well on the iPad, allowing you to quickly get a game going or resume where you left off. You still have a wide variety of leaders you can choose to lead your civilization, everyone from Abraham Lincoln to Cleopatra, and you'll sink in a lot of hours leading your people to victory. Besides, what other game lets you have the Aztecs develop battleships?

Civilization Revolution | Price: $5.99

Infinity Blade 2

The sequel to Chair's best-selling hit, Infinity Blade 2 is even better than the original.Chair has done it again with Infinity Blade 2. This hack and slash action adventure RPG will have you fighting off enemies of all shapes and sizes in your quest to rid yourself of the infamous Infinity Blade. If you played the first one, you know you're in for countless of hours of gameplay coupled with breathtaking graphics. Once you've been through the campaign once or twice, try out the Arena for even more challenges.

Infinity Blade 2 | Price: $6.99

Superbrothers: Swords and Sworcery EP

Swords and Sworcery is a feast for the eyes and ears.It's difficult to describe Capybara Games' Swords and Sworcery. One part adventure game, one part amazing soundtrack, I often found myself just sitting there listening to the music rather than actually playing the game. Once you're done being mesmerized by the awesome music, you'll be poking around the 8-bit landscape, looking for the right path to take or the puzzle to solve that will allow you to continue in your adventure. The game is short, but Swords and Sworcercy is a must have for any iPad owner.

Superbrothers: Swords and Sworcery EP | Price: $4.99

Triple Town

Triple Town is addictive but don't let your town be overrun by bears.Forget Angry Birds and Cut the Rope, Triple Town by Spry Fox is the new hotness when it comes to casual games. The premise couldn't be more simple. You build a town by matching three similar objects. Once matched, those objects merge into a new item and you get points. While the items that are created don't make very much sense (how do three trees become a house?), the challenge comes from having to deal with the bears (and ninja bears) that get in the way of your matchmaking. Triple Town is the perfect example of a game that is easy to learn but difficult to master.

Triple Town | Price: Free

Beat Hazard Ultra

Lady Gaga's voice is deadly in Beat Hazard Ultra.Beat Hazard Ultra is a twin-stick shooter that uses music to dictate the gameplay. The louder and more intense the music, the more powerful your weapons become and the more bad guys you'll have to face on screen. The game comes with several original tracks for you to play around in, but the real fun comes from using your own music. If your iPad is too full of games and doesn't have any music on it, you can also connect to one of several online radio stations that play different genres of music.

Beat Hazard Ultra | Price: $1.99

We only covered a fraction of the games available in the App Store and there are loads more to be discovered. If you have a favorite game that you think everyone should play, feel free to leave it in the comments below.

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How to Use Pinterest: Step-by-Step Guide

Like the hottest clubs in town, you can’t just join Pinterest. Since it’s currently in beta, interested Pinners will have to secure an invite. This might be easier said than done, however. 

When we attempted to snag an invite by clicking the “request an invite” button and entering our email address, we received an email informing us that we successfully landed on the waiting list with no word on how soon we’d gain access behind Pinterest’s velvet rope.

We eventually gained admission from Ben and the Pinterest Team.

However curious visitors can score an invite from friends already using the service.

 

Once you receive your invite, click on the included link. A new page will open inviting you to join Pinterest using Facebook Connect or your Twitter account.

From there, enter your screen name, email, and password in the corresponding fields and click the Create Account button.

To complete your profile, mouse over the tab with your screen name in the upper navigation bar.

On your Pinterest page, you’ll see a list of all your boards with your profile details and recent activity in the left column. Hit the Edit Button to access your Profile Details page.

On the Profile Details page you can make changes including name, location and a short bio.You can also upload a picture and link your Pinterest accounts to your Twitter and Facebook accounts. Facebook users can also add Pinterest to their Facebook Timeline status updates by checking the Timeline box in their Profile Settings.

So now you’re on Pinterest, what’s next? You can either spend countless hours checking out all the varied, interesting pins other users have posted or you can create a profile, find friends to follow and create a board and post some pins of your own.

Pinterest displays some of its most recent and interesting pins on the homepage. Users can simply scroll down to see what the site has to offer. Mousing over an image will provide a few options including Repin, Like and Comment. 

Clicking on an image brings up a larger pop-up image. In addition to the picture, user comments, recent pins, total number of pins and total likes are displayed. Social media mavens can share their finds via provided links for Facebook and Twitter along with an embed code for blogs. There’s also a Report Pin button for inappropriate content.

During your time on Pinterest, you’re bound to come across some images you want to share with others while some you’ll just want to give a thumbs up to show your appreciation. 

Hitting the Like button on a pin will leave a notification on a friend’s timeline about your approval. It will also post a notification to your Facebook Timeline if that feature is enabled.

Repinning means that you’re taking an image from someone else’s board and posting it to one of your own. Similar to Liking, notifications will be sent to both parties when an item is repinned.

Chances are you’ve already got a few friends using Pinterest. To find and follow their boards and pins, go to your profile tab in the upper right corner. Mouse over the tab and select the Find Friends option.

From there, Pinterest will display a list of friends that are already on Pinterest from your Facebook and Twitter accounts.

You can also invite friends by clicking the Invite Friends tab where you can invite a maximum of four friends in one invite.

Following People on Pinterest

Unlike Facebook or Linked In which require you to file a friend request to access all of users’ updates, Pinterest boards are 100 percent public so you can follow complete strangers. To follow a user, you can click on her name, board  or pin. Clicking on a  person’s name will take you to her Pinterest page, where you can view all her boards, current activity and profiles. You can also be specific with your follows. Instead of following every board a person has on their profile, you can pick and choose which boards you wish to follow. 

To follow a board on the main Pinterest page, simply click on it. You’ll be taken to a full view of the board where you can Follow/Unfollow the board or Like it on Facebook. You can also click on the board’s author’s name in the left corner to visit their main page.

Clicking on a pin causes a large pop-up box featuring the image, the board it appears on and the original Pinner (if applicable) will appear. Click the Follow button to by the person’s name to follow that person and their recent activity. If you want to follow that person’s board, or the original pinner, click the corresponding Follow buttons next to their names.

Sure Pinterest is cool to look at and getting people to repin your pins is awesome, but what does that get you in the long run? Some companies have put their pins to work establishing or strengthening their brands.  Mashable, Etsy, and General Electric are good examples.

One way to foster brand continuity is to link your Pinterest account to your blog with the Follow button. The button connects the blog or website to Pinterest providing additional content. Pinterest provides four different styles of Follow buttons for websites.

After clicking the About tab in the top navigation bar, select the Goodies tab on the left side of the screen. Scroll down to the Follow Button section and select your button choice. Copy the code and paste onto the site where you’d like it to appear.

Users can make their sites pinnable by placing Pin It buttons on their pages. Simliar to Facebook’s share buttons, adding a Pin It button will make it easier for readers to share your content with their Pinterest followers.

Users can create a custom Pin It button on the Goodies page. Simply add the webpage’s url, the url of the image you want to appear with the pin, and a brief description. Users can also choose to show the Pin Count, the number of pins an article has amassed. After configuring the Pin, simply copy and paste the HTML code the tool generates into the appropriate place on your site.

To enable faster pinning, Pinterest has created a Pin It button for your web browser. Conveniently located in the Bookmarks bar, the Pin It button compiles every viable image on the page.

 To add the button to your web browser, first go to the Settings menu in your web browser and enable the Show Bookmarks Bar option (CTRL + Shift + B in Chrome). On Pinterest, mouse over the About tab in the top navigation bar and click Help. Next click the Goodies tab along the left side of the page. From there, drag the Pin It button up to the Bookmarks Bar.

Although Pinterest says that the button is Google Chrome exclusive, we were also able to get it to work in Mozilla Firefox.

Ready to start pinning? Simply click on the Add+ tab in the navigation bar. A new window will appear with options to Add a Pin, Upload a Pin, and Create a Board.

Select Create a Board and a window appears with a few selections. First off, name your board and try to make it something compelling that describes the board’s subject matter. Next choose a Board Category from the 33 pre-listed categories or choose Other to create your own category.

Next, choose who can pin to your board. If you want friends to have pinning rights, click Me + Contributors.  Enter the name or email of the contributor and hit add.

To keep pinning rights to yourself, click Just Me. After everything has been selected click the Create Board button.

If you’ve added the Pin It button to your web browser, click whnen you are on a page with an image you wish to pin. A list of available images will appear in your browser. You can then mouse over the desired image and click the blue Pin This button.

A pop-up window will appear with the chosen image, a dropdown menu of your available boards and a description field. If you are not already logging into Pinterest, you will be asked to supply your credentials.

After entering all the necessary details, simply click the Pin It button and the pin will appear on the designated board.

You can upload photos from your laptop by clicking the Add+ tab in Pinterest and selecting Upload a Pin.

Next choose the image file you wish to post. Pinterest will generate a preview image in a new window. From there, you can choose which of your boards the pin will appear on by selecting the board’s title in the dropdown menu. Once complete, click the Pin It button to post the pin.

Users can also copy and paste to create a new pin. Select the Add+ tab and choose Add a Pin.

After finding and copying the desired image’s url, simply click Add a Pin. From there, paste the url into the empty field and click Find Images.

Next select the image, chose which board it’s being pinned to and hit Pin It.

See a pin on someone’s board that would look better on one of yours? Simply mouse over the image and click the Repin button. Next choose which board you want the pin to appear on and press Pin It.

As you check out other Pinners boards, you might run across a pin with a price tag displayed across the top right corner. To add a pricetag to your pins, simply place a $ or £ symbol before the price in the description field. Hit the Pin It button to post the pin.

Although Pinterest primarily handles photos, you can also pin video as well. Similar to images, video can be added to a board by copying and pasting the video link, uploading the file, or pressing the Pin It button installed on the Bookmarks Bar.

Editing Boards/Pins

On second thought, maybe that “Sweetest 80’s Mullets” board wasn’t that good an idea. Editing boards and pins is pretty straightforward.

To begin editing boards, go to your Pinterest page where each board will feature a large edit button.

Click the Edit button to open the Edit Board page where you can change the board’s title, description, contributor status and category. You can also delete the board entirely.  After the changes have been made, click the Save Settings button to see the new improved board.

Click on the board with the pin that needs to be edited. On the board page, mouse over the the offending pin and click the Edit button.

On the Edit Pin page, users can edit the description, image link and board. Similar to boards, pins can also be deleted using the Delete Pin button. Once the changes have are complete, simply click Save Pin to view the updated pin.

Aside from posting interesting content, part of being a successful Pinner is being a polite Pinner. With that said there are a few things to keep in mind.

Give credit where it’s due. Include a little note saying where an image comes from if Pinterest doesn’t display the link’s source.Keep your content PG-13. Pinterest doesn’t allow nudity or hate speech. This rule also extends to commenting on other people’s content. Keep comments clean and tasteful. If you see something questionable, hit the Report Pin link next to the pin in the pop-up window.Don’t post too often. As with most social networking sites, too much self promotion can potentially lower your credibility and damage your brand.

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