Top Products in Two Decades of Tech Reviews

Walt Mossberg on the dozen personal-technology products that were the most influential over two decades of reviews.

News Byte

Microsoft to Hold Its Build Developer Conference April 2-4 in San Francisco

Microsoft confirmed that it plans to hold its next major Build developer conference April 2-4 at Moscone Center in San Francisco, the same spot that it held the event last year. “As always, Build is a time to bring developers together to talk about our latest products, platform advances, tools and offerings, all of which come together to create unmatched apps and scenarios,” VP Steve Guggenheimer said in a blog post.

Microsoft Looks to Woo Shoppers With $199 Tablet, 12 Days of Deals

In the first of the 12 daily deals, Microsoft will offer Dell’s Venue 8 Pro for a significant discount off its already fairly modest $299 price tag. The first 20 customers at retail stores will pay just $99.

With Steam Machines on the Horizon, Valve Makes Its Linux Love Official

“People shouldn’t underestimate the Linux community’s desire to have gaming on the platform, and for it to be insanely good.”

Dell Tablets at Bargain Prices

The Dell Venue 7 is a heck of a buy for a brand-name Android tablet, says Walt Mossberg, but if you can spare more money, you’ll get a better experience in a more expensive small tablet.

The Laptops to Buy

There’s good news for laptop buyers, Walt says: The confusing changes in the sagging laptop industry have settled down enough that now may be the time to buy one.

When You Don’t Want a New Start

Microsoft’s new Windows 8.1 will now let users bypass the new Start screen and boot right into the usual Windows desktop. But the setting to do this can be tricky to find.

Microsoft Says Not All Windows 8 Apps Can Run on Xbox One

Redmond says Dell’s website has it wrong … but maybe not entirely wrong.

Microsoft Releases Fix for Surfaces Bricked by Windows RT 8.1 Update

Still no word on when Windows RT 8.1 will return to the Windows Store.