Articles by Mark Tyson, News Editor

Mark's enthusiasm for computers dampened at an early age by the rubber-keyed Sinclair Spectrum 48K and feelings of Commodore 64 envy. However, in the mid-80s, hope in a digital future was rekindled by the purchase of an Atari 520 STe. Since that time Mark has used a multitude of computers for fun and professional endeavors. He often owned both Macs and PCs but went cold on the former after OS9 was killed off, and warmed to the latter with the introduction of Windows XP.

Early work years were spent in artwork and reprographics but in the late noughties, Mark started to blog about computers, Taiwanese food culture, and guitar design. This activity led to a full-time position writing about breaking PC tech news for HEXUS, for the best part of a decade. When HEXUS was abruptly closed, Mark helped with the foundation of Club386, before finding a new home at Tom's Hardware.

When not wearing through the keycap legends on his PC keyboards, Mark can be found wandering the computer malls of Taiwan's neon-lit conurbations and enjoying local and international cuisine.

Articles by: Mark Tyson

These PC systems were more than slightly overpriced

$175,000 computer server package acquired by mayor flagged as suspicious due to an apparent 1,300% markup

By Mark Tyson published 30 August 25

A recently elected mayor has brought to light a suspiciously expensive computer systems deal, which was signed, sealed, and delivered by their predecessor.

ATI R300 GPU on a Medion Radeon 9600TX card

20-year-old ATI Radeon GPUs are still getting driver updates and extensions — old ATI Radeon R300 GPUs receive Linux updates from the community

By Mark Tyson published 30 August 25

Two-decades old ATI Radeon R300 GPUs get updated Linux driver love.

Windows 8.1 graphics get bit-crushed into working in 40-year-old EGA graphics mode — less than half-megapixel display mode is limited to 16 colors

By Mark Tyson published 30 August 25

Tech enthusiast gets Windows 8.1 to install on a system restricted by the ancient (1984) EGA graphics standard.

LaserWeeder packs two dozen Nvidia GPUs and lasers to zap your weed problem, vaporizes ‘600,000 weeds per hour' with sub-millimeter precision — instant laser death for pesky weeds

By Mark Tyson published 28 August 25

Nvidia has revealed a surprising partnership with an agricultural robotics company whose flagship product deals instant laser death to fields full of weeds.

Pilot’s 50-minute in-flight conference call with tech support failed to avert $200 million F-35 fireball — pilot ejected and suffered only minor injuries

By Mark Tyson published 28 August 25

Thank you for calling Lockheed Martin, please hold

Orphaned Linux drivers for floppy disks gets first patch of any significance in three years - cleanup effort implies floppies spared the axe for a few more years

By Mark Tyson published 27 August 25

Linux gets it first floppy disk driver patch in three years.

Passively cooled Ryzen AI Max+ 395 PC uses entire chassis as a 10-pound heatsink — talented builder turns Framework Desktop mainboard into a silent, powerful work of PC art

By Mark Tyson published 26 August 25

An SFF enthusiast has been documenting their progress in planting a Framework Desktop's Ryzen AI Max+ 395 mobo into a passively cooled chassis.

Logitech MX Ergo trackball - DIY improvements

Enthusiast accidentally spends nearly $300 modifying 2017 Logitech MX Ergo trackball to fix flaws — appears to have missed 2024 upgrade that solved nearly all of its foibles

By Mark Tyson published 26 August 25

Trackball enthusiast decides to build 'the mouse Logitech won’t make.'

Linux is 34 years old today — Linus Torvalds meekly announced this free new OS in the comp.os.minix newsgroup on this day in 1991

By Mark Tyson published 25 August 25

On this day 34 years ago, an unknown computer science student from Finland humbly announced that a new free operating system project was 'starting to get ready.'

Console repairer encounters Xbox 360 that Microsoft banned over 'bad debt' from unpaid bills — Microsoft MVP chimes in with an elegant official solution

By Mark Tyson published 25 August 25

A Microsoft Xbox 360 console that refuses to play due to ‘bad debt’ has raised more than a few eyebrows.

Prisoner laments reliance on floppy disks for appeals documents, limiting file sizes to 1.44 MB — prisoners allowed 20 floppy disks in cell, but USB flash sticks are banned in New Jersey system

By Mark Tyson published 25 August 25

A prisoner has complained about his legal appeals being stymied by ancient 'like 1985' computer resources.

UltraRAM scaled for volume production — memory that promises DRAM-like speeds, 4,000x the durability of NAND, and data retention for up to a thousand years, is now ready for manufacturing

By Mark Tyson published 25 August 25

Efforts to commercialize UltraRAM have made a significant stride forward with the development of a scalable new industrial process.

Sam Altman and UK government minister reportedly discussed giving ChatGPT Plus to all Brits for free

By Mark Tyson published 24 August 25

However, insiders say the potential £2b (~$2.7b) cost for the government was prohibitive.

Microsoft's Windows 95 release was 30 years ago today, the first time software was a pop culture smash

By Mark Tyson published 24 August 25

Microsoft’s momentous Windows 95 operating system became available to the public on this day 30 years ago.

‘Still, you’re paying for dinner,’ Nvidia CEO shoots back after TSMC CEO jokes about his $4 trillion NT net worth

By Mark Tyson published 24 August 25

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is back in Taiwan for weighty negotiations with contract chipmaker TSMC, but still had some fun.

Japanese city pushes two-hour daily smartphone limit to promote healthier sleep for its citizens, particularly school-age children

By Mark Tyson published 23 August 25

A city in central Japan is considering regulating smartphone use to improve the health of its citizens.

Commodore raked in over $2 million during the new C64 Ultimate's debut week — roadmap will include three major releases a year

By Mark Tyson published 23 August 25

The new Commodore is already thriving with $2m in sales in the first week of the C64 Ultimate's debut.

Samsung Odyssey gaming monitors at Gamescom

Samsung expands Odyssey G7 series with 37 and 40-inch gaming monitors — VA panels offer up to 5120 x 2160 at 180 Hz

By Mark Tyson published 21 August 25

Samsung is at Gamescom showcasing the latest large format additions to its Odyssey G7 gaming monitor series

Doom runs surprisingly well on Anker Prime Charger — 150 MHz CPU and decent screen results in 'better than expected' FPS per mAh

By Mark Tyson published 21 August 25

Classic Doom 'works better than expected' on an Anker charger.

Full-sized A1200 Amiga remake spotted on display — A1200 will come with a port of The Settlers 2 that took 30 years, and a working keyboard

By Mark Tyson published 21 August 25

Retro Games Ltd is showcasing The A1200 at Gamescom 2025, over the next few days.

Battlefield 6 cover art showing a combat scene

Intel offers up Battlefield 6 bundle with qualifying CPU or GPU purchase — free game promotion ends September 7

By Mark Tyson published 19 August 25

Intel has joined forces with EA to gather conscripts for its new Battlefield 6 bundle.

Researcher downloaded the data of all 270,000 Intel employees from an internal business card website — massive data breach dubbed 'Intel Outside' didn't qualify for bug bounty

By Mark Tyson published 19 August 25

Security researcher Eaton was inspired to do some gentle prying of Intel websites, after considering the company's hardware security reputation.

Hardcore fan celebrates Alien: Earth by building a fully-working M314 Motion Tracker replica — DreamHAT+ Radar module and Raspberry Pi is effective up to 15 meters, complete with sounds and a display

By Mark Tyson published 18 August 25

Electronics hobbyist Rob Smith has built a ‘fully working M314 Motion Tracker’.

UK’s Royal Navy tests 40-foot submarine drone which can be operated from ‘the other side of the world’

By Mark Tyson published 17 August 25

A large new submarine drone, dubbed Excalibur, can be controlled while it is 'submerged on the other side of the world.'

The first commercial Compact Disc was created 43 years ago, today — nearly one billion CDs were shipped per year in early 2000's

By Mark Tyson published 17 August 25

Today marks 43 years since the first commercial compact disc (CD) pressing. Polygram in Germany is credited with pressing the first copies of Abba's The Visitors on this date, back in 1982.

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