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Lance Whitney

Contributor

My Experience

I've been working for PCMag since early 2016 writing tutorials, how-to pieces, and other articles on consumer technology. Beyond PCMag, I've written news stories and tutorials for a variety of other websites and publications, including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Macworld, PC World, Time, US News & World Report, and AARP Magazine. I spent seven years writing breaking news for CNET as one of the site’s East Coast reporters. I've also written two books for Wiley & Sons—Windows 8: Five Minutes at a Time and Teach Yourself Visually LinkedIn.

My Areas of Expertise

I've used Windows, Office, and other Microsoft products for years so I'm well versed in that world. I also know the Mac quite well. I'm always working with iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and Android on my various mobile devices. And these days, I write a lot about AI, so that's become another key area for me.

The Tech I Use

My wife always jokes about all the tech products we have around the house, but I manage to put them to good use for my articles. I like Lenovo computers, so I own a couple of Lenovo desktops and several laptops. I have three MacBooks and a Mac mini. For my mobile life and work, I use an iPhone 16 Pro, iPad Pro, and iPad mini as well as an Apple Watch. But since I write about Android, I own several Android phones and tablets. Like any tech person, I have a cabinet full of cables, wires, and assorted mysterious gadgets. And when it's time to take a break from writing, I have an old Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, both of which I use for exercise and fitness games.

Recent Articles by Lance Whitney

Ready to Recycle? How to Properly Prepare Your PC for Disposal

Before you recycle or resell your old PC, there are several steps you should take to preserve your data and privacy, from transferring software to wiping your machine.

By Lance Whitney
Recycle PCs

4 Ways to Upgrade to Windows 11 for Free, Even With an Incompatible PC

Whether or not your Windows 10 computer is eligible for a Windows 11 upgrade, there are a few ways to jump to Microsoft's newer OS without paying for it.

By Lance Whitney
laptop with windows 11 wallpaper

Don't Speak the Language? How to Use Google Translate, Gemini to Translate

Google's Translate and Gemini apps can translate text and images in dozens of languages

By Lance Whitney
Google Translate app

How to Automate Your Life With Apple's Shortcuts App

With Apple's Shortcuts app, you can quickly and easily run a host of tasks on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch.

By Lance Whitney
Apple's Shortcuts

Abobe Acrobat Pro Too Expensive? Here's How I Password Protect PDFs (For Free)

Don't let your sensitive data fall into the wrong hands. These tools encrypt important PDFs without the need to spend hundreds of dollars on the full Adobe Acrobat program.

By Lance Whitney
person in front of a laptop with document images that are locked