Barry Collins
Barry Collins is an experienced IT journalist who specialises in Windows, Mac, broadband and more. He's a former editor of PC Pro magazine, and has contributed to many national newspapers, magazines and websites in a career that has spanned over 20 years.
Today, he's a contributor to Forbes.com, a columnist for PC Pro and ComputerActive, and is the co-editor of BigTechQuestion.com, a site dedicated to helping solve people's tech problems. You may have seen Barry as a tech pundit on television and radio, including BBC Newsnight, the Chris Evans Show and ITN News at Ten.
You can follow Barry on Twitter at @BazzaCollins, or email him at barry@mediabc.co.uk
What's powering Britain’s fibre broadband boom?
Network & Internet
What's powering Britain’s fibre broadband boom?
Expansion in full-fibre infrastructure and many new providers are making it stupidly cheap to get ultrafast internet connections in all corners of the…
3 Feb 2023
How to move Microsoft's Windows 11 from a hard drive to an SSD
Microsoft Windows
How to move Microsoft's Windows 11 from a hard drive to an SSD
Breathe new life into your Windows machine with these simple steps by finding out how to move Windows 11 to another drive
20 Dec 2022
Larger monitors aren't all they're cracked up to be
monitors
Larger monitors aren't all they're cracked up to be
It turns out that upping the size of your monitor brings complications along with the supposed benefits of a higher resolution
3 Dec 2022
Apple must get behind the EU's USB-C decision or be left behind
Hardware
Apple must get behind the EU's USB-C decision or be left behind
Arguments against mandating USB-C in the iPhone are futile, especially because Apple has already included the port in the iPad and MacBook
1 Oct 2022
Market consolidation – like Virgin Media O2 – is proving costly for the customer
Network & Internet
Market consolidation – like Virgin Media O2 – is proving costly for the customer
There’s only one winner when it comes to the consolidation of the broadband and mobile market, and it certainly isn’t the consumer
24 Sep 2022
Windows 11 problems and how to fix them
Microsoft Windows
Windows 11 problems and how to fix them
Seven of the most common Windows 11 problems users encounter - and the steps you can take to fix them
5 Sep 2022
Ransomware: Sometimes you need to pay to make it go away
ransomware
Ransomware: Sometimes you need to pay to make it go away
The symptoms of this distraught data victim sounded an awful lot like ransomware, and it turned out the easiest way out was the most unpalatable optio…
30 Jul 2022
Best business keyboards for 2023: Top choices for homeworkers and the office
Hardware
Best business keyboards for 2023: Top choices for homeworkers and the office
From writers to coders, a good keyboard is a worthwhile investment
26 Jul 2022
Elgato Stream Deck Mk.2 review: Functionality on deck
peripherals
Elgato Stream Deck Mk.2 review: Functionality on deck
A supremely useful set of shortcut buttons that can speed up almost any PC task
21 Jul 2022
Wi-Fi 6E is here – but who actually needs it?
Network & Internet
Wi-Fi 6E is here – but who actually needs it?
The arrival of Wi-Fi 6E is a kick in the teeth for Wi-Fi 6 adopters, and those who recommended it to friends and family
25 Jun 2022
It’s time to ditch software subscriptions
Software
It’s time to ditch software subscriptions
Software firms may have grown addicted to subscriptions, but that doesn’t mean we all need to blindly follow
23 Apr 2022
The ten biggest threats to your Windows PC in 2022
Hardware
The ten biggest threats to your Windows PC in 2022
From malware to a man with a screwdriver called Steve, we round up the biggest dangers to your machine this year
29 Mar 2022
How to speed up Windows 11
Microsoft Windows
How to speed up Windows 11
Is Windows 11 feeling a bit sluggish? Here are some handy tips for tweaking the OS to fit your system
7 Jan 2022
Microsoft Windows 11 review: The more things change, the more they stay the same
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows 11 review: The more things change, the more they stay the same
A welcome change of scenery, but nothing that makes Windows 11 a must-have upgrade
5 Oct 2021
Windows 365 review: Can Windows in the cloud replace your PC?
cloud computing
Windows 365 review: Can Windows in the cloud replace your PC?
A solid start for cloud-based Windows, although not without performance problems
2 Sep 2021
The great telephone switch-off
business communications
The great telephone switch-off
The traditional telephone network is being switched off in 2025. What does this mean for business owners?
27 Aug 2021
Windows 10 vs Windows 8.1: which is best for you?
operating systems
Windows 10 vs Windows 8.1: which is best for you?
We rate Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 in a number of key categories for professional users
29 Jan 2021
Broadband backup isn’t fit for business
broadband
Broadband backup isn’t fit for business
Domestic web connections aren’t built for a nation of homeworkers
21 Nov 2020
Don’t look to the stars for app reviews
Mobile
Don’t look to the stars for app reviews
The fixing of review scores in app stores is a major problem
17 Oct 2020
High-end handsets can take a hike
Mobile Phones
High-end handsets can take a hike
Why I'm no longer be paying through the nose for the latest handset
7 Sep 2020
How to run Windows 10 on a Mac: Bootcamp vs Parallels
virtual desktop
How to run Windows 10 on a Mac: Bootcamp vs Parallels
Here are three of the best ways to run Windows 10 on a Mac
27 Aug 2020
20 new features in Windows 10
Microsoft Windows
20 new features in Windows 10
This spring’s big update and a host of add-ons have brought a wealth of new features to Windows 10
21 Aug 2020
Let’s stick to the software diet
Software
Let’s stick to the software diet
Bloatware is a problem software developers need to deal with
19 Aug 2020
The House of Lords will never bring tech giants to book
IT regulation
The House of Lords will never bring tech giants to book
The multiple ways politicians have tried to regulate social media are uniformly daft
8 Aug 2020
Windows 10 needs to go back to basics
Microsoft Windows
Windows 10 needs to go back to basics
Remote tech support brings home how appalling Windows is when it comes to the fundamentals
11 Jul 2020
Why I’m leading a browser double life
web browser
Why I’m leading a browser double life
There are benefits to using more than one browser
8 Jul 2020
Can I become a coder?
Careers & training
Can I become a coder?
Our fortysomething writer rekindles his childhood passion for coding – but can he teach himself Python from scratch?
27 Jun 2020
Games battles are a taste of things to come
Cloud
Games battles are a taste of things to come
When we’re streaming our desktops, how will we pay for software? The games industry is going through these growing pains now
27 May 2020
Microsoft 365 is more than a name change
productivity
Microsoft 365 is more than a name change
The Office 365 rebranding could be a sign of things to come
16 May 2020
Is your broadband coronavirus-ready?
broadband
Is your broadband coronavirus-ready?
It’s not a stockpile of toilet rolls that you should be investing in to survive lockdown in comfort
29 Apr 2020
Chromebooks are the Benjamin Button of tech
Laptops
Chromebooks are the Benjamin Button of tech
While most tech ages like a bowl of fruit, Google's laptops seem more like a fine wine
29 Mar 2020
Who’s watching you watch them?
privacy
Who’s watching you watch them?
Smart TV services are tracking you more closely than you think
15 Mar 2020
Dear Jon, I’ve gone and bought a Mac…
operating systems
Dear Jon, I’ve gone and bought a Mac…
When making the leap from Windows to Mac, it can be hard to make a smooth transition
9 Mar 2020
Smart motorways aren’t smart enough
smart city
Smart motorways aren’t smart enough
Free sat-nav apps could limit the dangers of so-called smart motorways, says Barry Collins
8 Mar 2020
Recycling our digital waste is too hard
cloud computing
Recycling our digital waste is too hard
We need tools to clear the mountains of data that are building up around us
23 Feb 2020
Why should Mac users pay for Windows?
operating systems
Why should Mac users pay for Windows?
Microsoft's Windows 10 pricing is baffling
16 Feb 2020