All posts tagged: pcs

Xbox Project Helix to Cost ,200 and Rival High-End Gaming PCs

Xbox Project Helix to Cost $1,200 and Rival High-End Gaming PCs

Published by skeptic

Xbox’s Project Helix represents a bold step in gaming hardware, blending console and PC functionalities into a single hybrid device. According to Colt Eastwood, the system is expected to launch with a price range of $1,000 to $1,200. “Boy that escalated quickly, I mean that really got out of hand fast”. Relying on third-party manufacturing rather than traditional in-house production. Notable features include AMD’s RDNA 5 GPUs and a high-performance APU, which aim to match the capabilities of gaming PCs typically priced between $2,000 and $3,000. This approach highlights Xbox’s effort to cater to both console and PC gamers within a unified platform. Explore the balance between Project Helix’s premium pricing and its promise of full backward compatibility with the Xbox library. Learn how licensing its chipset to third-party manufacturers could introduce diverse configurations and price points to the market. Understand the challenges Xbox faces in positioning this hybrid device as a viable option for gamers across different ecosystems. What Makes Project Helix Unique? TL;DR Key Takeaways : Xbox Project Helix aims to merge console …

Framework Has a Better, More Take-Apart-Able Laptop

Framework Has a Better, More Take-Apart-Able Laptop

Published by skeptic

Framework, the company that makes laptops designed for optimal repairability, announced a new version of its main product, a 13-inch screen laptop. It’s called the Framework Laptop 13 Pro, and it has far better battery life, a touchscreen, a haptic touchpad, and is fitted with Intel processors. At an event in San Francisco today, Framework CEO Nirav Patel showed off the company’s new tech, opening with a joke about making Framework AI—something the company is very much not doing. Framework’s whole thing, after all, is aiming to give users control over the physical tech they use. “That industry is fighting for you to own nothing, and they own everything,” Patel said about the AI industry. “We’re fighting for a future where you can own everything and be free.” Framework used the event to detail other updates coming to its 16-inch laptop. It also showed off previews of an official developer kit and a wireless keyboard for controlling your rig from the couch. Framework 13 Pro The Framework Laptop 13 Pro. Courtesy of Framework As the …

The best mini gaming PCs of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed

The best mini gaming PCs of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed

Published by skeptic

PCs have been through a number of evolutions in terms of size. They have transformed from hulking machines to something about the size of a hardback book that still packs enough power to handle demanding workloads. The same has happened with gaming PCs. With their increased power and cooling demand, it’s amazing just how much can fit into such a small package. Also: The best gaming PCs you can buy If you don’t have the space in your life for a huge gaming rig, a mini gaming PC can still deliver the power you need. For April, I replaced all of the entries with mini PCs from well-known brands including HP, Dell, and Raspberry Pi. Get more in-depth ZDNET tech coverage: Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome and Chromium browsers. Best desktops deals of the week Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article. What is the best mini gaming PC right now? I chose the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 as the best …

Microsoft Surface PCs Are Getting Big Price Hikes, and the Cheaper Models Are Going Away

Microsoft Surface PCs Are Getting Big Price Hikes, and the Cheaper Models Are Going Away

Published by skeptic

If you’ve been waiting for Microsoft to update its Surface PC lineup—perhaps with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X2 Elite processors—I’ve got bad news for you. Microsoft is shaking up its PC lineup, but it’s doing so by instituting big price hikes. This means you’ll be paying at least $1,500 for Surface devices that launched at $1,000 just two years ago and that Microsoft no longer offers new Surface devices under $1,000 at all. The 12-inch Surface Pro tablet that originally started at $799 and the 13-inch Surface Laptop that launched at $899 now cost $1,049 and $1,149, respectively, a $250 price increase. The higher-end Surface Laptop and 13-inch Surface Pro from 2024 both started at $999 but increased to $1,199 in 2025 when their entry-level versions with 256 GB of storage were discontinued; both now start at $1,499, a $300 increase. As originally reported by Windows Central, Microsoft is blaming “recent increases in memory and component costs” for the price hikes. Supply shortages for RAM and storage chips in particular have been wreaking havoc with consumer tech all …

Microsoft Raises Prices for All Surface PCs, Making Them More Expensive Than Equivalent Macs

Microsoft Raises Prices for All Surface PCs, Making Them More Expensive Than Equivalent Macs

Published by skeptic

Microsoft increased prices for all of its Surface PCs this week, with most models priced hundreds of dollars higher than they were when launching. Windows Central highlighted the increases, which now see Microsoft’s mid-range models priced above $1,000 and flagship models priced starting at $1,500. A Microsoft spokesperson said the price increase was due to “recent increases in memory and component costs.” Microsoft’s 12-inch Surface Pro, which was its cheapest modern PC at $799, is now priced starting at $1,049. The flagship 512GB 13-inch Surface Pro is $1,499, up from $1,199 when it launched in 2024 (Microsoft also discontinued a $999 256GB configuration). The 13-inch Surface Laptop went from an $899 starting price to a $1,149 starting price, while the 13.8-inch model went from $999 to $1,499 and the 15-inch model went from $1,299 to $1,599. The 13-inch Surface Pro and the 13.8-inch and 15-inch Surface Laptop models originally launched in 2024, and Microsoft did increase prices for them in 2025, so this is the second price increase. The 13-inch Surface Laptop and the two …

The Surprising MacBook Neo Competitor You’ve Never Heard Of

The Surprising MacBook Neo Competitor You’ve Never Heard Of

Published by skeptic

The MacBook Neo made quite a splash when it landed in March. $599 for a MacBook felt groundbreaking, and it was easy for casual onlookers to declare that Windows laptops had no true answer to it. But what if I told you there was a Windows option that was better in almost every way? That’s the HP OmniBook 5, a laptop you’ve probably never heard of unless you watch the space closely. I’ve been recommending it ever since I tested it last month. The price has been fluctuating, but more often than not, the 14-inch model was selling for $500. You read that right: $500. Today, the cheapest, most consistent price you’ll find it for is $730 over at Walmart, but I’ve seen the HP frequently drop the price from $1,050 down to around $500. And just take a look at what you get for the price, because it’s absolutely stacked. It comes with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, double what you get on the $599 MacBook Neo. There’s a 16-inch …

The Surprising MacBook Neo Competitor You’ve Never Heard Of

The HP OmniBook 5 Is a MacBook Neo Killer, and It’s Only $500

Published by skeptic

The MacBook Neo made quite a splash last month. $599 for a MacBook felt groundbreaking, and it was easy to say that Windows laptops had no true answer to it. But what if I told you there was a Windows option that was better in almost every way? That’s the HP OmniBook 5, a laptop you’ve probably never heard of unless you watch the space closely. I’ve been recommending it ever since I tested it last month, and the price has fluctuated. But today, it’s only $500, and that buys a stacked configuration with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. That’s twice the memory and storage of the $599 MacBook Neo. It’s also powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X, a highly efficient chip that gets great, all-day battery life that’s at least on par with the MacBook Neo. The HP OmniBook 5 Is Only $500 Now, I know what you’re thinking. Specs don’t tell the whole story, and Apple has never been known for offering tons of specs for cheap. But the …

Best MacBooks (2026): Neo, Air, or Pro?

Best MacBooks (2026): Neo, Air, or Pro?

Published by skeptic

All of Apple’s processors are scattered throughout different MacBook models, and you can find older models at specific third-party retailers online, either completely new or refurbished. If you do stumble upon its older chips (which came out four years ago), you might be wondering how they compare to other options. We break down the differences between each one. M5 Series M5: The M5 chips are the latest options from Intel, having started in late 2025 on the launch of the 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro. The base M5 still has up to a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, although there’s also a lower-tier 9-core CPU that’s available in the iPad Pro. The M5 is around 10 to 15 percent faster in CPU performance, but also takes a significant step up in GPU, AI workloads, and even storage speed. Like Apple’s mobile chips, the M5 is now available on the MacBook Air as well. M5 Pro: Available exclusively on the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros right now, the M5 Pro comes with up …

Windows might be hiding some of your PC’s storage by default – here’s how to reclaim it

Windows might be hiding some of your PC’s storage by default – here’s how to reclaim it

Published by skeptic

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 11 Aura Edition Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Have you ever noticed how your PC’s storage never quite seems to add up? Part of that is because Windows reserves a small portion of your storage for system files. A feature called Reserved Storage quietly sets aside 5GB to 10GB on your SSD for update files, cache, and temporary files.  It’s not as nefarious as it sounds — there’s a rationale behind allocating space to streamline updates — but you may want to get that space back, especially if you have a smaller SSD and space is tight.  Also: Do yourself a favor and stop buying these cheap SSD drives flooding the market Most users with 512GB or more of storage don’t need to mess with these settings, but if you really want to maximize your SSD, Windows lets you disable Reserved Storage.  Start here first  If you’re hurting for space on your local drive, there are several other options I recommend exploring first — many …

Don’t ignore your desktop PC’s empty M.2 slots – they’re more useful than you think

Don’t ignore your desktop PC’s empty M.2 slots – they’re more useful than you think

Published by skeptic

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Most desktop users have at least one M.2 slot in their PC.  These slots aren’t just for storage.  Options include upgraded internet bandwidth and additional USB ports. I’m not sure who needs to hear this, but if you have a desktop PC in 2026, you’re probably not using its M.2 slots to their fullest potential. If it’s from the last five to ten years, chances are you have unused M.2 slots that could be put to use with additional accessories.  M.2 slots aren’t just for NVMe SSDs; they can enable devices for several different purposes, including a faster Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection, a USB port expansion, or an extra GPU. With a little investment, one or more of these devices can significantly improve the value of your PC. Also: The best M.2 SSDs of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed M.2 slots connect directly to your motherboard’s PCIe lanes, which are several orders of magnitude faster than older interfaces like SATA. They’re also …