Tag Archives: pc

Microsoft 365 Link mini PC streams Windows 11 from the cloud in a secure ecosystem

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Let’s be honest Windows 11 is not perfect, evolving at an agonizingly slow pace. This has pushed many power users down the Apple alley. The recently launched Mac Mini has a lot going in its favor, further creating a deep divide between the Microsoft and Apple options.

As a last-ditch effort to save the glitchy Windows 11 OS and very less options to choose from that bind the hardware and software for a seamless experience, Microsoft has introduced the Windows 365 Link mini PC strictly limited to cloud usage in a walled environment. The portable CPU is targeted towards big organizations and businesses who give a lot of weightage to security and keeping the working environment productive.

Designer: Microsoft

Targeted towards enterprise users

This is the world’s first dedicated “boot to cloud” device that runs Windows 11 OS via the Windows 365 link on the Windows 365 servers. Priced at $349 it is specifically designed to run Windows 365 Cloud PCs, and you need a Windows 365 subscription to get started. That adds another $28 to $315 per month. It’s still not clear whether the mini PC will get the extra perk of a subscription discount as a bundle, but we hope so.

The most popular option for employees is a $66 per month per user with applications including Microsoft Teams and browsers. Include the $349 hardware cost of the Windows mini PC and you’ve got a fat bill of $2,000 for a closed ecosystem with limited applications. Compare that to the $1,300 price tag for the 15-inch touchscreen Microsoft Surface Laptop powered by the Snapdragon X Elite chip and having 256GB storage. Clearly, Microsoft’s compact PC is not targeted towards individual users, and in no way competes with Apple’s powerhouse mini PC.

Security takes center stage

This 120 x 120 x 30 mm desktop PC has a fanless design, and comes with a 3.5mm audio jack, three USB-A ports, one USB-C port, an HDMI port, and a single DisplayPort output. There’s one Ethernet port, WiFi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. The mini PC is designed for specific requirements where workers need to be quickly rotated between workstations and securely access their files. This eliminates the hassle of configuring the user settings and saving time. Also, the PC is ideal for setups where cloud-based software and hardware integration takes precedence.

Windows 365 Link will be available for purchase in April 2025 – that’s a long way off. However, one can enroll for the preview program in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, Japan, Australia, or New Zealand. Interested users can join the program before December 15 with permission from the Microsoft account team.

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Windows on ARM success can drive PC design innovation

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Despite the power that smartphones and tablets have these days, PCs and their Mac equivalents remain the workhorses of the modern world. Not only do they have more power, they also offer more flexibility thanks to decades of research, development, and innovation. Market analysts, however, have long been pointing to the demise of the PC market, especially desktops, and there has indeed been a great deal of stagnation not only in hardware but even in product designs. It’s not that there haven’t been any improvements, just that designs have become predictable and even sometimes forgettable. You can’t, after all, change the design formula too much unless you also drastically change the internals as well. That’s the kind of burst in innovation that awaits the PC market, both laptops and even desktops, if running Windows on the same hardware as smartphones and tablets finally becomes reliable and productive.

Designer: Qualcomm

Rough Start: Microsoft Surface

It’s not like the combination of Windows and ARM-based processors, the same silicon that powers mobile devices, hasn’t been done before, but almost all past attempts have come up short of expectations. Disregarding the antiquated Windows CE and Windows Phone variants, Microsoft has time and again tried to bring the benefits of phones and tablets to PCs without much success. One of the first ones in recent memory is the smaller Microsoft Surface. Although the Surface Pro has become something of an icon today, its base model didn’t enjoy the same level of fame, attention, and sales.

Microsoft Surface RT

Designer: Microsoft

The Surface RT and Surface 2 both ran on ARM-based NVIDIA Tegra processors that were normally quite capable on Android tablets. Even those, however, couldn’t bear the weight of Windows, even the watered-down Windows RT version. To add insult to injury, the apps available for that platform were a dismal number which didn’t include the software that people needed to use on Windows. Thus, these first attempts at Windows on ARM were considered to be abject failures, but surprisingly, Microsoft didn’t give up completely.

Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Fast-forward to today, there have been numerous attempts to improve the situation, both from the hardware and the software side. The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 now has a version that runs an even more powerful ARM Qualcomm processor, and the Microsoft Store has quite a selection of popular apps. There are also some emulation solutions for running “normal” Windows software on ARM laptops and tablets, but that’s not exactly a panacea. All these sound like too much effort for what seems like a niche design, but it’s an effort that could yield a bountiful harvest if it succeeds.

Faster, Slimmer, Cooler

Qualcomm announced last month its new Snapdragon X Plus and Elite processors, and while the “Snapdragon” name is popular for smartphones and tablets, the “X” chips are earmarked for use in Windows computers instead, particularly laptops. Qualcomm boasts numbers that would make the likes of Intel and AMD worry, though it’s also aiming squarely for Apple’s M series processors. That’s definitely a tall order, especially with the launch of the new Apple M4 chip, but if theory proves to be even remotely near the mark, it will be a huge win for the Windows market and PCs in general.

Designer: Qualcomm

The new Snapdragon X Plus and Elite unsurprisingly boast about being able to do heavy-duty generative AI work, something that would require a lot of processing power that is traditionally only available on “regular” laptops and desktops. What would set it apart, however, is how it delivers that performance with lower battery consumption, heat, and space compared to equivalent Intel and AMD processors. It’s too early to say if Qualcomm will be able to deliver those promises, but it’s definitely a big leap compared to previous generations.

ARM-based processors like those from Qualcomm and MediaTek have been used in mobile devices precisely because of these traits. They can keep the product compact without impacting performance, something that laptop makers aim for every year. More importantly, however, these small form factors open the doors to less conventional designs, paving the way for dual-screen, foldable, or rollable PCs that don’t sacrifice their power for the sake of their novel appearance and features.

Thinking Outside the Box

The very first benefit of Windows successfully and smoothly running on ARM devices would be thinner laptops with longer battery lives. It can’t be understated how significant that will be for creatives, especially those who will rely a lot on that generative AI that everyone’s talking about these days. But even if you do much of your designs manually, the idea that you can bring your work anywhere without breaking your back and stay unplugged for more than half a day is going to appeal to a lot of people

Lenovo Yoga Book 9i

Designer: Lenovo

Once that has become the norm, however, it will be time to explore the possibilities that thinner, more compact, or smaller devices can bring. Imagine those handheld gaming PCs becoming thinner and smaller, almost down to tablet or even phone sizes. Admittedly, being able to play just about any PC game is going to be tricky today, but that’s not going to be the case in the future.

And then there are the current novelties like laptops with two screens or foldable displays, designs that have to sacrifice performance for the sake of super thin bodies. It hasn’t arrived yet, but a rollable screen might even become a thing for computers. In other words, Windows on ARM would enable all these forms beyond desktop towers and laptops to become possible without sacrificing too much performance. We seem to be heading in that direction already, but hardware is only half the battle.

Uphill Battle

No matter how powerful ARM chips are, enough to smoothly run Windows, all of that will fall on deaf ears if Windows on ARM isn’t able to support as much as 80% of regular Windows software, including games and especially content creation tools. That was what killed the Surface RT and Surface 2, after all, and things have improved considerably but not yet to most PC users’ satisfaction. One of the available solutions right now is emulation, like making the software or game think it’s running on an Intel/AMD computer, but that incurs penalties in performance.

AYANEO Flip DS

AYANEO Slide

Designer: AYANEO

There are also obstacles to be overcome on the hardware side. As strange as it might sound, PCs are a somewhat open ecosystem when it comes to the variety of things you can plug into a computer and have them working automatically. You lose some of that with Windows on ARM because of compatibility issues, and that might prevent less popular but heavily used peripherals from working, at least not at first. Unfortunately, that might be a huge deal breaker, especially for those who have already invested in devices for their workflow.

Designer: Qualcomm

Final Thoughts

Qualcomm’s announcement of the Snapdragon X Plus and Elite tried to preempt Apple’s new M4 chip and iPad Pros. Apple’s venture into the ARM world is both a boon and a bane for the likes of Qualcomm as it demonstrates what’s possible. But even Apple has remained within the boundaries of traditional devices like a tablet and a laptop. Not surprising for a company that is very meticulous and careful about the design of its products.

Designer: Apple

The Windows world, however, is a bit more daring thanks to the diversity of people involved. Unconventional and sometimes impractical designs pop up once in a while, but they’re all hampered by the limitations of hardware that’s commonly available for PCs. Windows on ARM isn’t new and it still has a long way to go to confidently match what Intel, AMD, and now Apple are selling, but stakeholders in the PC industry should probably consider rallying behind this if they want to breathe new life into the stagnating PC market.

Designer: Samsung

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YouTuber custom builds coffee machine into a PC for freshly brewed cup of Joe at work

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If you’re someone like Martina of YouTube channel Nerdforge, who craves a cup of coffee after lunch, or maybe during work, you don’t have to get up and hit the kitchen anymore. Martina has built herself a PC case mod that brews a perfect cup of coffee with the touch of a button. And if you’re an ardent coffee buff, she has a detailed video on how you can try and build a PC that also makes coffee in a quick and efficient manner.

This PC with a built in coffee maker brews and dispense a hot cup of coffee whenever you want, but the process of building it from scratch hasn’t been easy. The idea started with, what if there was a coffee maker installed right into the PC, you wouldn’t have to get up and fetch a cup when you wanted it after lunch. And so, the modification started with the empty Corsair Obsidian 1000D tower case, which was considered big enough to fit the coffee machine.

Designer: Nerdforge

The humungous PC case was needed because Martina did not want to install a pod coffee maker. She wanted the entire machine: from bean grinder to brewer and dispenser, all-in-one, functioning glitch-free on a press of a button. The PC case was first cleared of the side panels and obstruction on the right where the coffee mug would need space to move in and out. Then the bean grinder was first trimmed to fit into the case with 3D printed pipes, funnels and attachments connecting it to the brewing machine.

Martina removed the coffee container from the dispenser to replace it with a mug that could be easily accessed by the user. Once the hardware was ready, the recreated coffee machine was connected to an Arduino (by Martina’s partner Hansi) to be able to control it using just one button. The machine grinds, brews, and dispense a savory cup of coffee in one breath, with all the precision. The duo has added a visual progress bar to see where the coffee making process has reached. Also, provided is a sensor that ensure the coffee never begins brewing until there is a cup in the holder.

Although everything in the video is all about the installation of the coffee machine in the PC case, it has been fitted with capable innards to deliver computing needs. It comes installed with Intel Core i7-14700K processor and an Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti graphics. Other details are scanty, but the PC is air-cooled to ensure it can keep the temperature on both – coffee machine and PC – sides effectively cooled. Finally, for an impressive and aesthetically pleasing look, Martina decorated the case mod with stained wood on both the inside and the outside, and finished the look with LED lights.

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Ambitious handheld gaming PC fuses Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Surface

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PC gaming is taking on a rather interesting turn in terms of design, with the rise of handheld gaming devices. Valve’s Steam Deck fired the opening salvo, and soon the likes of ASUS, Lenovo, and now MSI have followed suit. While the big brands took their sweet time joining the bandwagon, other manufacturers have already been playing this game for quite some time and have even iterated over a few unusual designs. One of those happens to be arriving soon, with what could only be called the love child of the Nintendo Switch and the Microsoft Surface tablet, offering a single device for both work and play that stretches the definition of what “handheld” really means.

Designer: ONE-NETBOOK

To be even considered gaming-worthy, these handheld computers need to pack enough power to satisfy the greed of AAA titles. Of course, that power can also be used for other activities, but the design of a relatively small handset device isn’t exactly conducive to anything but gaming. You can, of course, connect the handheld PC to a dock and other peripherals, but you can only do that at home or in the office.

In order to satisfy the needs of both entertainment and productivity, the OneXPlayer X1 shatters a few conventions, especially when it comes to screen size. If you think the Lenovo Legion GO’s 8.8-inch screen is already massive, then you’re jaw will probably drop at this 10.95-inch 2.5K screen. That’s pretty much “netbook” size, which means it’s a little bit more comfortable to view documents and spreadsheets, especially when you have to type them out. Of course, that does also mean you have a larger view of your games, but it comes at the price of portability, though ONE-NETBOOK advertises the device will only be 789 grams thanks to the use of 6000 series aviation aluminum.

The OneXPlayer X1’s inspiration can clearly be seen from the detachable controls. Flanking the sides of the large tablet are removable controllers clearly inspired by the Switch Joy-cons. When it’s time to start typing, however, the keyboard cover, ala the Surface Pro, comes into play. While the laptop use case is a proven design, it remains to be seen whether the promise of lightweight handheld gaming will actually be delivered.

It’s interesting to see how the OneXPlayer X1 combines multiple designs gathered from computing history, from the canceled Razer Edge Pro to the unexpected Microsoft Surface Pro to the successful Nintendo Switch. Of course, simply combining successful designs doesn’t guarantee the same successful outcome, especially when that combination itself is still unproven and almost questionable. With an Intel Core Ultra processor and Intel’s ARC GPU, there might be some doubt as to its actual gaming chops. And with a price tag that starts at around $950 for the baseline specs, that’s too expensive a risk to take as well.

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HP Envy Move is a vesatile all-in-one PC that supersedes your laptop in most use-case-scenarios

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Haven’t you always desired the screen real estate of a desktop but always loved the portability of a laptop? The dual-screen Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is living proof that brands are now more conscious of this consumer demand but there’s a catch. Such products come at higher than usual prices and are not for carefree users, as they require some degree of special treatment. HP Spectre Foldable is yet another pricey example of such a multipurpose computing machine.

While Dell and Acer have not been bold enough to release such machines, HP wants to try their luck out with the Envy Move. The 24-inch all-in-one desktop is high on portability and low on price making it an interesting product offering the best of both worlds.

Designer: HP

Making its first appearance under the radar at this year’s CES 2024 (the reason most of the tech community failed to notice it) the dual utility laptop seems more than utilitarian as a daily driver. The price tag of $900 is reasonable at most considering the exorbitant pricing of other such products on the market. Of course, there are some corners cut but the versatility aspect (not necessarily portability) is where the USP of this futureproof gadget lies.

The HP Envy Move is primarily a desktop with an included battery that powers the reasonable hardware and the big 24-inch 2K touchscreen. That means you can multitask with ease, providing a far better experience than laptops. The lower half of the screen tilts to create an added working area and is good for taking Zoom calls too as the webcam comes up to the eye level. That said the thickness of the device is something you won’t write home about.

That extra space, however, does accommodate a built-in B&O speaker with a beefy bass response. This will excite audio lovers or ones who consume a lot of multimedia content. You can also use it as an external display for your main PC without worrying about the wire clutter since it has its battery power system. The smart desktop PC cum monitor seems like a good prospect, offering a practical experience for users who cannot afford a multiple PC setup.

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MSI Claw A1M handheld gaming PC challenges the status quo with an Intel chip

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If you haven’t noticed lately, there has been quite a good number of handheld computers being launched, almost all of them designed specifically for gaming. The success of the Nintendo Switch as well as the popularity of the Steam Deck has sparked dreams of recreating the magic (as well as the profits) for PC gaming. If you have indeed been paying attention, you might have also noticed that almost all of these ultra-mobile PCs are running on AMD processors and, consequently, AMD graphics. Of course, its biggest rival wasn’t going to take things sitting down, and it was only a matter of time before an Intel-powered handheld PC would come to light, which is exactly what the MSI Claw A1M is putting on the table.

Designer: MSI

The rivalry between Intel and AMD goes back decades, but there was a time when it seemed that Intel was the only one left standing. AMD then made quite a comeback and started to threaten Intel in areas it had traditionally performed poorly in namely, mobile and graphics. As if to emphasize its advantage, AMD has become the partner of choice for mobile PCs like the Steam Deck, the ROG Ally, and the Lenovo Legion GO. It’s this apparent monopoly that MSI and Intel are trying to break up with a design that is oddly not at all that different.

It’s almost too easy to mistake the MSI Claw A1M for the ROG Ally because of their eerily similar appearances, except in the choice of colors with the Claw opting for an all-black coating. There are, of course, very minute details, like bigger and presumably more comfortable grips, but the basic shape of the unibody chassis, button layouts, and the like are nearly identical. Since the ROG Ally only comes in white, some might be tempted to reach for MSI’s version just for the darker version.

Of course, there are major differences inside, like a larger 53Wh battery and support for the faster Thunderbolt 4 technology. That latter is thanks to the biggest difference that the MSI Claw A1M makes, that it’s running on an Intel Core Ultra chip rather than AMD. It’s not a simple case of substituting one chip for another and calling it a day. Each of them has their own sets of pros and cons, with the latest Intel Core Ultra chips boasting stronger AI performance, though Intel has yet to prove that its young integrated Arc graphics can truly match AMD’s Radeon technologies.

At the end of the day, while the Intel-powered MSI Claw A1M sounds bold and daring, it will all boil down to whether it can deliver the same or even better performance than the existing crop. At the moment, however, MSI hasn’t fully revealed availability details, other than a ballpark $699 starting price tag, so it will take some time before we can confidently say that the new kid on the block is more than just a new face.

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Lenovo Legion Go Review: Big Steps for Handheld PC Gaming

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PROS:


  • Beautiful and spacious 8.8-inch 1600p 144Hz screen

  • Detachable controllers with innovative FPS (vertical mouse) mode

  • Great overall performance

CONS:


  • Large and heavy

  • Bottom USB-C port is unusable when using the kickstand

  • Short battery life

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The Lenovo Legion Go pushes the envelope of what handheld PCs are capable of, paving the road for future innovation in this space.
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Although it was hardly the first portable gaming console, the success of the Nintendo Switch really inspired a new class of gaming devices. It pushed the boundaries of what you can accomplish with a handheld, offering a gaming experience that you can enjoy anywhere, including while sitting on a couch in front of a TV or table. Of course, Nintendo’s selection of titles is just a small part of the larger gaming world, and there have been many brands that have tried to bring the magic of the Switch to PCs. The Steam Deck proved that such a product would be popular, but it just stopped there. Lenovo, on the other hand, went all out with what is possibly the closest to a “Switch PC” to date. But is the Lenovo Legion Go just a Switch clone or is it offering a completely new gaming experience? We take this innovative gaming handheld for a few good spins to find out.

Designer: Lenovo

Aesthetics

Right off the bat, the first thing you’ll notice about the Lenovo Legion Go is that it’s huge, bigger even than the Steam Deck that’s already considered a giant. It’s slightly thinner than the Deck but only in the middle because the removable controllers almost add an inch to that thickness. It is definitely the larger and heavier of the three major handheld PCs, something that has repercussions for comfort and ergonomics, as we’ll see later.

Fortunately, you might forget the Legion Go’s size the moment your eyes settle on its large 8.8-inch screen, also the largest in this niche market. With a high pixel resolution and bright colors, it easily outclasses the competition, at least in terms of sharpness and visual impact. It doesn’t come without cost, though, but if you value a large, sharp, and fast gaming screen above other specs, this is the one to beat.

The Legion Go definitely carries itself well compared to its peers in terms of aesthetics. Unlike the more rectangular shapes of the Steam Deck and the ASUS ROG Ally, the Legion Go’s controllers taper a bit, creating a more interesting shape from the front. The back of the device is mostly flat save for the contoured handles of the controllers on each side. That back also features a full-width kickstand that lets you easily prop up the Legion Go on any flat surface for playing games or even for watching videos. The top edge has buttons and ports for controlling the device while the bottom has a lone USB-C Gen 4 port for both charging and data.

All in all, the Lenovo Legion Go presents a solid and distinctive design that doesn’t stray too far from the convention but has enough tweaks to make it stand out from the crowd. Its large screen plays in its favor, though the resulting large size is a bit of a double-edged sword. This niche market is still in its infancy and we’ll surely see more interesting designs in the future, but at least for now, Lenovo has pulled enough tricks to give the Legion Go a memorable character.

Ergonomics

There’s really no going around the fact that the Legion Go is a bulky and heavy device, bigger and heftier than its two closest rivals. For a device that’s primarily meant to be held in your hands, that can be a huge drawback. Even if its battery life lasts for hours (or if you’re playing it while charging), your hands and arms will undoubtedly tire after the first 30 minutes or an hour at most. It might be an artificial way to limit your gaming time, but the great thing about this kind of device is you don’t actually need to hold it up to play. Just like the Switch, you can simply set it down on a table or connect it to a large screen. Either way, you can just continue playing, at least as long as you have enough battery for it.

As mentioned earlier, this is as close as we’ve come to a Switch-like PC, and that’s primarily thanks to the detachable controllers. You can slide them off, though downward in the opposite direction compared to the Switch, and use them as normal Bluetooth controllers except split in two. There is, however, a special Lenovo-only mode that changes the narrative a bit. It’s called FPS mode and you stick the right controller into a base that makes it look like a joystick, except it’s a mouse that you drag across the table, not unlike those ergonomic vertical mice. As the name suggests, it’s meant to offer a more precise method of aiming with the right hand in FPS games and more fluid movement with the left controller. It’s definitely an innovative design but one that requires heavy muscle memory training to really get used to.

The Legion Go isn’t just a gaming device, however. It’s a gaming PC that runs a regular version of Windows 11, which means the user experience isn’t optimized for anything but a keyboard and mouse or, at the very least, a touch screen. This makes operating the non-gaming parts of the operating system a bit more tedious, though Lenovo thankfully included a small touchpad on the right-hand controller exactly for this purpose. There’s also a tiny scroll wheel on the back side of the same controller, but its location makes it difficult to reach. Along with the idiosyncrasies of Windows itself, this makes operating the device in handheld mode cumbersome and awkward.

Performance

Lenovo definitely pulled out the stops when it came to the Legion Go’s silicon muscles. Running inside is an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme with RDNA Graphics paired with 16GB of RAM and 512GB or 1TB of NVMe SSD storage. It’s not desktop-level hardware, not even a gaming laptop, but at this size, it’s currently the best that’s available for handheld computers. It can definitely handle most PC games at medium settings, and maybe a few at high settings. Of course, cranking up those options will drain the battery quicker, and there’s not a lot in the first place.

The real star of the show, however, is the impressive 8.8-inch 2560×1600 IPS LCD display with a 144Hz refresh rate. Not only is it the largest among handheld computers, it also has the highest resolution. It’s bright, vibrant, colorful, and sharp. And it’s also quite the battery drain. On paper, a high resolution such as this would be a huge boon for gaming, but only if you have lots of battery and power to spare. At full resolution, the only way you’ll get above 60fps in Fortnite is by setting the setting to medium (67fps) or low (79fps). Then again, 47fps with high settings isn’t so bad either. Dropping the resolution to 1200p made the gameplay experience much better during our test.

The real problem is the battery life, though the Legion Go isn’t alone in this regard. At medium settings, playing Fortnite (with voice chat on) drained the battery in around 79 minutes and at 1200p resolution only. Again, the sharpness of the screen is a huge advantage over the Steam Deck and the ROG Ally, but the price it entails is just too high. Sure, you can set a lower resolution by default, but then you’ll be paying for hardware you’re not able to fully utilize.

The Lenovo Legion Go has the bare minimum when it comes to hardware connectivity, namely two USB-C 4.0 ports, one at the top and another at the bottom. There’s also a headphone jack for good measure so you can connect your favorite wired headphones for more immersive gaming. Having two USB-C ports is great for connecting peripherals or a hub while still having one port free for charging the device. The catch is that the placement of the bottom port makes it inaccessible when using the built-in kickstand. Sure, you can use the top port for charging, but you still lose the other port for other accessories. To be fair, the Switch has the same problem but is worse by having a single USB port, but you’d hope that designers would have solved this problem by now.

Being able to set the Legion Go down on a table and still play using the controllers is also a Switch-inspired feature, but the actual implementation needs a little bit of work. In addition to the awkward way of pulling out the controllers, you apparently can’t use a different external controller unless you take the pair out and disable them from Windows Device Manager. It might just be a bug or a hidden setting, but the fact that it isn’t as straightforward as on a regular computer (or even the Nintendo Switch) makes it a less favorable experience.

When it comes to performance, the Legion Go spares no expense at using the best possible hardware, but having the most powerful isn’t always the correct solution. Power-hungry specs, especially a hi-res screen, drain the battery faster than it should, and owners are forced to tweak every aspect to squeeze out as much juice as they can from the device. Admittedly, PC gamers are used to tweaking settings left and right, but that’s a little less convenient and less ideal on a handheld form factor.

Sustainability

Impressive as the Legion Go’s design might be, there will definitely be concerns about its long-term viability. First-gen designs in this industry don’t always spark confidence, both in terms of durability as well as customer support down the road. Lenovo is an established brand, of course, so there’s an implicit trust in the products that it makes. This device definitely feels solid, despite its plastic body, so you can be assured that it’s not some flimsy product that will die out on you in the first few months.

Its unique design does bring a few complications, though, particularly with the removable controllers. These can be points for mechanical failure in the feature, or structural weaknesses that could lead to an early death for the device. There are a lot of custom parts used for the Legion Go as well, so repairs will have to be done by authorized Lenovo service providers only. That increases the risk factor in purchasing a device that could meet more accidents in your hands compared to a conventional laptop.

Value

Gaming handhelds are becoming popular again, both from the retro front as well as the PC market. Just looking at the growing number of options outside of major manufacturers shows there’s a sizable market for these devices. Not every PC gamer is a fan, though these would also admit dreaming of being able to play games anywhere, including in situations where they can’t use their bulky gaming laptops. As mentioned, there are plenty of options available now, but the Lenovo Legion Go offers the best-balanced set of benefits and drawbacks in the market today.

It has powerful specs topped by a gorgeous and large display that really makes games pop. The FPS mode might need a bit of getting used to, but the convenience of being able to detach the controllers when needed is a huge boon, though there are some rough edges to smoothen out. Battery life is pretty dismal by default, but that’s on par with other handheld PCs. The biggest clincher is that you’re getting this solid mobile PC gaming experience starting at just $699.99, which means you aren’t cutting corners for that juicy price tag.

Verdict

There was a time when analysts proclaimed the PC market to be dying, but that might only be true for desktops. Laptops flew off the shelves during the pandemic, and now handheld PCs are sparking interest and ushering in a new generation of PC gamers who are living the dream of playing anywhere. There are still only a few players in this market, and Lenovo, the world’s biggest PC maker, is making sure it’s leading here as well.

The Lenovo Legion Go definitely shows the brand’s expertise, combining decades of experience with a bold design and innovative features. It also proves that there is still plenty of room for improvement, whether for refining features or introducing new experiences. At this point, handheld gaming PCs like these are still considered a luxury, but with a tempting $700 price tag, the Legion Go is doing its part to make these devices more approachable and more usable for everyone.

The post Lenovo Legion Go Review: Big Steps for Handheld PC Gaming first appeared on Yanko Design.

AYANEO SLIDE Handheld PC design demonstrates another way to play games on the go

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Handheld gaming devices are in vogue again, and not just the smartphones we always have in our hands these days. The success of the Nintendo Switch has given rise to a new breed of portable PCs built specifically with gaming in mind, and now even big brands like ASUS and Lenovo are playing in this very niche field. While both the Switch and the Steam Deck have become the poster children for this category of devices, they aren’t the only way to play PC games anywhere and everywhere. Another contender is pushing a new entry into the race, and this one hides a QWERTY keyboard for those times when you need keys rather than buttons to play, communicate, or even work.

Designer: AYANEO

Handheld PCs like the Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go are probably PC gamers’ dreams come true. They allow them to play their favorite modern and even retro titles without having to worry about finding a place to set up a laptop. That convenience, however, comes at the price of relying only on controller buttons and joysticks for movement, while being at the mercy of a touchscreen and an on-screen keyboard for everything else. That’s not a problem for something like the Nintendo Switch with games specifically designed for such an input scheme, but for a PC that can potentially play and do anything, it’s severely limiting.

The AYANEO SLIDE addresses this problem by introducing a physical QWERTY keyboard that doesn’t get in the way when you don’t actually need it. Its trick is to hide that keyboard underneath the display using a sliding mechanism, not unlike the slider keyboards of smartphones from long ago. That makes it trivial to type out messages for games that require chatting with other players or to even play games that might not fully support game controllers. And since you can easily hide it when you’re done, it doesn’t take up too much extra space when it’s not in use.

Granted, the AYANEO SLIDE is hardly the first to use this design to address the problem of an absent keyboard. The recent GPD WIN 4 and the old Sony VAIO UX from 2006 both used a sliding mechanism to hide a QWERTY keyboard. AYANEO’s design, however, also lets you set the screen at an angle when you slide it up, which offers a slightly more ergonomic viewing angle compared to a completely flat screen.

While the addition of a hidden keyboard does fix one problem, the design has some drawbacks in the current implementation. Given the large size of the device, thumb-typing on that keyboard isn’t exactly comfortable or fast. A sliding mechanism also invites trouble because of moving parts. An alternative design, one employed by AYAENO rival GPD, uses a mini laptop form factor to offer a different way to mix gaming and typing on the go, but that also brings its own problems in terms of portability and bulk.

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Top 10 PC case designs that will uplift your interiors

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As a longtime PC gamer, I regularly spend tens of hours scanning Newegg for information on PC components, designing “dream” PC builds, and thirsting over unique components. But the most satisfying part of the process (for me, at least) has always been choosing the PC case.

PC cases are arguably the most important part of any build for a number of reasons. On one hand, your PC case’s form factor determines the number – and potentially, the size and quality of – components like GPUs, storage drives, and cooling components that can be slotted into a given build. Likewise, even if you select a poorly designed case that’s rated for the form factor you want, at a minimum, it can still look bad in your room. Bells and whistles aside, a low-quality case may not be able to properly seat your internal components or provide enough cooling to keep them stable at high temperatures.

That’s why I’ve taken the time to come up with this curated list of well-designed PC cases built with high-quality materials that span a wide range of aesthetic layouts and form factors. Whether you’re looking for a compact Mini-ITX build that sits elegantly in a minimalist workspace, or you want to go all-out with a full-sized gaming tower adorned with RGB lighting, or even if you want the internal components of your PC to speak for themselves – I’ve got you covered.

1. LIAN LI O11 Dynamic EVO

The LIAN LI O11 Dynamic Evo’s best quality is right there in the title: dynamism. This versatile mid-tower chassis features tempered glass front and side panels that provide form and function, allowing for easy airflow while showing off your internal components.

Why is it noteworthy?

The O11 Dynamic Evo is an inexpensive all-rounder from a reliable manufacturer that not only looks sleek, but also has a great built-in dual-panel cable management system and plenty of space for storage and cooling options. This is a great choice for PC gamers who want to vertically mount a large GPU like an Nvidia 4070 Ti and add liquid cooling to the mix without breaking the bank on a full tower.

What we like

  • Tons of space for fans and radiators without busting into full tower territory
  • Beautiful tempered glass design

What we dislike

  • Limited dust filtration system on bottom
  • Tight fit in the back when a larger PSU is installed

2. Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact

I love the modern design of the Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact, which looks like it’d fit just as well in a gaming room as it would in a fancy office suite. The front mesh panel is its most defining feature at first glance, but it’s extremely well-ventilated and the tempered glass side panel is great to show off your PC’s internals.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Meshify 2 Compact is a mid-tower case that sits comfortably in basically any room due to its sleek yet minimalist black mesh design. It doesn’t break the bank either, which is great, provided that it features a decent amount of room for cooling and storage options. This is optimal for a mid-tier PC gaming or workstation build that balances aesthetic design with functionality, just as long as you’re not relying on flashy RGB lights to make it look good – you’ll have to provide those yourself, or spend extra for the comparatively expensive Meshify 2 Compact RGB.

What we like

  • Clean and stylish construction
  • Great natural airflow

What we dislike

  • No integrated RGB – unless you shell out for the premium Compact RGB version

3. SilverStone Lucid LD03-AF

Sometimes you just want to build a tiny PC that looks cool and runs well, without taking too much desk space or attracting eyes away from the rest of your room or office. The SilverStone Lucid LD03-AF is a Mini-ITX chassis designed to fill that exact niche.

Why is it noteworthy?

SilverStone has managed to produce a Mini-ITX case that looks kitschy and artsy thanks to its unique vertical shape and tempered glass panels, fitting snugly in any room it sits in. And yet, it still affords enough space to fit an entire gaming rig with a modern GPU. That should all be easy to set up, thanks to the LD03-AF’s array of detachable panels.

What we like

  • Compact and easy to customize
  • Decently spacious for a Mini-ITX

What we dislike

  • Expensive for what it offers

4. Thermaltake Core P3 Pro

The Thermaltake Core P3 TG Pro is for enthusiasts who want to showcase their internal components first and foremost. It uses an open frame chassis that unleashes the full creativity of a PC build.

Why is it noteworthy?

This chassis strikes the perfect balance between a sturdy foundation with strong build materials and plenty of mounts for cooling and storage options, and an open layout that lets you show off the creativity of an intricate PC build. This is the one to get if you’re a gamer who has invested in a sophisticated water cooling or lighting system, and you truly want it to take center stage in your gaming room.

What we like

  • Gorgeous open frame design using tempered glass
  • A mind-boggling number of customization options

What we dislike

  • Open frame design means you need to create a DIY solution to keep your internals protected from the environment

5. NZXT H7 Flow

The NZXT H7 Flow mid-tower case is a strong contender for PC gamers who want a decent balance between customization and cooling.

Why is it noteworthy?

NZXT cases are both durable and visually appealing, and the H7 Flow is one of the slickest-looking cases you can buy in the mid-tower range. Unlike its H710i cousin, it features mesh top and front panels for improved cooling, and does away with some of the built-in RGB options. But it’s also a bit more affordable, and it offers plenty of support for cable management.

What we like

  • Sleek and spacious mesh and tempered glass design
  • Excellent cable management support
  • Comes in a variety of colors

What we dislike

  • No integrated RGB

6. NZXT H710i

I couldn’t talk about the NZXT H7 Flow without also mentioning the NZXT H710i. This isn’t just a strong contender, it also happens to be the case I currently own (and which houses the PC I’m writing this article from!)

Why is it noteworthy?

The H710i is a premium alternative to the H7 Flow which trades the former’s mesh panels for solid covers with side vents, making for a more refined and unique aesthetic without skimping on airflow. More importantly, it comes packed in with an RGB lighting strip and a smart device that controls lighting across the build.

What we like

  • Excellent mix of sturdy construction, great airflow, high customizability, and aesthetic style
  • Built-in RGB options and lighting presets make it visually exciting out of the box

What we dislike

  • A little expensive compared to similar options

7. Fractal Design North

Fractal Design has a great track record for coming up with innovative PC cases. Fractal Design’s North represents an organic approach to PC chassis design, featuring wooden slat panels and natural colors that fit in a conservatory just as easily as it fits in a gaming room.

Why is it noteworthy?

Whereas most modern PC cases use a mix of black and white steel, mesh, and tempered glass, North vies for organic browns and subtle whites that make it more aesthetically pleasing when surrounded by wooden furniture. Not only that; it also comes with plenty of space to fit cooling, storage, and other modern internal components.

What we like

  • Gorgeous wooden front panels and steel chassis
  • Spacious interior

What we dislike

  • No integrated RGB
  • Some users complain about airflow issues

8. Fractal Design Terra

A compact alternative to the Fractal Design North is the Fractal Design Terra, a gorgeous Mini-ITX case that would fit perfectly in a room with plenty of natural light and organic elements.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Fractal Design Terra Jade edition comes with a unique compact layout that mixes earthy greens and browns, making it fit in an office or gaming room designed with those same natural hues in mind. It also boasts enough space to fit a modern GPU up to 322 nm in length, like an NVIDIA RTX 4070.

What we like

  • Beautiful organic design with a wooden front panel and green steel chassis
  • Spacious interior for a Mini-ITX

What we dislike

  • Expensive for a Mini-ITX
  • No side windows to showcase internals

9. Corsair Obsidian 1000D

The Corsair Obsidian 1000D is a full tower gaming chassis fitted with tons of RGB lights and a gorgeous tempered glass design, perfect for enthusiast gamers looking to go all out with their build.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Obsidian 1000D is the ultimate full tower case for PC gamers, as it’s packed on all sides with gorgeous RGB-equipped fans. Thanks to built-in control software, these are easy to set up. Not only is it an aesthetically pleasing centerpiece for any gaming room, its durable black steel and tempered glass chassis ensure it’s sturdy enough to handle any build imaginable.

What we like

  • It’s built like a tank
  • The integrated RGB system is breathtaking

What we dislike

  • Expensive at a roughly $525 MSRP

10. NZXT H1 V2

The NZXT H1 V2 is a Mini-ITX chassis that looks like a NZXT H7 Flow sliced in half.

Why is it noteworthy?

It comes with a number of systems already built in, such as a 750w 80 Plus Gold PSU and 140mm all-in-one liquid cooling system. It also accommodates a number of options for GPUs.

What we like

  • Compact, vertical design fits easily on any desk
  • Plenty of built-in components make installation easier

What we dislike

  • Expensive if you only want the case
  • Not quite as customizable as other options; you’re left at the mercy of packed-in internal component quality

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Alienware shaves plastic weight off their new Aurora R16 Desktop for a sleeker look

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Alienware is no stranger to outlandish PC case designs and something subtle is not their ball game. Or is it? The Dell-owned brand has this time around broken notions with a new mid-tower desktop PC chassis that looks nothing like an Alienware would, if the information was not revealed to a neutral geek.

With some criticism for the Aurora R15 desktop PC regarding the cooling capabilities, Alienware has released the Aurora R16 PC focusing on this loophole. What’s surprising is the quaint look that is there for a purpose, and it grows on you the more you work on it. Gone is the very alienesque case that now gives way to a more traditional PC aesthetic which die-hard Alienware proponents might find hard to gobble down.

Pros:

  • Compact form factor that weighs less
  • Ample ports on the front for power users
  • Aggressive pricing to take on the competition

Cons:

  • Conservative chassis design
  • Number of fans could fall short while high-end gaming
  • Proprietary motherboard and server-style power unit

Designer: Alienware

Click Here to Buy Now!

There’s a refreshing design language dubbed “Legend 3” with a squarish shape and an interesting approach to improving the overall acoustics and thermals. The final chassis design thus has 20 percent lesser noise, 10 percent lower CPU and 6 percent reduced GPU temperatures. The beefy form factor is shaved off to reduce the overall volume by 40 percent without sacrificing the internal volume (25.2 liters) which is the same as the predecessor. The ultimate goal is of not being, “impeded by plastics” for optimized airflow.

The Aurora R16 measures just 16.5 inches tall compared to the 20 inches of the R15. Also, the single glowing LED Stadium light loop is a toned-down version of their previous builds. Although the swanky curves are gone, Alienware has retained the signature see-through plastic panel. On the brighter side, there’s much better cable management, and Alienware claims to have added large airflow vents on both front sides and top. This is assisted by the single 120mm intake behind. To keep things running smoothly with intense graphics processing, there’s the option of adding a 240mm liquid cooling radiator paired with 120mm fans on top.

Alienware Aurora R16 desktop is available in a standard version loaded with Intel AX210 Wi-Fi 6E, a 500W 80+ Platinum power supply and 12-phase voltage regulation, two memory card slots and two M.2 SSD slots for up to 64GB of DDR5-5600 RAM and up to 8TB of PCIe Gen 4 storage. As an option, you can also go for a 3.5mm spinning hard drive and an optional 1000W 80+ Platinum power supply. The price of the variant with 13th Gen Intel Core i7 and GeForce RTX 4070 GPU is going to be $1,750. This is going to be cheaper than the $2,200 R15 for the same configuration, so a better deal in every aspect for power users.

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