Toshiba shrinks down the Radius 12 hybrid, adds 4K display

Toshiba is pushing the boundaries of what one expects from a slim Windows 10 hybrid with a 12.5-inch display. The new Satellite Radius 12 skips the lower resolutions and low-power processors found in many smaller laptops, and instead offers some surprisingly high-end options.

New IdeaPad laptops from Lenovo drop below $200

Lenovo is best known for its corporate ThinkPad computers, but some of our favorite Lenovo PCs have always come from the IdeaPad line, aimed at mainstream audiences. The IdeaPad systems, from laptops to hybrids, often have sharp-looking designs and excellent hardware options, plus some very reasonable prices. 

The IdeaPad line is getting a major overhaul with the launch of Intel's latest sixth-generation Core i-series Sklylake processors, from upscale slim midsize laptops to very inexpensive ultraportable systems.

The best PCs for Windows 10

Toshiba Kirabook (2015)

These recent laptops, hybrids and desktops are ready for a day one upgrade to Windows 10, and should work without a hitch.

Nearly every laptop, tablet, hybrid or desktop currently running Windows 8 or even Windows 7 will be eligible for a free upgrade to the new Windows 10 operating system sometime on or after July 29.

Consumers with the "home" version of their current OS will be able to download the mainstream Windows 10 Home version at no cost, for at least the first year after its launch date. Users of other versions of Windows (Professional, etc.) should be able to get comparable upgrades to one of the seven different flavors of Windows 10, but that may require some work from your company IT team if you're a professional/enterprise user.

From what we've heard from major PC makers, only a few, if any, PCs will start shipping on July 29 with Windows 10 preinstalled, so the fastest way to get the new OS may be to download and install it on your current computer.

We've done this on a wide variety of recent Windows 8 systems in the CNET Labs, using the easily available Insider preview build of Windows 10. For the most part, the experience has been trouble-free, and even our early benchmarking with this non-final version of Windows 10 has been roughly in line with Windows 8 (but we're waiting for the final build to see how Windows 10 really affects performance).

The computers profiled here represent a cross-section of systems that are perfect for a day one Windows 10 upgrade. All feature fourth-gen or fifth-gen Intel Core i-series processors, or lower-end Atom and Celeron processors, plus standard Intel integrated graphics.

Toshiba Kirabook (2015)

 

The Kirabook is light, sturdy, well-built and powerful, with a brilliant higher-resolution display. It's a great example of a premium 13-inch laptop with better-than-HD resolution and a touchscreen to take advantage of the more minimalist tile-based pop-up menus in Windows 10.

Lenovo Yoga 3 (14-inch, 2015)

 

Like past models, the Yoga 3 14 looks like a standard thin-and-light clamshell, but its two hinges allow you to rotate the screen 360 degrees back, turning it into a tablet. While Windows 8 was really built for tablet views, Windows 10 should work equally well in both clamshell and tablet modes on hybrids.

Microsoft Surface Pro 3

 

It's still a leap to say this is a true laptop replacement for most people, but the Surface Pro 3 is the first Surface device one could get away with using as an all-day primary PC. As Microsoft's flagship computer, it's a great test case for Windows 10, especially as it includes a precision touchpad, required for some new Windows 10 gestures.

Dell XPS 13 (2015)

 

Taking a cue from the past few generations of television design, the screen bezel, the outer border of glass and aluminum that surrounds the display, has been reduced to mere millimeters. Microsoft has been using this as an example of a high-quality, premium laptop that is a great match for Windows 10.

Acer Revo One

 

The Revo is a great-looking, flexible small-design desktop that you won't need to hide behind a houseplant. Desktops, largely driven via keyboard and mouse, were always an awkward match for the Windows 8 tile interface, and the Revo feels more practical with Windows 10 installed on it.

HP Stream 11

 

Even the smallest and least expensive laptops can get a boost from Windows 10. The new Edge Web browser and the easier access to settings and most-used apps makes this 11-inch budget PC a bit easier to use.

Microsoft Surface 3

 

The smaller cousin of the flagship Surface Pro 3, the non-Pro version has a smaller display, and runs a lower-end Intel Atom processor. But as a Microsoft-designed hybrid, it's also going to work well with Windows 10, and makes use of the same clever keyboard cover technology we've liked so much in previous Surface systems.

If you own one of these PCs, or any other compatible system, the Windows 10 update will be available starting on July 29 (primarily for Windows Insider beta testers), and rolling out to other users over time. We'll be testing new laptops, hybrids and desktops, both with Windows 10 preinstalled and and with the Windows 10 upgrade, and reporting our performance findings. In the meantime, follow all our Windows 10 coverage here. 

CES 2015: Lenovo's Yoga 3 Pro Laptop Lighter Than MacBook Air

Lenovo rolled out a new line of products at CES 2015, with the lightweight Yoga 3 laptop, part of the LaVie Z series, a featured item. Lenovo

LAS VEGAS -- Lighter than air? Lenovo has unveiled a slim new laptop targeting customers who think that even Apple’s MacBook Air is too heavy. The Chinese company's Yoga 3 Pro, at 2.6 pounds (1.2kg), weighs in just a bit less than the Air’s 2.96 pounds (1.3kg).

'GTA 5' PC Release Date Nearing: Game Will Receive ICEnhancer Mod

“Grand Theft Auto 5” will launch for the PC Jan. 27, and a recent Facebook post confirmed Auckland, New Zealand-based software developer and technical artist Hayssam Keilany is working on an ICEnhancer mod for “GTA 5.”

12-inch Apple MacBook Air rumored to enter production in early 2015

Apple’s MacBook Air line of laptops currently comprises of devices with just two screen sizes – 11″ and 13″. However, they may soon be joined by an intermediary model, a MacBook Air with a 12-inch screen.

Microsoft Corp. Pushes Windows 10 Release Date To Fall 2015

Microsoft says it will release Windows 10 in "early fall" 2015, after the back-to-school PC buying season. (Pictured is a screenshot from the Windows 10 technical preview.) Microsoft Corp.

Microsoft Corp. has scheduled the release of Windows 10 for “early” next fall, an executive said Thursday. The announcement clarifies earlier reports that said Microsoft’s latest operating system would be ready by summer.

PC Gamer Holiday Gift Guide 2014: 9 Ideas For Gamer On Your List

A PC gamer can appreciate a number of holiday gifts, from gaming headsets to hats Reuters

Looking for a holiday gift for the PC gamer in your life can be flustering with the endless selection of gaming products to choose from. You could buy them a game, but chances are they have in their library already. Or you can choose from a number of accessories on the market to enhance the experience. Whatever you decide, here’s a number of gift ideas to make your holiday shopping easier:

Apple Holiday Gift Guide 2014: 12 Ideas For The iPad, iPhone And MacBook Pro User Who Has Everything

Find the right holiday gift for the Apple lover who owns just about every device. IBTimes/Luke Villapaz

Chances are the Apple lovers in your life have just about every product from the iPhone to the iPad. But that doesn’t mean shopping for them has to be difficult. From cases to headphones to gloves, there's plenty of accessories and gadgets on the market to make the Apple product experience even better. Here are 12 gift ideas for the Apple owner covering a range of price points to fit any holiday-buying budget:

Best Cyber Monday Laptop Deals 2014

Black Friday may have passed but there are plenty of great laptop deals still to be found online. Whether you’re looking for a low-cost Windows laptop or a high-end ultrabook with all the trimmings, you can save a lot of money if you know where to look this Cyber Monday. Here are our favorite Cyber Monday deals of 2014.

Windows and Windows Phone Stores combine for well over 500,000 apps

Last year, Microsoft's Joe Belfiore made the bold proclamation that the "app gap" between Windows Phone and other platforms would be closed in 2014. We're only one and a half months from the end of the year, and although the app gap still exists, Microsoft has announced new numbers that show promise. The Windows and Windows Phone Stores now combine for well over 500,000 apps.

Free MS Office: CEO Nadella’s Radical Plan Shows Microsoft Officially Over Steve Ballmer

Unlike his predecessor Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is taking a more open approach to competitors. The company announced Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014, that it would make certain versions of its mobile Office software available for free on Google Android and Apple iOS devices. Reuters

Microsoft saw a number of sea changes in the tech industry as it passed from the Bill Gates era in the 1990s to Steve Ballmer’s recently ended reign. It transitioned from a company obsessed with the PC

Windows 10 Preview: Microsoft Releases Free Update, How To Download The Latest Beta Now (Build 9860)

Microsoft has released the first update to the Windows 10 technical preview, which incorporates new features like an Action Center for app and message notifications. Microsoft Corp

Microsoft Corp. Tuesday released the first update to its Windows 10 technical preview, an early version of its upcoming operating system. Microsoft claims it has already made more than 7,000 changes to the early Windows 10 beta, based largely on user feedback, but most of those changes are minor.

Apple's iPad event starts soon: what to expect

October 16 is here and Apple's event is hours away. The two new iPads are the hotly anticipated announcements but we're also likely to see new iMacs, the chances of new MacBooks are lower according to the rumor mill. The event will be held in Apple's Town Hall auditorium on the Infinite Loop Campus in Cupertino, California at 10AM PT / 1PM ET.

Apple iPad Air 2 Could Be Joined By Retina iPad Mini 2 On Thursday; Retina MacBook Air Unlikely

Apple is also expected to introduce Smart Cover and Smart Case lineup in new colors and an updated design. Reuters

Apple’s upcoming iPad Air 2, which is widely expected to be unveiled at a company event Thursday, could be accompanied by the next-generation iPad mini with Retina display, a report claimed Monday. While the two new iPads are expected to be the center of attention, Apple’s new Retina MacBook Air could miss Thursday’s show, according to another report.

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 Makes Business Flexible

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 Makes Business Flexible

Last year, Lenovo pulled off a rather difficult feat — creating a feasible 2-in-1 notebook for business. The ThinkPad Yoga gave mobile professionals all the bending flexibility of the IdeaPad Yoga series and combined it with the long battery life and excellent keyboard we’ve come to expect from ThinkPads. The company is hoping to continue the trend with the ThinkPad Yoga 14. Priced at $1,199 the business-centric laptop will be available near the end of October.

Lenovo Announces 8- and 10-inch Yoga Tablet 2 for Windows and Android

Lenovo Announces 8- and 10-inch Yoga Tablet 2 for Windows and Android

 

 Lenovo’s Yoga tablet series has always been about options, and now the company is adding even more by expanding its line with the new Yoga Tablet 2. Lenovo announced the four new 8- and 10-inch tablets in London today, revealing not only updated specs, but that two models will run Android in addition to two running Windows 8. Starting at $249.99, the Yoga Tablet 2 models will all be available by mid-November.

Toshiba Tech Support (2014 Rating)

 

Last year, Toshiba earned its third-straight C+ score for overall tech support, despite its newly revamped website. This year, we ran into many of the problems as we did in previous years, but the company did improve its social support. That brought the overall grade up, earning Toshiba a B-. 

Apple Breaks Into Top Five Global PC Vendors For The First Time, IDC Data Says

Apple has become better known for iPhones and iPads, but its Mac line of computers has broken into the top five spot for PC shipments for the first time. Apple shipped 4.9 million units in the third quarter, slightly edging out Asus and joining HP, Lenovo, Dell and Acer in the top five.

Windows 10 Review

Windows 10 feels like what Windows 8 should have been from the beginning -- it’s less revolution, more evolution.

On Sept. 30, Microsoft officially unveiled its new operating system, Windows 10. It isn't named Windows 9 for myriad reasons, one of which is Microsoft's effort to distance the new moniker from the often lambasted Windows 8.