laptops

The US Department of Justice has arrested two people and seized 187 devices in Texas as part of a crackdown on an alleged 'laptop farm' scheme tied to North Korea. Such operations typically involve IT workers using stolen or fake identities to get remote jobs at US companies, with salaries funneled to fund Pyongyang's regime.

Apple has added the 2017 12-inch MacBook to its obsolete products list, meaning the laptop no longer qualifies for hardware service or parts from the company or authorized providers. The thin, fanless MacBook, discontinued in 2019, was Apple's last 12-inch model. Owners still using the device will now need to rely on third-party repair shops for fixes.

A developer has written about installing Linux on a new laptop equipped with Nvidia's RTX Spark GPU, saying the move was driven by not wanting to sign up for a Microsoft account. The post has drawn attention among tech readers, many of whom share frustration with Windows' account requirements and are interested in how well Linux runs on the new hardware.

CoolerControl, an open-source cooling and fan control application for Linux, has been released in version 5.1.1. The update is being shared with the Linux gaming and open-source hardware community, where users rely on the tool to monitor temperatures and manage fans on desktops and laptops. Details of what changed in 5.1.1 are in the release announcement.

A user reports installing OpenBSD on their laptop over the weekend and moving to it as their daily operating system. They say the experience has been good so far, though the learning curve is noticeable. The decision stems partly from recent AI-related decisions surrounding the Linux kernel, prompting a move beyond Linux to a different open-source Unix system.

A new commentary piece argues that Google's 'Googlebook' will not appeal to anyone who was never sold on Chromebooks in the first place. The article, published on 9to5Google, suggests the device is effectively a continuation of the Chromebook concept rather than a genuine change, so the same limitations that put off buyers before still apply. Tech commentators are weighing whether the new branding represents any real shift for Google's laptop line.

China is reportedly set to double its RAM production capacity in an effort to stop memory chip shortages from pushing up the prices of everyday consumer electronics. With memory costs climbing globally, affecting smartphones, laptops and other gadgets, expanded Chinese output could ease supply pressures and stabilise prices, though the full impact on the wider memory market remains to be seen.

Apple is expected to continue its fall hardware push with new MacBook and iPad reveals on October 28. The announcements come as competition in the tablet market intensifies, with Android manufacturers rolling out devices aimed directly at the iPad. Attention is focused on what upgrades Apple will bring to its laptop and tablet lines.

Tech YouTuber Austin Evans has bought several cosmetically damaged MacBook laptops from Back Market, the refurbished electronics marketplace, and tested what condition 'ugly' devices actually arrive in. The video compares the wear, prices and functionality of the second-hand MacBooks, prompting viewers to discuss whether cosmetic damage is worth accepting for the savings on Apple's expensive laptops.

A developer writing about their first day with a Snapdragon-powered Surface Laptop 7, provided by Microsoft as a sponsored gift, reports getting iOS 14 to boot inside AQEMU on Windows 11 on Arm. They believe this may be the first time iOS has ever run on Windows on Arm, using ChefKiss's Inferno QEMU fork rather than Microsoft's WHPX hypervisor interface.

Laptops built around Nvidia's RTX Spark platform are now available from six hardware partners, bringing the Blackwell GPU architecture to portable Windows PCs for the first time. The launch marks Nvidia's effort to push its latest graphics and AI silicon into smaller, mobile form factors, and tech outlets are covering the rollout as a notable step for on-device AI and high-performance portable computing.

Security commentators are reminding laptop and phone users that full-disk encryption protects data on lost or stolen devices, but only if set up properly. Advice circulating includes checking your device's documentation first, storing the recovery key separately, testing backups, and using a strong device passphrase. Users are also warned that encryption is just one layer of protection and is no substitute for regular software updates, backups, and screen locks.

CUKTECH's 30 Ultra power station has been reviewed, with a 300-watt output that can charge gaming laptops, regular laptops, and smartphones from a single unit. The review highlights its appeal to users who need one high-power charger for multiple devices, particularly gamers and professionals carrying demanding hardware alongside their phones.

A cybersecurity guide covering iOS and Mac security is being promoted, reminding users how much sensitive data their Apple devices hold: photos, messages, banking apps and personal identity information. It walks through steps to secure iPhones and Macs against unauthorised access. The message plays on growing awareness of how exposed people would be if a phone or laptop fell into the wrong hands.

An appeal circulating online from someone in Japan asks for help sourcing two items of technology: a Linux laptop, described as almost any model, and over-the-head or behind-the-head headphones rather than earbuds. The person says they can pick items up and is looking for second-hand or free options, inviting suggestions on where to find them.

Creative Bloq has published a hands-on stress test of Nvidia's RTX Spark, running the chip inside what the outlet calls its favourite creative laptop. The piece pushes the hardware through demanding creative workloads to see how far it can go, with results aimed at designers, video editors and other creative professionals weighing an upgrade.

The FBI has dismantled a 'laptop farm' operation in the United States that let North Korean IT workers pose as remote employees at US companies. The workers used home-networked computers to hide their location and collect salaries, with proceeds allegedly funnelled back to North Korea. The case highlights growing concern over infiltrated remote-work schemes and sanctions evasion.

Commentary from 9to5Google's Ben argues buyers should hold off on purchasing Google's new laptop, not because of flaws in the device itself but because of poor launch timing. The argument is that purchasing now leaves buyers exposed to imminent hardware updates or price changes, making patience the smarter financial move for prospective customers.

Acer has launched its new Iconia 5G tablets, while Dell has introduced the Essential Pro 14 and 15 series PCs, according to a weekly roundup of gadget news. The roundup highlights the latest wave of consumer electronics announcements, including new 5G-enabled tablets and budget-oriented laptops aimed at everyday users, alongside other device launches from the past week.

A growing debate is examining whether tablets can truly stand in for laptops once real work begins. Samsung's Galaxy Tab, with its DeX desktop mode, and Apple's iPad Pro are the main contenders being weighed for 2026. Enthusiasts like the freedom of leaving the laptop behind, but heavy workloads quickly expose the limits of tablet hardware and software, keeping the replacement question open.

A new review examines Google's operating system for a laptop-style device, calling it a genuine attempt at a post-smartphone PC. The piece argues that earlier efforts to bring touch-era design lessons to computers, from Windows 8 to fullscreen apps on the Mac after the iPad, largely failed, and suggests Google's approach may succeed if the company sustains its commitment to the platform.

NVIDIA's N1X Spark chip, an ARM-based processor with 20 cores, has debuted inside ASUS's ProArt P16 laptop, marking the company's move into ARM-based PC silicon. The launch signals NVIDIA's entry into a notebook market long dominated by Intel, AMD and Qualcomm's ARM designs, and attention is focused on what the new chip means for Windows laptops and content creators.

Reports claim artificial intelligence is making consumer gadgets more expensive. Rising demand for AI chips and components is pushing up production costs, which manufacturers pass on to buyers of phones, laptops and other devices. Consumers are being told to expect higher price tags on everyday electronics as the AI boom reshapes the tech supply chain.

ASUS has announced the ProArt P16, a laptop equipped with NVIDIA's RTX Spark graphics, at an event in Vietnam. The machine is positioned as a creator-focused notebook, and the announcement is being circulated with discussion of AI and agent-based artificial intelligence themes, reflecting interest in NVIDIA-powered AI laptops.

A user reports renewed interest in installing Linux on their Lenovo ThinkPad T490s, having previously given up on getting the laptop's built-in 5G modem to work. They say a controversy over boycotting US products and services prompted them to try again, and early signs suggest the experience may have improved since their last attempt.

NVIDIA's RTX Spark laptops have debuted starting at $2,599, bringing up to 128GB of unified memory to notebook form factors. The machines pair a Blackwell architecture GPU with a Grace CPU and are built to run AI workloads directly on the device, targeting developers and creators who want local AI performance without relying on the cloud.

Nvidia's new RTX Spark laptops, built primarily around AI workloads, are being tested to see how well they handle actual gaming. PCMag ran gaming benchmarks on the machines to determine whether the AI-focused hardware can double as a capable gaming laptop, a question buyers are asking as Nvidia positions these machines for both productivity and play.