GoKawiil
Tech News
A review of the Lenovo Googlebook 15 describes it as a well-built laptop but one hampered by the limitations of being among the first devices in its category. The reviewer notes buyers face a tradeoff between getting the hardware now and waiting for software and ecosystem improvements expected later.
The Department of Justice disrupted operations tied to Famous Chollima, a North Korean threat group, arresting two suspects and charging 14 individuals. The FBI's 'Lonestar Roundup' operation searched 40 Texas residences between September 21-25, seizing about 187 laptops and KVM devices used to run so-called laptop farms that let North Korean IT workers appear to be based in the US.
The FBI, working with CrowdStrike, shut down more than 40 laptop farm operations in Texas used to run fake remote-worker schemes, seizing over 200 devices. No arrests were made immediately, as authorities moved to disrupt the operations quickly rather than wait for formal charges, though they warned participants of possible future criminal penalties.
The Department of Justice says it has indicted and arrested two Americans and seized over 180 computers from more than 40 laptop farms across Texas, which North Korean operatives allegedly used to remotely access jobs at U.S. companies under stolen identities. Prosecutors say at least 70 companies across 17 states and DC—spanning healthcare, retail, manufacturing and other sectors—were infiltrated, generating roughly $3 million in illicit proceeds.
Framework has refreshed its budget-oriented, repairable Laptop 12 with Intel's new Wildcat Lake processors, keeping the 2-in-1 convertible design, touchscreen with optional stylus, and multiple color options. The base model starts at $549 without RAM or storage, but a fully configured unit costs roughly $200-$300 more than rival laptops like Dell's updated XPS 13.
Framework has updated its budget-focused Laptop 12 with Intel's new Core Series 3 processors, offering configurations from a Core 3 304 chip with 8GB RAM and a 512GB SSD at $799 up to a Core 7 350 model with 32GB RAM at $1,549. Buyers can save $100 by choosing Fedora Linux instead of Windows, and pricing on all tiers has reportedly risen beyond the company's original targets.
A review of Acer's Googlebook 14 laptop describes premium build quality and hardware but points to software that feels unpolished or incomplete. Specific details of the testing and performance were not provided beyond this overall assessment.
TrendForce's latest report projects global notebook shipments will fall by a low single-digit percentage in 2027, driven by weaker consumer demand rather than component shortages. The research firm also expects the share of notebook production outside China to shrink from 24% in 2025 to 21% in 2026, and potentially below 20% in 2027, as rising costs make offshore manufacturing less appealing. TrendForce notes that CPU, DRAM, and SSD prices currently make up about 68% of the bill-of-materials cost for a typical $900 notebook.
Microsoft introduced Magnetic Connect, a magnetic charging solution for its new Surface Laptop Ultra that pairs a Power Delivery USB-C port with a magnetic cable using a funnel-shaped tip for easy alignment. Unlike Apple's proprietary MagSafe port, the underlying port remains standard USB-C, meaning it can be used for monitors, keyboards, phones or other peripherals when not charging. The Surface Laptop Ultra also includes two more USB-C ports, HDMI, USB-A, an SD card reader and a headphone jack.
Walmart is selling the 15-inch HyperX Omen gaming laptop with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor, RTX 5060 GPU, 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD for $1,149, a $750 reduction from its original price. The laptop features a 1920x1200 display with up to 165Hz refresh rate, DLSS 4.5 support, Wi-Fi 7, and runs Windows 11.
Engadget's 2026 review roundup revisits its testing of Dell's XPS 13, noting that the entry-level 8GB RAM configuration struggled with Windows 11. Reviewer Sam tested a midrange model with more memory and found it performed significantly better, concluding the extra cost was worthwhile despite the base model's shortcomings.
IDC and Omdia both reported steep year-over-year declines in global PC shipments for Q3 2026. IDC recorded a 20.1 percent drop to 62.7 million units, down from 78.5 million a year earlier and 9.1 percent below Q2 2026's 68.2 million units. Omdia reported an even steeper 21.2 percent decline to 58.1 million devices, with desktop shipments down 23.5 percent and laptops down 20.6 percent.