This alien-inspired PC case mod exposes powerful innards in the most sci-fi way

PC case mods and the intricacies of a custom CPU build never seize to intrigue enthusiasts like me who are always eager for that freshest eye-popping creation. While it’s been a long time coming, this PC case by seasoned builders AfterShock PC is on a whole new level.

The PC case like all times brings forth a unified sensory and tactile experience with unbeatable performance. But that killer look is nothing I’ve seen in previous case mods. The flowing pattern depicting the intensity of motion, and the futuristic feel that’s unmatchable.

Designer: AfterShock PC

The creators define it as race ready, and I totally second that vibe as it seriously looks in motion. No wonder this will be the perfect PC alibi for a geeky desk set up with all the RGB lights and bias lighting ambiance. The powerful monster is built upon the request of a customer, and one thing that stands out here is the cableless look. This comes courtesy of the open loop system which compliments the gorgeous angular edges.

Aftershock has left no corner untamed by the futuristic aura of the star pattern. There’s a custom-made GPU stand crafted to absorb the light. The refractions on the CPU build give it an RGB backlighting effect and that’s absolute dope. The liquid cooling pipes, GPU and all the hardware components are left bare exposed to bring out the play of light and the sharp forms.

This PC build will be bliss for designers and gamers who like those cool colors matched with the edgy form factor of their den’s theme. It’s almost like a xenomorph alien ready to evolve into a superior form at the push of a button.

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GPD Win 4 is a nod to the past of ultra-mobile PCs

Just as the Nintendo Switch kicked up a storm with its modular design, Valve’s Steam Deck sparked a revolution that made handheld computers hip again. Of course, these portable gaming PCs aren’t exactly new, and some more daring Chinese companies have been trying to grow that market long before the Steam Deck or even the Switch. And computers small enough to hold in your hands go back even further, with the brief period of UMPCs or ultra-mobile PCs. Those might have been too far ahead of their time, however, and it’s only now that the dream of a powerful handheld computer is finally becoming a reality. Now that past technological hurdles have been resolved, some are starting to revisit those old designs, such as this upcoming handheld gaming PC.

Designer: GPD (via Liliputing)

Ever since personal computers became mainstream, there has been this vision and fantasy of a computer that you can hold in one or two hands and can be carried anywhere. To some extent, today’s smartphones actually meet that criteria, but the difference made by a desktop operating system like Windows is still substantial, especially in terms of gaming. That’s why this new bread of handheld PCs like the Steam Deck and its ilk are trying to target gamers who are more receptive to the idea of being able to play games almost anywhere.

There are limitations to the current design of something that resembles a gigantic game controller with a screen in the middle. At least for something purely dedicated to gaming, that might be fine, but these computers have enough horsepower to actually support almost anything you can run on a regular laptop. Yes, you can use these handheld gaming PCs are regular desktop computers once you connect them to a monitor and keyboard, but you can’t easily do that on the go, especially when it comes to typing something.

The upcoming GPD Win 4 tries to solve that problem in a way that might be familiar to PC historians, particularly those who fondly remember the Sony VAIO UX. Actually, this device would be the Chinese brand’s second to sport this design, presenting a display that can slide up to reveal a keyboard underneath. The GPD Win 4, however, makes one important change that significantly makes it better for use as more than just a gaming device.

The GPD Win 3 launched last year used a flat capacitive surface for the hidden keyboard. Its experience was no better than typing on a smartphone or tablet without the advantage of being able to change the keyboard layout or design. For slowly pecking letters to enter passwords or to chat, that would be fine, but it severely limited the device’s potential to be a true handheld computer.

The next iteration that could be coming in a few months corrects that misstep by using actual physical keys instead. They are, of course, tiny compared even to the smallest laptop, but they provide better haptic and tactile feedback than a rigid flat surface. There have been devices with keyboards as small as these, and some users have been able to master them and improve their accuracy and speed over time. It’s a bit too early to say how good it will be, but it will definitely help make the GPD Win 4 more usable as the all-purpose computer of past dreams.

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Sci-Fi Inspired Computer Terminal With Round Monitor Is Space Ready

The Mainboard Terminal is the brainchild of computer modder Penk Chen, who drew inspiration from old sci-movies, which imagined a future a lot cooler than it actually is. The all-in-one computer uses a Framework Mainboard (which, unlike a Rasberry Pi, is capable of running x86 operating systems) running a version of Ubuntu 22.04 LT that’s been slightly modified to account for the round display. Commander, an enemy ship just appeared on our radar! God, I love playing space rangers.

The Mainboard, which replaces a traditional motherboard and most other hardware (it’s basically an Intel-powered, single-board computer), sits inside a custom 3D-printed case, which also houses a OLKB Preonic mechanical keyboard, perfect for complementing the computer’s retrofuturistic style. I love retrofuturistic style. Maybe that’s why I spend so much time playing Fallout. Plus, you know, it’s a great escape from real life.

Now Penk just needs to make it run off an onboard battery instead of AC power so it’s portable, and I’ve got myself a new mobile workstation! Are people going to stare at me on the subway? Of course, but is it the computer they’re staring at or my space suit? Who knows!

[via TechEBlog]

This customizable multi-screen monitor comes with detachable screens for flexibility of use

A detachable multimonitor setup that reduces clutter on your desk – bringing the multitasking capability of a triple screen setup while having the flexibility of shifting back to a single screen setup without much hassle.

Multiple monitor setups are high on productivity for professionals while looking absolutely stunning in a geeky desk setup. Be it at the office or at home, a multi-monitor PC setup has become more or less a staple for anyone who has to sit in the front of the screen for an extended duration of time for focus-oriented tasks. A major chunk of users go for a dual monitor setup, while some even go all the way up to a three monitor setup. Just imagine gaming on that multiple arrays of screens for a more immersive experience.

Designer: Kester

So why am I delving so much in-depth into a multiple monitor setup, and its inherent advantages? Because there is a chinch in the armor when multiple monitor setup’s not so palpable disadvantage is brought to light. It takes up a lot of space, and if you need to decrease the number of monitors you’ll be working on (just on that odd occasion) the only option is to pick up the high res screen away from your desk. This leaves me with a question – why not have ultra-portable slim screen attachments that can fit the existing screen, as and when the need arises?

The Flux by Loughborough Design’s graduate student Kester, addresses my long-burning query for good. It is a bezel-less monitor with rounded corners that comes with the flexibility of adding modules, or I should say additional displays, to the main monitor and creating a customizable multi-monitor setup. While the user reaps the advantages of the traditional multiple screen setup, the disadvantage of eating up more space on the desk is simply not an issue with this concept design.

Those extra displays can be attached in a jiffy to the main screen to the left, right and the top – depending on the user’s needs. This idea is somewhat similar to the Compal Airttach laptop we came across last year, but the Flux is more about bringing flexibility to your desk setup. Any point in time if this concept meets fruition, I just want that large eye-sore stand to be slimmer and compact.      

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Marses Gen1 PC table concept design offers an interactive surface and a vanishing monitor

Marses Table Top View Image

Online learning and work from home have tremendously kept people busy the past two years of the pandemic. Of course, millions of people worldwide struggled initially, but after hundreds of hours in front of the computer doing virtual meetings and classes, we are already used to this setup. As they say, it is the New Normal, and we believe the virtual lifestyle will go on because of the numerous advantages.

There are plenty of ways how to improve your home office. We are always on the lookout for solutions, devices, and accessories to make things better for everyone. Those work-from-home designs give us ideas on how to meet different needs. The latest on our radar is the Marses Gen1 Table.

Designers: Aman Yadav, Mrinal Tirkey, Saksham Agarwal, Sonal Dhan, Riya Negi, Era, and Susil

MARSES TABLE

The Marses Gen1 is a concept PC table designed by a team. The designers said this table is the future of desktop PCs. It is not just an office desk but is everything you want in a powerful machine, whether for work, school, business, or gaming.

Marses Computer Table Features

The idea is that the Marses Gen1 features the latest-gen hardware, including a next-generation interactive surface with touchscreen goodness. The table’s surface can be a regular computer keyboard or a piano keyboard when you need to play or score music. It can also be a turntable, but when not in use, the surface turns into a plain desktop that is clean and clutter-free (unless you put other stuff on top).

Marses Table Images

The Marses Gen1 is not like any ordinary PC table. It offers an interactive surface that can follow touch commands. It can also be a work table to draw digitally on the surface. It has a Full HD monitor that is sleek and slim for a minimalist look. When not in use, the monitor can be hidden as it can go inside the main case. The PC table can also charge other mobile devices.

For an immersive audio experience, there are premium speakers with Dolby Atmos. The Marses table goes beyond the clean aesthetics as it is meant to arrive with high-quality specs and offer top-notch computer performance. With hardware customization and premium technical requirements, the possibilities are endless.

Marses Studio Table

Marses Gen1 is only a concept design by students from the Indian Institute of Information Technology. It is one beautiful creation that combines form and function and an intelligent solution to end the clutter on your work table. We know someday something similar will become a reality in the future. But, for now, we will settle on computers, laptops, and tablets getting slimmer and thinner by the day.

Marses PC Table Design

Marses Table Where to Buy

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Cooler Master builds a Sneaker-shaped PC case delivering raw computing power inside a shoe

Cooler Master has done the unthinkable this time. Going over and above its image of designing contemporary utility PC cases, the company for its 30th anniversary has created a very unusual case in the shape of a sneaker. Wait… what?

Called Sneaker X, this custom-designed case mod is developed after a design submitted by modder JMDF for the company’s Case Mod World Series in 2020. A perfect delight for the eyes, this PC case with all the LED lighting and computer innards will really appeal to all the sneakerheads out there irrespective of their Nike or Adidas bias.

Designer: Cooler Master

Breaking the bounds of a traditional PC form factor, the Sneaker X is a blistering entrant in the sneaker culture that every fan would want to flaunt. But sadly, this sneaker is not for the feet – instead, it’s for beefing up your blockchain, adventures in the metaverse, or maybe a safe journey in burning millions on a seemingly useless (crypto miners don’t get offended) NFT.

Cooler Master has shared little information about what the Sneaker X will be compatible with. Moreover, the images don’t do enough justice to explain the size of the case, which if we believe is in tune with the JMDF’s design, should be sizeable enough to accommodate all the fancy innards you have to throw at it. As Cooler Master gives out, the custom-designed case would be able to accommodate some of the high-end GPU and CPUs to maybe allow gamers, crypto-maniacs, or a sneakerhead in you to design the PC as you’d want. After all that geek adventure, you still have the immaculate shoe shining under the desk!

There are no details yet about how the Sneaker X will be priced, but it is going to go on pre-order in Q3 of 2022. For now, just stack it against the super sexy GeForce RTX 3080 powered sneakers by NZXT, and decide for yourself which one is cooler out of the two!

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This power-packed workstation is an iMac knockoff for Windows users

The sleekly designed iMac is a classy desktop computer boasting security that is far superior to a Windows PC. Still, it has certain loopholes such as high price, limited upgradability, and software restrictions. That said, Windows-based workstations have also made the wiser move towards a slimmer profile. Rather than expanding in size horizontally won’t it be great if a cool-looking workstation is there which makes use of the vertical space?

Designer: Chris Granneberg

Meet the WS1 Workstation concept designed by industrial design expert Chris Granneberg. This desktop inspired by the Sonos’ unique form is a power-packed computer to run software applications like SolidWorks, KeyShot, or the odd gaming session on the weekends. Just like an all-in-one iMac workstation, this Windows 11 PC has a very clean geometry and cool military green color, The 27-inch monitor is positioned adjacent to the rig holding the powerful hardware inside and the ports are placed to the side. The idea of a peppy desktop is something akin to the Xbox S-inspired all-in-one mini Windows PC.

The WS1 Workstation has a bit bigger volume than the one designed by New Land Design, but that’s understandable because of the high-end graphics card, cooling system and other components. The distance between them has to be optimal for enhanced cooling and performance – so a designer, digital artist or gamer won’t have any complaints about the slightly beefy proportions on the backside. The all-in-one PC has a height-adjustable screen to get just the right ergonomic as well as eye comfort for stress-free working for long hours too. The designer promises to add more ports and connectivity options to the PC in future iterations. Personally, I would like to see someone design such a PC with more color options and a slightly slimmer profile (if that’s possible with high-end hardware) to spice things up and take the challenge head on to Apple!

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This retro-futuristic computer from the Loki series is worth every Marvel fan’s appreciation

The old school computers may have faded in our memory thanks to the high-end Macs and PCs but if you’ve watched Marvel’s Loki, streaming on Disney+, you may have been treated to some retro-futuristic tech, some of which resembles the TVA Multifunctional Computer here.

We have come a long way in time, where computers have evolved to the size and dimension you’re probably reading this on at the moment. But in the mysterious halls of Time Variance Authority, there’s a different setting that ushers in a memorable era of cathode ray tube-like monitors combined with other gizmos to amicably track speech in real-time but not really play you Disney+ to watch the God of Mischief being interrogated.

In the Universe where time defines the odds, the rare possibility can be lived provided JK Captain’s TVA Multifunctional Computer could see the light of day. The retro-futurist tech-styled in the series should have fueled some designer imagination alright, and this multifunctional computer design reminiscent of orange globe-like computer connected to TVA Holoprojector during Loki’s interrogation is drop-dead gorgeous.

Most of the tech innovations appearing in the show built around Loki are custom-made. And for the real world, a designer has enhanced that orange bubble monitor with gizmos evocative of the onscreen adaptation and some more with the white keyboard. Accents of yellow and the gimmicky orange are seen through the contraption, that in may or may not work essentially as the remote control of the Holoprojector.

The reel tape recorder, the volume toggle buttons, microphone, forward, rewind, play, pause, record buttons, and full-scale qwerty keyboard with more knobs and buttons on this multifunctional computer concept is incredibly detailed. In fact, the exquisite detail to which the designer has rendered this in 3D is really worth a sci-fi bloke to appreciate!

Designer: JK Captain

 

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The best 2-in-1 laptops for 2024

We’re still waiting for the perfect hybrid PC that can work as well as a tablet as it does as a laptop. As we enter 2024, it seems like many companies have also given up on that ideal — but Microsoft, Apple and Samsung still have some options to consider. And we’re still seeing OS tweaks to make iOS and Android more usable for larger displays. If you’re on the hunt for your next computer and are dead-set on it being a 2-in-1, we’ve collected our current top picks here plus all of the things you should know before making a purchase.

Factors to consider before buying a 2-in-1 laptop

When you’re shopping for a 2-in-1, there are some basic criteria to keep in mind. First, look at the spec sheet to see how heavy the tablet is (alone, and with the keyboard). Most modern hybrids weigh less than 2 pounds, with the 1.94-pound Surface Pro 9 being one of the heaviest around. The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9+ are both slightly lighter. If the overall weight of the tablet and its keyboard come close to 3 pounds, you’ll be better off getting an ultraportable laptop.

You’ll also want to opt for an 11-inch or 12-inch screen instead of a smaller 10-inch model. Bigger displays will make multitasking easier, plus their companion keyboards will be much better spaced. Also, try to get at least 6GB of RAM if you can for better performance.

Finally, while some 2-in-1s offer built-in LTE or 5G connectivity, not everyone will want to pay the premium for it. An integrated cellular radio makes checking emails or replying to messages on the go far more convenient. But it also often costs more, and that’s not counting what you’ll pay for data. And, as for 5G — you can hold off on it unless you live within range of a mmWave beacon. Coverage is still spotty and existing nationwide networks use the slower sub-6 technology that’s barely faster than LTE. For now, tethering a PC to your phone is still the best way to get online.

These machines still have their limits, of course. Since they’re smaller than proper laptops, they tend to have less-powerful processors. Keyboards are often less sturdy, with condensed layouts and shallower travel. Plus, they’re almost always tablets first, leaving you to buy a keyboard case separately. (And those ain’t cheap!) So, you can’t always assume the advertised price is what you’ll actually spend on the 2-in-1 you want.

See Also:

Sometimes, getting a third-party keyboard might be just as good, and they’re often cheaper than first-party offerings. If you’re looking to save some money, Logitech’s Slim Folio is an affordable option, and if you don’t need your keyboard to attach to your tablet, Logitech’s K780 Multi-Device wireless keyboard is also a good pick.

While we’ve typically made sure to include a budget 2-in-1 in previous years, this time there isn’t a great choice. We would usually pick a Surface Go, but the latest model is still too expensive. Other alternatives, like cheaper Android tablets, are underpowered and don’t offer a great multitasking interface. If you want something around $500 that’s thin, lightweight and long-lasting, you’re better off this year looking at a conventional laptop (like those on our best budget PCs list).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-2-in-1-laptops-173038508.html?src=rss

This Xbox S-inspired all-in-one mini Windows PC rivals the iMac for good measure

While Apple has a pricey proposition for buyers who can’t resist the mini form factor of the iMac, a new Windows all-in-one computer ignites hope for ones who have always liked the freedom of the world’s most-used PC.

The 2021 iMac with the M1 microchip on-board is the powerful all-in-one PC for all kinds of users – and of course – the funky color options to match the modern interiors. Although the limited ports and no upgrade option is a bit of a downer. That leaves most of (including me) craving an option that’s spiced up in Windows flavor. New Land Design seems to have caught onto the idea of an all-in-one Windows desktop PC – bringing another option for users who prefer the more open-ended OS and hardware environment.

The compact PC is inspired by the Xbox Series S design, and it’s fairly evident from the all-white theme. There are plenty of ports up-front (courtesy of re-rerouted IO) to satiate the need of power users who possess a lot of gadgets. The big Xbox-like housing in a Mini ITX has all the hardware components including the RAM, graphics card and more. The designers have crafted the mini PC in a manner to assist the bottom to top airflow for active cooling.

New Land Design has kept the dimensions of the mini Windows PC well within the practical realms and has not tried to outsmart the slim iMac design with an even slimmer profile. The screen has a modern bezel-less look and the height-adjustable movement hides away the ports when brought down to the lower end. Now, the only question remains unanswered – will you want to put this up on your desk anytime soon?

Designer: New Land Design

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