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Lilbits: Apple leaks ahead of WWDC (iPads to work more like laptops, Macs with M2) and gaming performance of Intel’s Celeron 7305 and Pentium 8505

by Brad Linder 9 Comments on Lilbits: Apple leaks ahead of WWDC (iPads to work more like laptops, Macs with M2) and gaming performance of Intel’s Celeron 7305 and Pentium 8505

Chinese PC makers AYA and AYN have both announced plans to offer budget handheld gaming computers that undercut Valve’s Steam Deck on price by using AMD Mendocino or Intel’s entry-level Alder Lake-U processors. While we don’t know much about the performance of AMD’s chip yet, YouTuber Taki Udon has already begun running gaming tests on […]

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BIOS Update lets you install Windows 11 on the GPD Win Max (2020) handheld gaming PC

by Brad Linder 4 Comments on BIOS Update lets you install Windows 11 on the GPD Win Max (2020) handheld gaming PC

The GPD Win Max is a handheld gaming PC that looks like a little laptop with built-in game controllers. Released in 2020 with 10th-gen Intel Ice Lake processor and Iris Plus graphics, it shipped with Windows 10… and it probably would have stayed there for most users if GPD hadn’t just released a BIOS update […]

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How to install Windows 11 on the ONEXPLAYER handheld gaming PC

by Brad Linder Comments Off on How to install Windows 11 on the ONEXPLAYER handheld gaming PC

The ONEXPLAYER is one of the most powerful handheld gaming computers to date, with support for up to an Intel Core i7-1195G7 processor, 16GB of RAM, up to 2TB of storage and an 8.4 inch, 2560 x 1600 pixel display. But the ONEXPLAYER originally shipped with Windows 10. Want to upgrade to Windows 11? You […]

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Intel Seamless Updates could pave the way for firmware updates without a reboot

by Brad Linder 1 Comment on Intel Seamless Updates could pave the way for firmware updates without a reboot

Intel is developing technology that could reduce down time for some computers, by allowing the UEFI/BIOS firmware to be updated without the need for a reboot. As spotted by Phoronix, the feature is called “Intel Seamless Update,” and it’s likely aimed at servers first. But the technology could eventually find its way to consumer hardware. […]

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Libreboot ported to Asus Chromebook C201 (free software bootloader)

by Brad Linder 7 Comments on Libreboot ported to Asus Chromebook C201 (free software bootloader)

There are plenty of open source operating systems available for laptop and desktop computers. But in order to run Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, or other Linux-based software on most computers, you’ll need to rely on some proprietary, closed-source firmware for the bootloader, WiFi card, graphics, or other hardware. Libreboot is a project that takes aim at […]

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Some Lenovo laptops install software even after you clean install Windows (but there’s a fix)

by Brad Linder 5 Comments on Some Lenovo laptops install software even after you clean install Windows (but there’s a fix)

Most computers that ship with Windows also ship with some third-party software installed by the PC maker. Some of that software can be useful, including drivers for touchpads, cameras, wireless cards, and other hardware. Some is less useful, including pre-installed free trial security or office software. You’d think that one way to get rid of all […]

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Windows 8 won’t prevent you from dual booting with Linux, but hardware vendors might

by Brad Linder 6 Comments on Windows 8 won’t prevent you from dual booting with Linux, but hardware vendors might

Before a computer boots Windows, OS X, Linux, or any other operating system it loads system-level firmware. For the past few decades most PCs have used something called BIOS to recognize your hardware and load the appropriate operating system. But there’s a new kid in town called UEFI, (which is what Macs have been using […]

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DIY Eee PC BIOS Resurrection

by James Diaz Comments Off on DIY Eee PC BIOS Resurrection

Most of the time when someone says they’re trying to update or downgrade the BIOS on their computer, they simply mean they want to change the software running on the BIOS. But sometimes that’s not so easy to do without physically modifying the BIOS chips — and that’s exactly what Eee User forum member naviathan […]

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UEFI could replace BIOS, lead to faster boot times

by Brad Linder 5 Comments on UEFI could replace BIOS, lead to faster boot times

Pretty much every PC that ships today uses a system called BIOS to allow the operating system to interact with your computer’s hardware. The BIOS software is basically the firmware that’s loaded on your motherboard. And it looks like something that was designed decades ago… because it was. When you want to change BIOS settings, […]