Windows Weekly 1004: Fat-Washed
Show notes
Microsoft and NVIDIA's RTX Spark laptops are official, with preorders open and shipping October 16. Prices run from $2,599 (24GB) to $5,899 (128GB, already sold out on Surface). Paul and Leo cover who needs that much RAM, what "hybrid intelligence" means, and why Paul's new Googlebook disappointed him.
Windows
- RTX Spark laptops: from $2,599 (24GB), $3,700 (32GB), $5,899 (128GB). Ships Oct 16
- Partners: Microsoft, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, MSI. Paul reviews the HP OmniBook Ultra 16 first
- Surface RTX Spark Dev Box: $6,000+
- "Hybrid intelligence": local AI first, cloud when needed
- Windows Search gets inline AI actions in Insider builds
- Cloud Rebuild adds better remove and sanitize options
- Windows app adds Remote PC connections (preview)
- Intel Wildcat Lake: Paul's test laptop was slow even with 16GB
- Googlebook first look: Lenovo Googlebook 15 (~$1,100) is missing basics an iPad has
- Microsoft has tried to kill Windows many times, including the leaked Project Aion
AI/Dev
- Microsoft AI ships new voice and transcription models
- Gemini 4 Argon is announced, but limited to cybersecurity partners
- Google Docs and Drive add native Markdown
- C# Dev Kit 11 arrives with .NET 11
Xbox and Gaming
- Rockstar corrects reports of exclusive Xbox GTA VI streaming. Launch is Nov 19
- Xbox Elite Series 3 controller leaks again, with a built-in screen
- October Game Pass: Battlefield 6 and more
- Sony brings QSSR AI upscaling to the standard PS5
- Google Playground lets you vibe-code games
Tips and Picks
- Tip of the week: Desktop98.com, a Windows 98 simulator in your browser
- App pick: Gears of War: E-Day (Game Pass Ultimate and PC)
- Brown liquor pick: 1792 Small Batch bourbon
Hosts: Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrott
Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly
Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com
The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.
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