Best of Hardware — May 2025

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    Article
    Avatar of dhhDavid Heinemeier Hansson·1y

    Cheap mini PCs have gotten really good

    The Minisforum UM870 mini PC, retailing at $343 as a bare-bone unit, offers surprising performance with its 8-core/16-thread AMD 8745H CPU, 48GB RAM, and 1TB storage for under $550. It matches or exceeds larger, more expensive systems in certain tasks, such as running the HEY test suite faster than a 14-core Apple M4 Pro. While it may lack capabilities like 8K video editing that high-end Apple systems offer, it compensates by being able to play modern games at 1080p. The post highlights the impressive efficiency and cost-effectiveness of modern mini PCs, driven by advancements in technology and manufacturing.

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    Video
    Avatar of t3dotggTheo - t3․gg·1y

    OpenAI spends $6.5 billion to hire one guy

    OpenAI's recent acquisition of Joanie Ive's consulting company IO for $6 billion aims to explore the potential of dedicated AI hardware devices. This move is considered a strategic effort by CEO Sam Altman, focusing on whether AI-driven hardware can succeed as a market. Despite the uncertainty around AI devices' future demand, OpenAI aims to compete with giants like Google by enhancing product under its umbrella through better vertical integration.

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    Article
    Avatar of theregisterThe Register·1y

    Torvalds' typing taste test touches tactile tragedy

    The post discusses Linus Torvalds' recent switch back from low-profile keyboards to mechanical Cherry Blue keyboards, highlighting their tactile superiority. It emphasizes the need for innovation in keyboard design, comparing the famed IBM Model M and pointing out the lack of a descriptive framework for the keyboard experience. Despite advancements, the article laments the absence of a universally satisfying keyboard that balances performance and noise.

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    Article
    Avatar of omgubomg! ubuntu!·52w

    Flexbar, USB Apple Touch Bar Clone, Now Supports Linux

    Flexbar, a crowdfunded USB-powered Touch Bar clone, now supports Linux. Initially met with skepticism due to its low crowdfunding goal, the project successfully delivered products to backers and provided ongoing updates for software and firmware. Despite some user concerns about software functionality and security, ENIAC is now selling Flexbar directly, with premium build quality reported by users.

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