Microsoft will formally finish assist for Home windows 10 on October 14, 2025, and hundreds of thousands of customers are nonetheless operating that model. Some will be capable of improve to Home windows 11, however many gained’t, as a result of Home windows 11 requires {hardware} that many Home windows 10 machines lack. Meaning numerous PC customers could discover themselves out there for a brand new laptop between now and October.
And there’s another excuse to think about upgrading: many new PCs now embrace a Neural Processing Unit (NPU)—a particular chip designed to optimize duties powered by synthetic intelligence (AI).
For the previous couple of weeks, I’ve been utilizing HP’s new OmniBook Extremely Flip 14-inch 2-in-1 laptop computer, marketed as a “Next Gen AI PC.” The evaluate unit HP despatched me got here with 2 terabytes of SSD storage and 32 gigabytes of RAM—greater than most individuals want. As configured, this model prices round $1,800, however you may get a mannequin with 512 GB storage, a barely slower processor, and 16 GB of RAM for about $1,100, which is lots for many customers.
The laptop computer has an impressive14-inch OLED contact display, which seems nice indoors and is readable even in shiny daylight. The model I’ve additionally flips all the best way again. At a tad below 3 kilos, it’s on the lighter facet as laptops go. I don’t use the flip function usually, however it may come in useful when watching movies or if you wish to use it like a pill. It can be used with an exterior monitor, keyboard and mouse and be folded in order that it capabilities as an incredible secondary show. Though I largely use the contact pad to regulate the PC, the contact display can come in useful at instances. It additionally comes with an non-obligatory pen that you should utilize to jot down or draw instantly on the display, which could be very helpful for graphic artists.
Keyboard, responsiveness and battery life
As a author, my favourite function is the keyboard, with barely outsized keys and larger-than-usual characters, which make it simpler and extra comfy to kind. It’s a noticeable improve from many laptop computer keyboards, and since you’re caught with no matter keyboard your laptop computer comes with, this one is a welcome enchancment.
The laptop computer could be very responsive, loading apps virtually as rapidly as you may click on. Though web efficiency is usually a operate of the velocity of your community, a quicker PC can extra rapidly replace your browser, which may make a distinction. It’s not an enormous deal, however I prefer it once I don’t have to attend even a second or two to load an app or swap between duties. It’s not a lot the period of time however the danger of shedding my practice of thought as I anticipate a program or web site to load.
The Omnibook is rated for “up to 12 hours and 30 minutes” of steady use on battery solely, in accordance with HP and “as much as 20 hours and half-hour of native video playback. Battery estimates, like miles per gallon or EV vary, will all the time be totally different in the true world, however, thus far, I’ve been capable of get by a day’s price of use with out having to plug it in.
AI processor and software program
Like an growing variety of PCs, this machine is marketed as an AI laptop. And though it does have a neuro processing unit (NPU) optimized for AI functions together with some software program that makes use of that NPU and AI to enhance efficiency, the NPU and the opposite AI options are usually not essential to run ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Meta AI, Perplexity or any of the opposite glorious web-based AI providers. You’ll be able to run them on any web linked system.
The HP does include its personal HP AI Companion app, which at first appears much like the numerous AI internet apps that run on any system, however it has one very promising function that takes benefit of the NPU. You’ll be able to create your personal doc libraries by importing PDFs, Phrase recordsdata and different docs that you would be able to then question utilizing the AI Companion. There are a number of use instances, together with with the ability to higher perceive or discover issues from your personal PC and enhanced privateness by not having to add all these recordsdata to the cloud. I’m utilizing it to create a library from the 1000’s of articles I’ve written through the years and am excited in regards to the skill to question my very own content material. Firms may use this and related instruments to create their very own inner AI knowledge units for worker entry.
The AI OmniBook additionally comes with Polly Digicam Professional that makes use of AI and the NPU to boost images and movies, together with stay Zoom calls. There are additionally some video enhancing and creation instruments that use AI and the NPU to create and course of video.
Prepared for the longer term
We’re nonetheless within the early days of PC-based AI processing, and solely a restricted variety of functions presently take full benefit of the NPU and different AI options constructed into these new machines. However that’s typical with rising applied sciences. Assume again to the early Apple II. By itself, it wasn’t particularly helpful till builders created breakthrough applications comparable to VisiCalc, which remodeled it into vital productiveness instrument for its time. The identical may occur with AI PCs because the software program ecosystem catches up.
We’re nonetheless very early within the period of PC-based AI processing, so there are a restricted variety of applications that reap the benefits of the ability constructed into this and different “AI” PCs. However that’s all the time the case with new applied sciences going again to the early days of the Apple II, which wasn’t all that helpful till programmers began creating killer apps that turned it into an extremely highly effective machine for its time.
I don’t know if or when having an NPU will turn into important. However should you’re searching for a brand new Home windows PC, it is sensible to think about one that features it, simply to “future-proof” your funding (quotes as a result of the longer term is all the time unsure).
For now, nearly any trendy PC or Mac will deal with at present’s duties with ease. However should you’re inquisitive about what’s coming subsequent, an AI PC may very well be your window into the longer term—particularly as software program begins to meet up with the highly effective new {hardware}.
Larry Magid is a tech journalist and web security activist. Contact him at [email protected].
