Computex: The best of the largest "computer" fair

Despite the ubiquitous AI mass psychosis, there were also products without AI on the Computex. c’t 3003 has chosen the most interesting. Transcription of the video

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Look here, I'm here at the Computex in Taiwan and what I don't understand at all: there's nothing about AI here! Scherz, it's just too absurd how much AI stuff you've encountered here. It's almost like a cartoon. I wouldn't be sure if there's a single booth at all, where there's no AI. And as it is with such overhypes: everyone thinks they have to join. Like here, for example, the first agentic monitor. Yes, puh, I really have to laugh loud in between – I'll show you right away. In fact, on the Computex you sometimes feel like you're going right into an AI data center. What makes sense, because all companies obviously want to go in there, so into the AI server business, because absurdly much money flows into the construction of AI data centers. Then the PC components for non-computer center products become scarce and expensive, especially memory. Why less and less private people buy PCs – a vicious circle. And here on the Computex you can see how everyone is trying to work the AI ramageddon around it. How creative the industry does this, you can see in this video and also some other very interesting products here on the Computex. Hold on. Dear hackers, dear internet surfers, welcome here... Yes, the Computex in Taiwan once called itself the largest computer fair in the world. Quiet in peace, CeBIT. But if you go to the website today, there's nothing about computers. So, only behind AI is “AI and Computing”. And otherwise there is only, Computex is the leading global fair focused on AIoT and startups. AIoT, hä? Artificial Intelligence of Things. Honestly, I've never heard that before. But okay, maybe it's me. No matter, get into the Computex together with my whole heise colleagues. This year we've been beaten up with a huge team. Nice! Notebooks with 8GB RAM

For me, it was definitely the biggest surprise that there were big notebook new ideas that actually come into trade with 8 GB of RAM as standard. A year ago, there were 8 GB only in the absolute cheap class for less than 100 euros. From the middle class were 16 GB standard. And now there is the Acer Swift Air 14, which comes in Europe for 800 euros, exclusively with 8 GB, because in order to keep prices low, the main board is made in high numbers only in one configuration, just with 8 GB soldered on. So it's the reality, you can't blame Acer now, the companies have to improvise around the AI ramageddon. Also Applewhich obviously offer her quite successful MacBook Neo also with 8 GB for 700 euros. And Acer wants to wild in this MacBook-Neo target group quite obviously, that's what you can see from the advertising that already reminds of Apple. In any case, feels worthy, i.e. with alu case and so, but the Acer Swift Air 14 costs 100 euros more than the neo, but there is an inch more display diagonal, there are better connections, i.e. twice USB-C with full Thunderbolt 4 and a USB-A socket. With the MacBook Neo, there are only two USB-C with USB 3 and USB 2 each, so it's very splashed. And the Acer display makes 120 Hertz, with Apple there are only 60. The problem is only: 8 GB under Windows 11 and under macOS may feel different. So, if you have many tabs open in the browser, then both operating systems will go to the knees with so little memory. But in general, I would then say that Windows 11 booth today manages with 8 GB less well than macOS. Dell also shows a MacBook-Neo competitor with the XPS 13. This also has an aluminium case, probably also costs 800 euros in Europe with 8 GB of RAM, but also has at least 120 Hz and even an illuminated keyboard. Nevertheless, short c't 3003-recommendation: Don't buy a computer with 8 GB of RAM. If you can't spend so much money or want, you'd better take something used. Handhelds and RTX Spark

Yes, and new PC handhelds were also available, for example the Asus ROG Ally X20 with a bold 7.4-inch OLED display and AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme or the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ – short insertion, without AI it is not possible, even in the type designations – with the Intel competitor Arc G3 and 9-inch LC display. These are actually interesting devices, I think, but because there is so much RAM in it, i.e. 24 or even 32 GB, the parts are likely to become so expensive that I can't imagine that many people are going to get this stuff. Yeah, I'm sorry. The same also applies to the most frequently discussed computers on the Computex, namely the first notebooks with Nvidia-CPU andGPUthe RTX parking calculator. So that with prices is a prognosis of us, because there was as good as no information about the parts so far, although really every relevant notebook manufacturer has announced such a part and that should also come in autumn. My c't colleague Florian found out a little more at the fair than the manufacturers wanted to say. For example, it assumes that the large Nvidia notebook chip code name N1X can be heated by 45 to 85 Watt. The cooling system in Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra with the N1X is even designed for 110 Watts. However, there will also be a splashed version of the ATX Spark chip, which then means N1, i.e. without X. And the big question is now, of course: how will the battery life be? Because the virtual desktop version of the RTX Spark, i.e. the DGX Spark, we have already tested, and there we have already measured 20 watts in idle. So that will definitely be interesting. Tandem OLEDs (matt!)

Speaking of interesting: I found the beautiful OLED monitors that you can really see here at any corner remarkable. The special thing is that those who no longer look good in the past just in a rather dark environment, but that they are really brightly pure. Tandem is the keyword. This means that two or even more organic luminous layers are superimposed and thus bring more brightness. According to manufacturers, this also reduces the risk of burning, which is always a topic for OLED. Two manufacturers build these OLED panels, namely once Samsung – the QD-OLED, that is Quantum Dots OLED – and once LG. What's new: There are OLED monitors now in very, very many size classes. That was quite limited in the past. For example, I found the ROG Strix OLED XG259QWPG, which is marketed as an eSports monitor, is very small with 24.5 inches for OLED and actually shows only 1080p resolution, but has 540 Hertz. What has always caused me a bit of annoying at OLEDs: they have always mirrored. MSI now had such an Apple-Studio display-like device on the Computex – with OLED, 27 inches, 4K, 120 Hertz and matted. The price range will probably be around 650 euros. The AI Dragon

I was talking about useless AI functions at the beginning. MSI has actually launched the world's first agentic AI-QD-OLED monitor. The point is that you can connect a PC to the OpenClaw or the MSI-adjusted version called Lucky Claw. And it can then change parameters of the monitor. So, instead of pressing the button for brightness, I can text my Claw wizard: “Make brightness higher” or hold it by language. I'm saying this doesn't make my life better. With the MEG Vision X2 AI+, MSI also had a complete PC at the start, on which LuckyClaw is not only pre-installed, but where a display is also installed in the case, where an animated hologram, i.e. LC display, is then installed with this MSI dragon. And then you can talk to him. Specifically, they had set this on the Computex so that OpenClaw ran with the Chinese Cloud AI model Minimax and the voice output over 11 Labs. And in the voice, so, I say, MSI has not chosen the most relaxed version. Keno: Why don't you always speak so loud? MSI-LuckyClaw Dragon figure (very loud and excited): Hello, all right with me? Thank you for asking why I don't speak loud, that's just my style. Friendly and accessible. I want to help you, don't run over you. Clear and pragmatic. I'll take it to the point without it. Positive and supportive. Whether gaming laptop or business PC, I'm on your side. Professional. I'm an AI assistant, but I'm supposed to be human. Volume is not my thing. I'd rather be the quiet, reliable type that will help you honestly with MSI products. Is there anything that I can help you? Whether it's a technical question, product recommendation or just a little small talk. I'm here. And in general, one should not use any potentially dangerous software like OpenClaw, which gets security updates almost daily, perhaps in a variant of another manufacturer where the updates are not simultaneously passed through. Would be my assessment now. But the dragon is, of course, quite cute. What do you think? More about the Computex is also available at our 4004 podcast, also here on the channel and wherever there are podcasts. Bye! c't 3003 is the YouTube channel of c't. The videos on c’t 3003 are independent content and independent of the articles in c’t magazine. The editors Jan-Keno Janssen, Lukas Rumpler, Sahin Erengil and Pascal Schewe publish a video every week. (jkj)