Computers

IFA 2016: HP Pavilion Wave and Elite Slice are different kinds of PCs

Published

September 1, 2016

Marvin Velasco

HP has just unveiled its Pavilion Wave and Elite Slice PCs, proving that there’s still a lot of potential for progress in the desktop computer market. The two products aren’t going to shock you with incredible specs or brand new technologies, though; what makes them special is in the way they fit around your work space.

The Pavilion Wave, for one, has a tall triangular physique surrounded with woven fabric and an integrated speaker on top for 360-degree audio production. By making it tall, the unique PC takes up as little space as possible, without compromising the internals. The 6th-generation Intel Core i3 or i5 processor (no mention of 7th-generation Kaby Lake CPUs here), up to 2TB of hard disk storage and 16GB of RAM, as well as the choice of a dedicated AMD graphics card prove that there’s no need to worry about performance.

Around the Pavilion Wave is a complete set of physical connectivity ports, ranging from high-speed USB and Ethernet ports for data, to HDMI and an audio jack for outputting content. What needs a special mention are the two microphones that support Microsoft’s Cortana. By talking to the personal assistant, several tasks such as searching online and setting reminders can be accomplished hands-free.

The second, and possibly more noteworthy HP product, is the modular Elite Slice. We understand that PCs have been modular for decades, but this stackable computer doesn’t require messy cables or any DIY know-how. By snapping on modules for features like wireless charging, an optical disc drive, or Bang & Olufsen speakers, you can choose how much to bring when taking the unit out. Sadly, the number of modules are limited at the moment, which is the case with a lot of modular gadgets just starting out.

As implied earlier, the Elite Slice is all about portability and space management. The PC weighs only 3.21 pounds, and can be powered through a USB 3.1 cable. The downside is that you’re forced to rely on the integrated graphics chip, but you have the choice of purchasing a 6th-generation Intel Core i7 processor to take up the slack. The variety of options apply to the storage and memory as well, wherein you can install up to 32GB of RAM and high-speed SSD flash storage. Ports include two USB Type-C ports (one for power, and the other for video outputs), two full-sized USB ports, and a complete set of audio-visual sockets.

Thankfully, HP was able to keep the costs to a minimum. The Pavilion Wave has a starting price of $549 and will be available beginning September 23, while the Elite Slice will retail for $699 when it comes out some time this month.

[irp posts=”11673″ name=”HP’s new line puts premium on office productivity”]

Related Topics:Elite Slice HP IFA 2016 Pavilion Wave

Accessories

Acer PA100 portable SSD brings fast, flexible storage on the go

Up to 2TB

Published

September 4, 2026

GadgetMatch

Acer is expanding its storage lineup with the PA100 Portable SSD. It’s a compact external drive designed for users who need faster storage across multiple devices.

The PA100 uses USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectivity. It reaches sequential read speeds of up to 560MB/s and write speeds of up to 430MB/s. This makes it suited for everyday tasks such as transferring large files, backing up content, managing documents, and moving media between devices.

Up to 2TB of portable storage

The PA100 comes in three capacities: 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB. This gives users options depending on whether they need extra space for documents and schoolwork or larger collections of photos, videos, and project files.

Acer also designed the drive with mobility in mind. The PA100 has a slim 9mm profile and a lightweight build, while its reinforced construction is designed to withstand everyday travel and handling.

The drive comes with a 2-in-1 USB-C to USB-C and USB-A cable. This allows it to connect to compatible PCs, tablets, smartphones, and other devices without requiring a separate adapter. It also supports major operating systems and USB-C mobile platforms.

Designed for everyday use

Power efficiency is another focus. Acer says the PA100 uses less than 3W during operation, while idle power consumption can drop to as low as 0.62W.

The drive also features an optimized thermal design to help maintain stable performance during extended transfers and daily workloads.

The Acer PA100 Portable SSD is backed by a three-year limited warranty. Pricing and availability may vary by market.

Computers

New Mac mini starts at a whopping $899, only 256GB of storage

It comes with the M6 or the M5 Pro.

Published

August 26, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Almost two decades ago, Apple was infamous for being an anti-gamer brand. Though the company’s devices touted superior protection against viruses, they couldn’t play video games, alienating a significant chunk of the population and forcing them onto PCs. For a while now, the Mac has changed the status quo, bringing in more powerful hardware that can play games. Today, Apple is championing that cause further through the newly launched Mac mini.

Compared to the chunkier Macs, the Mac mini has a lithe 5” x 5” profile, emphasizing the “mini” in its name. Despite the size, the new mini will tout two flavors of Apple silicon: the M6 and the M5 Pro.

The M6 variant delivers with up to two times faster gaming performance with ray tracing when running Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, compared to the previous M4 version. Meanwhile, the M5 Pro version touts up to 4.5 times faster rendering performance with ray tracing in Blender, compared to the M2 Pro. It will come with macOS 27 Golden Gate out of the box.

You won’t have to worry about connectivity, either. The Mac mini comes with compatibility for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and 2.5Gb Ethernet (going up to 10Gb in upgraded versions). It will also have two USB-C ports, three Thunderbolt 5 ports (but only Thunderbolt 4 for the M6 version), and HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and a headphone jack.

Unfortunately, price seems to be another thing that it’s getting from PCs. The new Mac mini has an increased starting price. Specifically, the M6 version starts at US$ 899 (with only 256GB of storage), and the M5 Pro version starts at US$ 1,699 (for 512GB of storage). Preorders are open now, but they ship out on September 22.

Computers

ASUS unveils TUF Gaming T700, T700 Mini

Built for extreme operational demands

Published

August 21, 2026

GadgetMatch

ASUS has announced the arrival of its latest TUF Gaming desktop lineup models: the TUF Gaming T700 and TUF Gaming T700 Mini.

These new offerings bring heavy-duty performance and military-grade durability to gamers, engineered to endure extreme operational demands while delivering rock-solid stability.

The new ASUS TUF Gaming T700, in particular, is engineered to take on modern AAA titles with its uncompromising performance.

It has an aggressive mecha-inspired MIL-STD chassis, including a transparent side panel to put powerful components on display. Vibrant orange ambient lighting also adds a bold finishing touch.

Inside is an AMD Ryzen 7 8700F processor and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti GPU for high-frame rate gaming.

The T700 also features a robust thermal solution equipped with quad 65 CFM fans and a 240mm liquid cooler.

Meanwhile, the TUF Gaming T700 Mini is tailored for competitive gamers while maintaining a compact, battle-tested chassis.

It has an Intel Core Ultra 5 225F desktop processor, paired with with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics.

This combination provides seamless multitasking, crisp visuals, and reliable frame rates across today’s popular titles.

The internal hardware is cooled by a custom thermal matrix featuring dedicated copper heat pipes and a heavy-duty 90mm cooling fan.

True to the TUF Gaming legacy, the T700 Mini is likewise MIL-STD tested to endure extreme operational demands.