New Windows 10 devices unveiled at CES 2017 unlock the creator in each of us

Happy New Year!

And thank you for making 2016 an amazing year for Windows 10 across PCs, tablets, all-in-1’s, 2-in-1’s, mixed reality, and Xbox One. As we move toward the release of the Windows 10 Creators Update, I’ve spent the week at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, seeing all kinds of innovation firsthand. It’s incredible to see the creativity of our partners and so many teams around the world who are building devices for each of us.

Empowering you to create and play continues to be at the core of how we build Windows, whether you’re a student, educator, gamer, creative or mobile professional. This week our partners announced some fantastic new devices at CES.

Key themes among partner devices include VR-ready gaming PCs featuring the latest NVIDIA graphics cards, increased power and performance with Intel’s latest 7th Gen Core i7 processor, lighter devices with longer battery life for greater portability than ever, OLED and 4K screens for the most stunning visuals, infrared cameras and fingerprint readers that unlock Windows Hello, and much more.

Here are some highlights:

Acer launched cutting-edge gaming PCs that deliver performance, design innovation, and immersive experiences

Acer introduced the highly anticipated curved-screen Predator 21 X gaming laptop. It offers a curved 21-inch IPS display and delivers a truly immersive gaming experience, especially when combined with the notebook’s Tobii eye-tracking technology. The curved screen features NVIDIA G-SYNC technology, ensuring smooth and sharp gameplay. Acer also introduced a VR-ready PC: the Aspire GX desktop that delivers stunning 4K resolution visuals and can support up to four displays at once for a maximized gaming experience. To learn more about what Acer announced at CES, visit this link.

Dell delivered first-of-a-kind PC and peripheral innovations that empower creators, and introduced the new XPS 13 2-in-1

Dell unveiled a series of innovations built with Windows 10 to redefine personal computing – including the Dell Canvas, a horizontal smart workspace with touch, totem and pen capabilities; a 13-inch 2-in-1; XPS and Precision All-in-Ones; the Dell UltraSharp 32 Ultra HD 8K Monitor; Dell’s most powerful VR-ready mobile workstation, and a wireless charging 2-in-1 for the ultimate “no wires” experience. The Dell Canvas with Windows 10 is a new category of smart workspace technology that expands creative productivity for content developers and designers; the 27-inch QHD smart workspace can be used at an angle or flat on a desk so you can create, communicate, and express your ideas as naturally as you do with pen on paper. Powered by virtually any Windows 10 device, Dell Canvas also plugs seamlessly into software solutions from partners including Adobe, Autodesk, AVID, Dassault Systems, SolidWorks, and Microsoft to unleash the creative genius in everyone.

Dell also introduced an all new XPS 13 2-in-1 that offers a 360-degree hinge for multiple productivity and viewing options, up to 15 hours of battery life, and eye-popping clarity with a gorgeous QHD+ (5.7M pixels) InfinityEdge touch display. The fanless design keeps it silent and it can be configured with 7th Gen Intel Core vPro processors. To learn more about what Dell announced at CES, visit this link.

HP delivered power and innovative design in the redesigned Sprout Pro, and their latest 2-in-1 for business

HP introduced the redesigned Sprout Pro, an immersive all-in-one PC that incorporates advanced technologies and new features that empower you to create highly visual content and interactive experiences by blending the physical and digital worlds. HP has evolved Sprout Pro’s software to make it easy to interact between Windows 10 Pro and Sprout’s unique HD resolution projector, touch mat, and 2D/3D cameras. The Sprout Pro now features a hefty Intel Core i7 processor, 1TB of SSHD storage, up to 16GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M graphics for faster 3D scanning, and Windows 10 Pro with its innovative and secure experiences.

HP also announced the HP EliteBook x360 1030, an incredibly thin 14.9mm business-class convertible, featuring the iconic Elite design and durability, this device is built for performance with Intel 7^th Generation Core processors and runs Windows 10 Pro. Integrated collaboration capabilities enhance productivity with dedicated conferencing keys, audio features bring new life to meetings and a 13.3-inch diagonal optional 4K UHD display with webcam and pen support makes creating content easier than ever. To learn more about what HP announced at CES, visit this link.

Lenovo introduced a new gaming brand and powerful state-of-the-art gaming laptops

Lenovo launched a dedicated sub-brand for Lenovo gaming, called Lenovo Legion. Lenovo’s new Legion offerings come in the form of two powerful gaming laptops designed for mainstream and enthusiast players. The Lenovo Legion Y720 and Y520 laptops offer gamers state-of-the-art technology to fully immerse in the game. These new PCs allow for a greater gaming experience in every sense—powering VR through the latest NVIDIA graphics, better sound with Dolby Atmos, and increased power with Intel’s latest 7th Gen Core i7 processor. In addition to these new gaming laptops, Lenovo announced updates to the ThinkPad X1 family of devices that are thinner, lighter, and more powerful than previous models. To learn more about what Lenovo announced at CES, visit this link.

LG delivered superior portability and battery life

The feather-light LG Gram’s feature 7th generation Intel Core i7 processors, up to 512GB SSD and max 16GB DDR4 Dual Channel Memory and Full HD IPS panels that supports In-Touch Display technology. The newest LG Gram laptops come in three different screen sizes – the 13.3-inch and 14.0-inch models weigh in at 940 grams and 970 grams, respectively, while the largest model only weighs 1,090 grams despite its impressive 15.6-inch screen. Super slim bezels frame the screen to create a sophisticated, near-edgeless touchscreen that is great for interacting naturally with Windows 10 and using Windows Ink to make notes and annotate directly on webpages in Microsoft Edge. To learn more about what LG announced at CES, visit this link.

Game on with new MSI Laptops that pack the power of traditional desktops

MSI launched a brand-new lineup of gaming devices powered by Windows 10, the latest Intel 7th generation CPUs, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10 GPUs. Brand-new VR-ready gaming laptops, gaming motherboards, ultimate gaming graphics cards equipped with TWIN FROZR VI, gaming desktop PCs and Gaming Gear peripherals to bring gamers all over the world the latest and greatest technologies. New MSI GT83VR, GT73VR, GS73VR, GS63VR, and GS43VR gaming laptops are powered by Windows 10 and Intel 7th generation CPUs and NVIDIA GeForce GTX1050 Ti & GTX1050 gaming graphics cards, feature enhanced audio experiences and offer gamers the power of a desktop including fast and smooth VR experiences to gamers on the go. To learn more about what MSI announced at CES, visit this link.

Samsung unveiled their first gaming PC powered by Windows 10, the Samsung Notebook Odyssey

This week Samsung unveiled their first ever gaming PC, the Samsung Notebook Odyssey powered by Windows 10. Available in 17.3-inch and 15.6-inch models, the Samsung Notebook Odyssey packs power in a beautiful design with premium features to offer a premium gaming experience. Powered by a 7th Generation Intel Core i7 processor (Quad Core 45W), both models of the Samsung Notebook Odyssey offer lightning fast performance with premium graphic technologies. In addition to its high-performing engine, the Samsung Notebook Odyssey 15-inch offers a beautiful viewing experience including a backlight that goes up to 280 nits in brightness for crystal clear images. Samsung also showcased their recently updated Samsung Notebook 9 15-inch laptop. The Notebook 9 15-inch is equipped with the latest 7th Generation Intel Core i7 Processor, features a vibrant full HD display, has a built-in fingerprint reader that unlocks password free sign in with Windows Hello, and is packed with a battery that can last as long as 15 hours on a single charge. To learn more about what Samsung announced at CES, visit this link.

Toshiba introduced a powerful premium 2-in-1 for business

Toshiba introduced the new Portégé X20W, a premium 2-in-1 convertible PC running Windows 10 Pro. Measuring 15.4mm thin and weighing less than 2.5 pounds, the Portégé X20W has a battery life of up to 16 hours, features multi-directional microphones to support Cortana, a pair of IR cameras to allow easy and secure log in with Windows Hello, and a touchscreen for digital inking with Windows Ink or marking up webpages in Microsoft Edge. The Portégé X20W is designed for mobile professionals, educators, and students. To learn more about what Toshiba announced at CES, visit this link.

These great new devices are just the beginning of how Windows will enable more creativity in 2017. As we announced in October, the Windows 10 Creators Update will let customers access amazing mixed reality content with the Universal Windows Platform catalog on head mounted displays from hardware partners like Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and 3Glasses. And as we announced in December, with Windows 10 on ARM, we are addressing the growing desire for more lightweight, portable, more battery efficient PCs. By partnering Qualcomm hardware with the Windows 10 Creators update and emulation technology, we’re opening the doors for our partners to build innovative devices that will create diversity in the marketplace and bring more choice to people and businesses that are looking for always-connected mobile computing experiences.

I want to thank all our partners for the great work they are doing to develop hardware that is designed to maximize all the benefits of the Windows 10 Creators Update. These partnerships ensure an entire ecosystem of devices to choose from so that each of us can unleash our inner creator, and 2017 is shaping up to bring even more exciting and compelling options than ever before.

Terry