WW 984: For Entertainment Purposes Only - Price Shock With Surface Laptops?!

WW 984: For Entertainment Purposes Only - Price Shock With Surface Laptops?!

Author: TWiT May 21, 2026 Duration: 2:44:28

Windows Insider Program

  • Release Preview channel updates (including 26H1 for the first time? - A preview of the June Patch Tuesday updates - Shared audio, NPU usage in
  • Task Manager, multi-app camera support, Magnifier improvements.
  • Taskbar updates come to Insiders! Also in Canary, weʼre throwing them a bone this time.

Enshittification remedies all around

  • Microsoft just held a WinHEC for the first time since 2018 and thereʼs a new Windows Driver Initiative!
  • Microsoft will soon let us remap Copilot key to Right Ctrl, which is what it was in the first place.
  • A Linux privacy nut YouTuber confuses privacy and security and doesnʼt understand Windows 11 so...
  • ... Paul wrote a complete guide to the local account de-Microsoft experience in Windows 11
  • Microsoft Edge will stop loading all passwords into clear text on startup like a big boy browser.

Hardware

  • Paul came home to an ASUS Zenbook A16 and ohmygodohmygodohmygod

Surface

  • Microsoft finally revs Surface Laptop and Surface Pro for Business, with Intel chips and VERY high prices.
  • Snapdragon X2 variants in late 2026 because of supply issues wa-waa-waaaaa.

AI

  • MDASH is Microsoftʼs answer to Anthropic Mythos, in-house only.
  • Elon Musk and Sam Altman are both terrible but a jury decided against Muskʼs frivolous lawsuit.
  • OpenAI and Apple might head to court over Siri promises
  • OpenAI Codex is on mobile via the ChatGPT app
  • Google unleashes an AI tsunami at Google IO this week. A few relevant takeaways:
  • Overview of the major announcements
    • Google advances Android as a developer platform
    • Chrome is turning into a proactive assistant
    • Google AI subscriptions are an incredible value
    • Related: The Gemini Intelligence feature for Googlebooks and more has steep hardware requirements - 12 GB of RAM, flagship SoC So Pixel 10 series/Galaxy S26 series and newer only etc.
  • Just a reminder that Microsoft makes a Linux distribution ... for Azure specifically
  • More dev
    • WWDC schedule is up for June 8 opening day
    • Build 2026 kicks off June 2 in SFO
    • After another boring .NET 11 preview release, we finally get our first look at a major change: MAUI is switching from the Mono runtime to the CoreCLR runtime.
    • And we should pause for a moment to remember S "Soma" Somasegar, who sadly passed away this week.

Xbox and Gaming

  • Next Xbox Elite controller leaks and it is glorious
    • Related: An Xbox Cloud-Connected controller leaks too and it is less than glorious.
  • Forza Horizon 6 is here, and itʼs on Game Pass on Day One.
    • Be sure to read Laurentʼs detailed review.
  • Haters gonna keep hating: Fans want Xbox exclusives because their heads are still in the sand.
    • Sony is allegedly returning to this model for single player experiences
    • Related: Sony raises prices on PS Plus
  • Fortnite comes back to the Apple App Store worldwide *excluding Australia for some reason.

Tips and Picks

  • Tip of the week: Google AI Studio.
  • Vibe-code your next app with this incredible free tool.
  • Related: A look at Markdown editors.

App pick of the week: DeskScapes 2026

  • Stardock DeskScapes 2026 is normally $9.99 but it will cost just $6.99 during the launch period.
  • Also: Firefox 151 is a big update on desktop and mobile, the latter gets the AI kill switch
  • RunAs Radio this week: UEFI Secure Boot with Richard Hicks
  • Brown liquor pick of the week: Daftmill Winter Batch Release

These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/984

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

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For anyone following the vast and often intricate ecosystem of Microsoft, Windows Weekly (Video) offers a consistently insightful look behind the curtain. Hosted by Leo Laporte of TWiT, the conversation is driven by veteran Microsoft insiders Paul Thurrott and Richard Campbell, whose combined expertise provides context that goes far beyond surface-level news. While the name suggests a focus on the operating system, this podcast truly serves as a comprehensive analysis of the entire company, from its consumer-facing products like Xbox and Surface to its massive enterprise cloud services and ambitious AI initiatives. Each episode feels like a detailed briefing, unpacking the strategies, successes, and stumbles of the tech giant. The video format adds a valuable layer, allowing you to see the hosts' reactions and follow along with screen shares when they delve into technical previews or software updates. You'll hear informed speculation, historical perspective, and critical debate about Microsoft's direction, making it an essential resource for IT professionals, developers, and dedicated enthusiasts who want to understand not just what is happening, but why. This is the kind of deep dive that turns complex topics into engaging discussion, offering the only Microsoft analysis you'll likely need. For those who prefer an uninterrupted experience, ad-free audio and video feeds are available through Club TWiT.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 16

Windows Weekly (Video)
Podcast Episodes
WW 986: Liminal AI - RTX Spark, Project Solara, Scout, & Much More! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Build 2026 is underway in San Francisco this week, and it started with a big, overly-long keynote as always. And Computex is this week, too. There's a lot going on, and some of it is fascinating. Plus, WWDC is next week…
WW 978: Pre-Peated - "Copilot Is for Entertainment Purposes Only" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:19:19
Julia Liuson is leaving Microsoft. Liuson joined Microsoft in 1992, the same year as CEO Satya Nadella (she worked on Access at first). She helped build the first version of Visual Studio and was the first female corpora…
WW 976: Full Thurrottle - Microsoft's Plan To Save Windows in 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:16:31
In 2015, Satya Nadella said that he wanted users to love Windows. But Microsoft has only enshittified Windows more aggressively since then. Paul wrote a book. And now Microsoft says it's changed, baby, and it's serious t…