The rapid pace of technology has led to the ability to pack an impressive number of features and hardware into increasingly smaller systems, and that's what VIA has done with its new Artigo A1250. The Artigo A1250 is supposedly the world's smallest quad-core system, a statement VIA qualifies by limiting to x86 rigs (otherwise that distinction might belong to an ARM-based smartphone).

Boutique system builder Digital Storm today unveiled Bolt, a small form factor (SFF) PC billed as the slimmest custom designed gaming computer ever built. Bolt is the latest attempt to port PC gaming to the living room with smaller size systems that have a comparable footprint to that of an Xbox 360 console, which pair nicely with Steam's new Big Picture Mode. The Bolt measures just 3.6 inches wide, 13.3 inches high, and 13.4 inches deep. That's just slightly more portly than the Xbox 360 Slim, which measures 3 inches (W) by 10.6 inches (H) by 10.4 inches (D).

Samsung has readied itself for Microsoft's Windows 8 launch at the end of next week by revealing over half a dozen new systems built to take advantage of the touch oriented operating system. Leaving no stone unturned, Samsung unveiled a pair of convertible tablets, two Ultrabooks, a pair of all-in-one (AIO) systems, and a traditional notebook, most of which sport touchscreen displays.

Vizio probably isn't the first company that comes to mind when you think about pre-built PCs, and it might not even be on your PC shopping radar at all. Well, if you aren't aware, Vizio started selling PCs a few months back, and was one of the first to offer an Ultrabook with a Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) screen resolution. Evidently happy with its foray into PC sales, Vizio has announced its holiday PC lineup, which consists of Windows 8-equipped all-in-one (AIO) systems, a pair of Ultrabooks, and a notebook, all of which are part of the bloat-free Microsoft Signature for Windows program.