It's supposed to be common knowledge that all-in-one (AIO) desktop systems are ill equipped for heavy duty gaming, but if that's the case, good luck explaining Maingear's new Alpha 24 Super Stock. The Alpha 24 SS is truly the alpha of AIO systems, or at least it can be when going all-out during the configuration stage with large size solid state drive (SSD) storage and even an Nvidia GeForce GTX 680 graphics card.

Regardless of how you feel about Windows 8 and its tile-based user interface, you have to hand it to Microsoft for ensuring its launch partners are on board with the new operating system. Hewlett-Packard certainly is, as it's one of several companies announcing new products ahead of Windows 8's debut in October. HP today unveiled three new Windows 8 devices, including two Ultrabook models (Envy TouchSmart Ultrabook 4 and Spectre XT TouchSmart) and a hybrid PC (Envy x2) that follows a growing trend of combining a tablet PC and Ultrabook into a single device.

For whatever reason, Ultrabook makers have been infatuated with 1,366x768 and 1,600x900 screen resolutions, rarely experimenting with anything higher, regardless of display size. That isn't true of Toshiba, which earlier this month launched its Satellite U845W, purportedly the world's first laptop to play with an ultra-wide 21:9 cinematic aspect ratio (1,792x768). Come October 26, the U845W will get a Windows 8 makeover, Toshiba announced today.

In less than a month, Microsoft will release its next generation operating system, Windows 8, to the general public, and we suspect OEMs will take advantage of the touch-friendly interface by introducing new all-in-one (AIO) desktop models. Getting a head start is boutique system builder Maingear, which today announced a redesigned version of its Solo 21 AIO with a fresh new look and upgraded internals.