The PC Pro Podcast

Geoff Campbell, a guest contributor with a rich background in hardware and power systems, joins the discussion. They delve into the intriguing arrival of advertising in ChatGPT and its implications for privacy. Geoff shares insights on the shocking rise in RAM prices and the impact on PC builders. In a unique segment, he passionately presents his 'Mega-UPS' design, which utilizes solar battery packs to cut power costs—highlighting its practicality and efficiency. The conversation wraps up with the crew’s enthusiastic take on Geoff’s hot hardware project.

Rois Ni Thuama, a cyber risk and governance expert, returns to discuss her innovative Rapid-T framework for enhancing data security. She highlights the urgent need to address insider threats, backed by alarming case studies involving major breaches. The conversation shifts to the UK’s tech budget, exploring investments in AI and supercomputing, and debates surrounding social media restrictions for under-16s. Rois expresses disappointment in the lack of robust governance measures, pushing for accountability in data protection.

The team dives into Microsoft's ambitious 'agentic' features for Windows, sparking debates about trust and privacy. They tackle the Cloudflare outage that disrupted a large part of the internet and discuss the implications of centralized infrastructure. AI-generated podcasts are explored, questioning the balance between quality and automation. Plus, the Logitech Muse spatial stylus is showcased, offering a creative leap for users of the Apple Vision Pro. Insights on smartphone depreciation and potential leadership changes at Apple add to the intrigue!

This week the team discuss the state of computing within the UK education sector, the forthcoming trio of gaming goodies from Valve: the Steam Controller, Steam Machine and Steam Frame then take a look at a new virtual production studio built by Sony Professional.Our Hot Hardware of the Week nominee is Blackmagic Camera ProDock

The team discusses the pleasant surprise of Affinity making its creative software suite completely free, an unfortunate bug in Windows 10 and the smalltown data-centre boom. We also look at a new approach to manufacturing chips that packs in the transistors more densely than ever before, and welcome the Logitech MX Master 4 mouse as our Hot Hardware candidate.To learn more about the data-centre controversy, read the report that Lee was referring to: https://stpp.fordschool.umich.edu/sites/stpp/files/2025-07/stpp-data-centers-2025.pdf

There's no getting away from the march of AI this week, whether it's Elon Musk's AI-generated Grokipedia, how OpenAI is dealing with searches related to suicide (and more), the sweeping loss of jobs thanks to AI or Adobe's move to embrace other image-generation models beside its own.Too much AI for your liking? Luckily, our Hot Hardware this week has nothing to do with artificial intelligence. Instead, Barry nominates the Raspberry Pi 500+, a Raspberry Pi PC baked into a mechanical keyboard.

The team discusses the massive AWS failure that took down some of the internet’s biggest sites and services, and look forward to the AI-powered future of Windows. We also search our feelings about Amazon’s increasing use of automation to replace human workers, and try out OpenAI’s new ChatGPT-powered web browser. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the BOOX Note Max, an A4-sized e-Ink tablet for reading and note-taking.

This week the team discuss Windows 10's role in the battle against software obsolescence, Clearview's slap down by the Information Commissioner’s Office, Equity's fight with AI and a return to pen and ink for British business.Our Hot Hardware of the Week nominee is the Unifi UNAS-2

The team discusses Qualcomm’s acquisition of Arduino, and AMD’s new partnership with OpenAI. We also look at the rise of AI-powered web browsing, plus Apple’s latest anti-Microsoft video. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Philips Brilliance 5K monitor, a feature-packed, high-quality display that costs less than you might expect.

The team discusses new smart home devices from both Amazon and Google, Spotify’s crackdown on AI-generated content, an experimental digital DJ for YouTube and the snazzy Raspberry Pi 500+. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the HiMont Kids Camera Instant Print, a fun little digital camera that produces receipt-style thermal printouts of whatever you choose to snap.