Zac Bowden is a Senior Editor at Windows Central and has been with the site since 2016. His expertise is in exclusive coverage about Windows, Surface, and hardware. He's also an avid collector of rare Microsoft prototype devices, and was fortunate enough to daily drive both the fabled Lumia McLaren and Microsoft Band 3, along the Surface Mini and even Surface Neo. Keep in touch with him on Twitter and Threads!
Latest articles by Zac Bowden

Ex-Windows chief calls MacBook Neo "a paradigm shifting computer" and mourns Windows 8
By Zac Bowden published
Microsoft The mastermind behind Windows 8 and Surface RT has thoughts on Apple's new MacBook Neo, and says it validates his efforts from 2012 that the market originally rejected.

Windows 11 "Xbox mode" is real and it's coming this April
By Zac Bowden published
Windows 11 At GDC 2026, Microsoft outlined the future of PC and Xbox game development, positioning Windows as the foundation for the next-generation of gaming via unified GDK.

Windows 11's new Patch Tuesday update is one you'll actually want for once
By Zac Bowden published
Windows 11 Microsoft's March Patch Tuesday updates are rolling out on Windows 11, and this month there's some actually good improvements coming to enhance your PC.

Microsoft delays preview of Windows 11's new Taskbar agenda view
By Zac Bowden published
Windows 11 Microsoft's upcoming agenda view for the Taskbar on Windows 11 has been pushed back, with the first preview now expected to debut "in the coming months" instead of last year.

No, Windows 12 is not coming this year
By Zac Bowden last updated
Windows 12 A new report has caught the internet's attention, claiming that Windows 12 is coming this year and will be a modular, AI-powered OS. Here's why that's wrong.

A $599 MacBook Neo is Apple’s new Windows‑killer
By Zac Bowden published
Apple MacBook Neo is official. It's $599, with an efficient A18 Pro SoC that offers M1-level performance in an affordable package that prioritizes style above all else.

BUILD 2026 timing hints at a rare June event
By Zac Bowden published
Microsoft A leaked asset has seemingly confirmed that Microsoft is moving its Build developer conference out of May and into June, while also changing up its location.

Lenovo revives the Windows 2-in-1 scene with its own ThinkPad X13 2-in-1 PC
By Zac Bowden published
Unveiled at Mobile World Congress, Lenovo is kicking the 2-in-1 Windows tablet form factor into life with its new ThinkPad X13 detachable PC.

The Pro X2 Superstrike proves haptics might be the future of competitive mice
By Zac Bowden published
Review Logitech's new gaming mouse is the world's first to include haptics in place of a physical click system for the right and left click buttons, and it makes me wish more mice had this.

Your to‑do list now completes itself, which feels like cheating but in a good way
By Zac Bowden published
Copilot Copilot Tasks is a new AI feature that breaks down your task, creates a step by step process to complete that task on your behalf, and checks in when it needs your go‑ahead.

Windows 11 is not ending support for legacy printer drivers after all
By Zac Bowden published
Windows 11 "If your printer works today, it will continue to work" Microsoft says as it issues correction around plans to end support for legacy printer drivers.

Microsoft just released an actually good Windows 11 update
By Zac Bowden published
Windows 11 The Windows 11 non-security feature preview update for February just landed, and it's the first Windows update in a long while that includes a number of actually good changes. Here's what you need to know.

Control Panel is one step closer to death as Windows 11 Settings gains new option
By Zac Bowden published
Windows 11 Microsoft is adding the ability to rename your user account to the Windows 11 Settings app, ported over from the legacy Control Panel.

Microsoft Paint gains long requested freeform rotation feature
By Zac Bowden published
Windows 11 Windows 11's in-box Paint app is gaining a new feature that will let you rotate shapes and text into any position you like. Believe it or not, this hasn't been possible until now!

Notepad is slowly becoming Microsoft's version of Apple's "Notes" app
By Zac Bowden published
Windows 11 Notepad has slowly gained a plethora of features that elevate it way beyond a basic text editor, now rivaling the likes of Apple Notes and Google Keep. But is Microsoft right to do this?

Microsoft splits Windows 11 Canary Channel in two as it begins testing new OS core
By Zac Bowden published
Windows 11 Windows 11 Insiders can now begin testing early foundational builds that are expected to work towards the next platform release, which is likely to debut in 2027 with version 27H2.

Microsoft needs to bring back the annual Windows event
By Zac Bowden published
Windows 11 Is Microsoft ashamed of Windows? I wouldn't blame you for thinking so, given every year Google and Apple are eager to get on stage and talk about what's next for their platforms. Microsoft hasn't done this for Windows in a long time.

Microsoft confirms new Windows 11 feature drop coming next month
By Zac Bowden published
Windows 11 Windows 11's latest Release Preview Channel update has given us our first look at Microsoft's next OS feature drop that's expected to begin rolling out imminently.

X / Twitter knocked offline as major outage impacts service
By Zac Bowden last updated
X A major outage has taken X offline for millions of users, with people reporting they are unable to access the website or the app.

Microsoft is bringing back a classic Windows feature people actually miss
By Zac Bowden published
Windows 11 Microsoft is planning to bring back the ability to move and resize the Taskbar on Windows 11 as part of its effort to improve sentiment around the OS this year.

Windows 11 gains command-line version of the Microsoft Store
By Zac Bowden published
Windows 11 You can now find, install, and update Microsoft Store apps using a command prompt on Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs. No GUI required.

Windows on ARM laptops don't get better than this in 2026
By Zac Bowden, Cale Hunt last updated
Laptops Want a new Windows laptop? You should consider one powered by a Snapdragon X processor.

Windows 11 version 26H1 won't be getting version 26H2 this fall
By Zac Bowden published
Windows 11 Microsoft's special offshoot version of Windows 11 that's exclusive to Snapdragon X2 devices won't be getting an upgrade to version 26H2 this fall. Here's why
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.



