Joe Osborne
Deputy Managing Editor, Hardware
My Experience
After starting my career at PCMag as an intern more than a decade ago, I’m back as one of its editors, focused on managing laptops, desktops, and components coverage. With 15 years of experience, I have been on staff and published in technology review publications, including PCMag (of course!), Laptop Magazine, Tom’s Guide, TechRadar, and IGN. Along the way, I’ve tested and reviewed hundreds of laptops and helped develop testing protocols. I have expertise in testing all forms of laptops and desktops using the latest tools. I’m also well-versed in video game hardware and software coverage.
The Technology I Use
I have ebbed and flowed between Windows-based and Apple hardware and software throughout my life. My first computer was a hand-me-down Apple IIe with the green screen and spool printer. I soon learned Windows with a—yes, hand-me-down—Packard Bell.
Today, I prefer macOS to Windows for its more straightforward integration with the phone I use (an iPhone) and simpler keyboard shortcuts and file management. Also, the hardware and performance are always top-notch, especially with the latest MacBook designs. (Windows, admittedly, still has better multi-window management.)
As for gaming, I’m a Nintendo fan first, a retro gamer second, and a PC gamer third. Expertise aside, it’s a matter of time and preference—not to mention the lack of space I’m willing to give up for a gaming PC in my home.
Finally, I love 3D-printing new miniatures for the tabletop war games that I enjoy playing. I currently use an AnkerMake M5C filament printer to great effect, and I have probably printed more than 100 models between two armies of dwarfs and elves.
Recent Articles By Joe Osborne
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Microsoft Surface Pro for Business (2026, 5G) 1 week, 1 day
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Alienware 15 First Look: I Love the $1,299 Price, But Not the Specs
A cheaper Alienware gaming laptop sounds great—until you look at what was cut to get there.
1 week, 6 days -
The Best PCs (Desktop Computers) for 2026
Classic towers, sleek all-in-ones, space-saving mini PCs: Today's desktops pack neater designs and more value than ever. See our recent favorites based on our deep-dive reviews, plus all the shopping advice you need.
2 weeks, 4 days -
The Best Dell Laptops for 2026
Need a budget laptop for the kids? Or a powerful one for design work or gaming? Dell sells a huge variety. Let's decode the different lines and look at the top performers (and values) in our testing.
3 weeks, 4 days -
The Best Laptops for 2026
Whether you want a simple budget PC, a productivity workhorse, or a screamer of a gaming notebook, our experts have done the heavy lifting to help you find the right laptop for the job.
3 weeks, 5 days -
The Best Apple MacBooks for 2026
Apple's MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are similarly impressive and iconic, but they're designed for very different Mac fans. (And now, they need to make room for the blissful budget MacBook Neo.) Here's which MacBook you should buy in 2026.
1 month, 1 week -
Apple MacBook Neo vs. Apple iPad: Why I Regret My $600 Tablet Upgrade
If, like me, you’ve ever purchased a basic iPad and a keyboard cover to work like a pseudo-MacBook, kiss those days goodbye. The MacBook Neo is simply an easier and more potent solution for the same overall price.
1 month, 2 weeks -
The Best Windows Tablets for 2026
A Windows tablet with detachable keyboard can be a more portable and versatile alternative to a laptop. We've tested all the major models, and these top performers should be on your short list.
1 month, 3 weeks -
Apple MacBook Neo 2 months, 2 weeks
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I Went Hands On With the M5 MacBook Air. The Real Changes Are Hiding Inside
The 2026 MacBook Air doesn’t reinvent the design—instead, Apple's boosts in CPU power and storage will give this old favorite a new edge.
2 months, 3 weeks -
I Tried Apple's MacBook Neo. This Is 2026's Breakout Budget Laptop
The long-awaited budget MacBook is real, and the $599 MacBook Neo isn’t just cheaper—it’s surprisingly slick. My first impression? Apple nailed it.
2 months, 3 weeks -
The M1 MacBook Air Is Missing, But Why?
Walmart seems to have run out of stock on new-in-box Apple M1 MacBook Airs. Is this a casualty of the RAM crisis or the precursor to a new affordable era in Mac laptops?
3 months, 1 week -
The Top Laptops of CES 2026: Our Editors' Picks for Business, Gaming, Mobility, and More
From lithe ultraportables to power machines, CES 2026 was packed with laptops worth checking out. We tried out dozens at the show—these eight rose to the top.
4 months, 2 weeks -
I Tried the Slick New ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14. It's Lenovo’s Most Repairable Ultraportable Yet
Ahead of CES 2026, I got to try the latest version of Lenovo's iconic ThinkPad X1 Carbon—and dug inside to see how this highly repairable model could well be a business-laptop trendsetter this year.
4 months, 2 weeks -
Asus Zenbook A16 Hands On: A Feathery, Fiery Laptop Takes Snapdragon to the 'Extreme'
I test-drove Asus' tasty 16-inch ultralight with Qualcomm's anticipated 18-core Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme chip inside. This hard-hitting Arm salvo might even dent machines like Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air.
4 months, 2 weeks -
Dell Just Revived the XPS Brand, and I Test-Drove Its Slick 2026 XPS 14 and 16
Back by popular demand (and the Dell faithful's outrage!), the XPS name returns in new 14-inch and 16-inch laptops that also refresh the design. I got some time with these perennial favorites; check 'em out.
4 months, 3 weeks -
Gifting a Laptop? Here's the Right Fit for Anyone on Your List
Our handpicked gift guide has a tested, vetted, and top-notch laptop for every type of user, from students and gamers to professionals and "normies."
5 months, 2 weeks -
Desktop Upgrades They’ll Actually Use: 15 Holiday Gift Picks for PC Enthusiasts
Whether they game, work from home, or are just constantly computing, these expert-tested gifts will turn any desk into a high-performance command center.
6 months -
Facing Down Nvidia's DGX Boxes, Apple Shows Off Thunderbolt 5 Macs Running Trillion-Parameter AI Models Together
In an attempt to keep pace with Nvidia's DGX AI workstation desktops that can connect to take on processing bigger AI models, Apple has unleashed Thunderbolt 5 Macs' capacity to operate as 'AI clusters' ready for trillion-parameter models.
6 months -
Apple Shocker: The New M4 MacBook Air Is $849 for Prime Day—Yes, Really
The 13-inch MacBook Air M4 was already a solid buy at its everyday $999. With a Prime Day $150 discount? It's the best value on a new Apple laptop I've seen all year.
10 months, 2 weeks