Xbox Series S Supposedly Black Friday’s Most Popular Console

According to the Adobe Digital Economy Index as reported by Business Insider, the Xbox Series S has proven itself the underdog this year, having unexpectedly overcome competitors from Sony, Nintendo, and even from within Microsoft. Based on “over one trillion visits to U.S. retail sites” that occurred during Black Friday 2021, Adobe calculated that the Xbox Series S was the best-seller.
Since its release about a year ago, the Xbox Series S has somewhat lived in the shadow of its fancier, more expensive counterpart, the Series X. While the Series X boasts nearly twice the storage, 4K compatibility, a disc drive, and a more powerful processor, the Series S forces gamers to own all their titles digitally and can’t manage quite the same level of graphical fidelity. The Series S is also smaller and less than half the weight, which can be a pro or a con, depending on one’s priorities.

Though the Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch OLED have hoarded the limelight throughout most of 2021, a limited barrier of entry makes the Xbox Series S a far more accessible option. Hopeful gamers can easily find the Xbox Series S in stores and online, while the other consoles have been rendered tough to find by supply chain issues, like the ongoing global chip shortage. They don’t have to resort to buying from scalpers, who drastically inflate the price of available stock just because they can. There’s also something to be said about the more affordable pricing of the Xbox Series S, which comes in at $300. (The next-cheapest hot console is the $350 Nintendo Switch OLED; prices rise pretty quickly from there.)
The chip shortage impacting console availability—and that of virtually everything else—isn’t expected to end until at least mid-2022, meaning the Xbox Series S may continue to enjoy the spotlight a little longer. The holidays prove a unique challenge-turned-opportunity, too; though many people try to get their holiday shopping done during Black Friday, the season for giving isn’t over yet, and supply chain issues are anticipated to continue as the year comes to a close.
Continue reading

Intel Is Spreading FUD About Supposedly Huge Ryzen 4000 Performance Drops on Battery
Intel believes it has presented evidence that negates the value of AMD's Ryzen 4000 product stack. Intel is mistaken.

Windows 10X, Microsoft’s Chromebook Competitor, Supposedly Coming Later This Year
Windows 10X will reportedly ship on systems in H2 2021. Originally intended to compete as a high-end OS variant for premium devices, Windows 10X is now intended for educational markets, where Chromebooks have recently made huge strides.

Microsoft Reminds Us Windows 11’s Start Menu is (Supposedly) Based on User Feedback
If you don't like Windows 11's Start menu, you only have yourself to blame if you think about it.

TSMC’s 7nm Node Supposedly Running Below Capacity
TSMC's 7nm capacity may not be fully utilized in the first half of 2019, due to order cuts.