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Windows Weekly 1004, titled “Fat-Washed,” is a October 7, 2026 episode hosted by Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrott, with regular host Richard Campbell absent. Its main subject is Microsoft’s Surface and Windows news, centered on the Microsoft and NVIDIA RTX Spark laptops and the “hybrid intelligence” idea of combining local AI with cloud AI. The title refers to the closing bourbon segment, not to any product in the episode.
What the episode covers
Windows Weekly is a weekly discussion show about Windows and the wider Microsoft ecosystem, so episode 1004 is a news roundup rather than a single-product review. The TWiT episode page lists the following topics, which are the ones readers are most likely to search for.
Surface and RTX Spark laptops
The headline thread is the announcement of Microsoft and NVIDIA’s RTX Spark laptops. The discussion frames the approach as “hybrid intelligence,” meaning work runs partly on the device and partly in the cloud. The episode also covers the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, which the episode page lists at $6,000 or more.
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- Inline AI actions in Windows Search. AI-driven actions are surfaced directly from search results.
- Cloud Rebuild improvements. Updates to Microsoft’s cloud-based reinstall feature.
- Remote PC connections. Connecting to a PC from another device, covered in the Windows app preview.
Other hardware
The episode also mentions an Intel Wildcat Lake laptop and an early look at a Lenovo Googlebook. Thurrott’s episode notes add the HP OmniBook Ultra 16, the HP OmniBook X 14, the Surface Laptop Ultra and the Lenovo Googlebook 15.
#1 Best Overall
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- Butterscotch, caramel, warmed baked multigrain bread and hints of liquorice and dried raisins on nose
AI, developer tools and gaming
Software coverage includes Microsoft AI voice and transcription models, Google Docs and Drive Markdown support, and C# Dev Kit 11. The gaming segment covers Xbox and Game Pass, reports about streaming GTA VI, Sony upscaling, and Gears of War: E-Day. Desktop98 is also named in the notes.
Device prices and dates reported in the episode
The figures below are product prices and dates as reported by the TWiT episode page and Paul Thurrott’s episode notes, both dated 2026. They are claims made at the time of recording on October 7, 2026, not current retail prices. Stock, pricing and shipping can change after the show, so confirm them with the manufacturer before buying.
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| Device | Price reported | Availability reported | Where it was reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX Spark laptop, 24GB memory | $2,599 | Shipping stated as October 16 | TWiT episode page |
| RTX Spark laptop, 32GB memory | $3,700 | Shipping stated as October 16 | TWiT episode page |
| RTX Spark laptop, 128GB memory | $5,899 | Shipping stated as October 16 | TWiT episode page |
| Surface RTX Spark Dev Box | $6,000 or more | Not stated | TWiT episode page |
| Lenovo Googlebook 15 | About $1,100 | Not stated | TWiT episode page |
| HP OmniBook Ultra 16 | Starting at $3,199.99 | Expected October 16, 2026 | Paul Thurrott’s episode notes |
| HP OmniBook X 14 | Starting at $2,999.99 | Expected October 16, 2026 | Paul Thurrott’s episode notes |
| Surface Laptop Ultra | Not stated | Not stated | Paul Thurrott’s episode notes |
The RTX Spark laptops come in three memory options, so memory capacity and price are the most useful way to compare them. The episode materials do not provide benchmark or performance results, so they cannot be used to judge which configuration runs faster. The materials also describe the intended audience in general terms, contrasting general and creator use with local AI work.
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What “Fat-Washed” means in the title
The title comes from the closing “brown liquor pick” segment. Thurrott describes a bourbon labeled fat-washed, a technique in which fat is infused into a spirit and then removed, leaving a richer, silkier texture. He explains the mouthfeel and taste he associates with it.
Rank #3
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The bottle on screen was not the fat-washed one
The bottle Thurrott shows and discusses is the regular 1792 Small Batch bourbon, not the fat-washed version. He says he tried to find the fat-washed bottle locally but could not. Readers should treat 1792 Small Batch as the regular product and not as a fat-washed bourbon.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Verifying the episode details
TWiT notes that its episode transcripts are generated by AI and may not be word-for-word. If you plan to quote a host, check the sentence against the audio first. The show details in this article come from the TWiT episode page and Thurrott’s notes, and the prices and dates above are the figures those sources reported.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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- VERSATILE MIXING OPTIONS: Suitable for crafting classic cocktails like an Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, Kentucky Mule, Manhattan, Mint Julep, or Hot Toddie
Rank #4
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- Part of Still Spirits Flavouring Range: From the Still Spirits Top Shelf collection of spirit flavouring essences, designed for a wide variety of classic styles including bourbon, whisky, rum, and gin flavour profiles for home use
- Open the TWiT episode page for Windows Weekly 1004 and confirm the title, the October 7, 2026 date and the host lineup.
- For any device, check the manufacturer’s product page for the current price, configuration and shipping date.
- For quotations, listen to the segment in the episode audio before using the wording.
Key takeaways
- Episode 1004 is a broad Windows and Microsoft news show, led by the RTX Spark laptops and local-versus-cloud AI.
- The reported device prices range from $1,100 for the Lenovo Googlebook 15 to $6,000 or more for the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box.
- “Fat-Washed” names the closing bourbon discussion, and the regular 1792 Small Batch bottle is not the fat-washed drink.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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