Skip to main content

Maingear’s Pulse 15 Pro makes working on-the-go easier, packs performance in small size

Maingear Pulse 15 Pro
Image used with permission by copyright holder
PC system manufacturer Maingear introduced on Tuesday a new mobile workstation called the Pulse 15 Pro. It’s focused on the “demanding” creative professional that works heavily on video editing and 3D modeling, packing high-end components like Core i7 or Xeon processors from Intel, Nvidia’s professional graphics chip, and speedy SSDs provided by Samsung.

The new Pulse 15 Pro features a 15.6-inch screen housed in an all-metal alloy chassis that’s spruced up with automotive-quality paint. Customers can not only choose the color of the laptop when ordering, but add optional, customizable corporate branding. That said, customers can sport a purple laptop with a pink logo that will likely get everyone’s attention no matter where they go. Pretty.

Getting back to the screen, the options include up to a 3,840 x 2,160 resolution (4K Ultra HD). This screen is complemented by a 720P webcam and a built-in high-quality microphone mounted above, and backed by Nvidia’s Quadro M2000 GPU. All of this is supported by either an Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor (2.6GHz/3.5GHz), or an Intel Xeon E3-1505M CPU (2.8GHz/3.7GHz), depending on the customer’s budget.

Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming
Check your inbox!

In a spec sheet provided by Maingear, the company reveals that the new Pulse 15 Pro supports up to 16GB of DDR4 memory clocked at 2,133MHz (two 8GB sticks). Storage-wise, the workstation supports up to 512GB via a Samsung 950 Pro SSD, and up to 1TB of storage using a Seagate 5,200RPM hybrid drive. This seems to indicate that the Pulse 15 Pro offers two built-in storage solutions: one for the operating system and applications, and one for storing large files.

Maingear says that the laptop’s keyboard is fully customizable and “optimized for maximum performance.” The keyboard features RGB lighting, allowing owners to create any backlit hue and possibly match the overall color scheme created by the paint job and custom corporate logo. The keyboard supports anti-ghosting too although Maingear does not specify the maximum simultaneous pressed-key input limit.

As for other ingredients, the new laptop comes packed with two speakers and a subwoofer backed by Creative Labs’ Sound Blaster Cinema technology. Dual-band Wireless AC and Bluetooth are provided by Intel while the Ethernet is supplied by Killer Networking (E2200). Other ports residing with the Ethernet include four USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI 1.4 port, two mDP ports, a microphone jack, a headphone jack, an SPDIF port, and an SD card slot.

Overall, the new Maingear workstation measures just 0.75-inches thick when closed, and weighs around 4 pounds. Additional dimensions include a depth of 10.5-inches and a width of 15.4-inches. That said, this workstation is not only thin but rather light, making work on-the-go for hard workers extremely easy.

“The Pulse 15 Pro will offer even the most demanding creative professional, with incredible processing power, blazing speed and impeccable graphics performance,” said Wallace Santos, CEO and Founder of MAINGEAR. “With 4K video so easily accessible, even some of the most powerful machines can ‘hiccup’ when rendering it, however we’ve built this new workstation to effortlessly power through it.”

Currently the starting price for the new Pulse 15 Pro is unknown, and Maingear hasn’t updated its website to showcase its new laptop. However, as a reference, the current Pulse 15 gaming notebook has a starting price of $2,250 and the Pulse Pro mobile workstation has a starting price of $2,550.

Kevin Parrish
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kevin started taking PCs apart in the 90s when Quake was on the way and his PC lacked the required components. Since then…
HP Envy deals: HP’s most popular laptop starts at $630
An HP Envy 17-inch laptop sits on an office desk.

HP is one of the best laptop brands in the laptop space, with a huge selection of laptops to pick from, including some of the best laptops on the market. More specifically, though, the HP lineup is probably at the top when it comes to versatile and relatively well-valued laptops. While there are quite a few variations and configurations of the HP Envy, we've gone ahead and put together the ones that we think will give you the most bang for your buck. That said, if you haven't found something you're specifically looking for, be sure to check out some of these other great laptop deals as well.
HP Envy x360 2-in-1 laptop 15Z-FH000 — $650, was $900

The HP Envy x360 convertible laptop is a great option for just about anyone, particularly anyone who enjoys the touchscreen functionality of a tablet. It’s well designed and super slim, making it a truly go-anywhere device. Despite its portability, it still has an immersive 15.6-inch touchscreen that’s great for creators, note-takers, and binge watchers. Top notch build quality and durability, fast charging technology, a fingerprint reader, and great battery life round out the top features of the HP Envy x360 convertible touchscreen laptop. It competes well with the best 2-in-1 laptops. Its versatility and all-around capability make it a worthy companion on any desk, and on any lap.

Read more
I use these simple printer tips to save money on ink and toner
Printing is fast and economical with the HP Smart Tank 7602.

The cost of a printer can range from under $100 for some good, low-cost inkjet printers to several hundred for the best color laser printers. However, the price you pay upfront doesn’t include paper, and the included ink and toner only lasts so long.

A bargain printer can end up costing you more overall if the cartridges are small and replacements are expensive. Follow these tips to minimize ink, toner, and paper waste, reducing the ongoing expense of using your printer in the long run.
Print in monochrome
Adobe Acrobat's print settings includes a grayscale option. Digital Trends

Read more
Best refurbished laptop deals: How to find cheap used computers
microsoft surface laptop go 2020 on desk

If you're shopping for laptops on a budget, then you probably don't want to aim for the best laptops on the market, since they often cost thousands of dollars and usually give you diminishing returns the more expensive they get. On the other hand, refurbished laptops are a great way to save money while also helping the environment and reducing e-waste. Not only that, but most refurbished laptops tend to be refurbished by the brand and are backed by warranties and return windows, so even if something is not right with your refurbished laptop, you can get a replacement or your money back.

To that end, Best Buy, Amazon, and Dell all have really great refurbished laptop sales that you can check out, and the prices really are great. Alternatively, if you're in the Apple ecosystem, take a look at these refurbished MacBook deals, or if you still want to go for something new, you could consider checking out these laptop deals instead.
Best Buy refurbished laptops -- starting at $113
Best Buy's refurbished laptops are -- you guessed it -- Geek Squad Certified and while they may not be free and clear of absolutely all cosmetic scuffs they are still exceptionally clean and always in working order. Some of them even come with additional software like virus tools, streaming access, like Apple TV+, and much more. Of course, the best part is that you can get a premium and fully upgraded model for less, often with more storage, more power, and more features than you would when buying a base model brand new. You've got some great options from Lenovo, Acer, HP, Dell, Gateway, and even Apple to choose from. The cheapest models start around $120 and increase from there. The best way to know what's available is to head over and browse for yourself.

Read more