This week, HP gets serious with some new laptops and Joel Zimmerman shows off his new in-home recording studio. But first, what is Loot Crate and why do you want it?

Loot Crate is a monthly binge of pop culture

Whether you identify as a geek, a nerd, or an aficionado, Loot Crate is for you. It’s a monthly surprise box full of collectibles and t-shirts (and other things) that are sure to satisfy the pop culture critic in you.

From bobbleheads to limited edition plushies, from pins to posters, from socks to backpacks, each month Loot Crate puts together a collection of themed items and mails them to your door.

You can subscribe to Loot Crate or order month-to-month, and each box comes with at least $60 worth of items. Subscriptions start at about $40 a month and get as cheap as $35.

February’s theme was “Dead” and March’s was “Versus”, and we’ve got items from those Loot Crates to give away on Drex Live this week.

Listen to the show just after the news at 9 p.m. PT for your chance to win.

HP brings out some serious laptops

Hewlett Packard recently updated its line of laptops, and the venerable computer company is really pushing the design.

The new HP Spectre may be “the world’s thinnest laptop” at just over 10 mm with a 13.3-inch screen (the Macbook, by comparison, is 13 mm at its thickest point with a 12-inch screen).

The Spectre runs Windows 10 on either Intel Core i5 or i7 processors. Canadian pricing and release haven’t been announced, but the laptop will start at US$1,170 when it releases in the U.S. later this month.

HP also updated its line of Envy laptops. The Envy x360 is a 15.6-inch laptop with an optional 4K display and improved battery life that converts to a tablet.

The base Envy’s, available in 15.6- and 17.3-inch models, now sport three USB 3.0 ports and HP Fast Charge technology, which can charge the battery to 90 percent in just 90 minutes.

As with the Spectre, the new Envy laptops will be available in Canada later this year.

Deadmau5 unveils new, kickass home studio

Joel Zimmerman has pulled the wrapping off a new recording studio built in the master bedroom of his Toronto home.

The musician and composer, popularly known as Deadmau5, has been working on the studio, the “mau5 den,” in secrecy for more than a year. The space includes dozens of pieces of digital and analog equipment, including a new Razer Blade Stealth, which was released earlier this year.

Deadmau5 uses the ultrabook as part of his music production process.

The new studio was unveiled on Razer Music, a portal for music creators and producers. Released at the same time was a new music tutorial video featuring Deadmau5 and long time friend and collaborator, Steve Duda.

The first video provides production tips on melodic structuring.