The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The revamped Micro Center in Columbus puts hands-on technology and creative projects in view alongside its familiar computer gear. In Jon Reed’s August 25, 2026, report for CNET, the standout scene is an oversized 3D printer making a model of downtown Columbus—but the store’s wider change is that visitors can see, explore and try more of what technology can do.
What changed in the Columbus store?
Reed describes maker supplies that had previously been tucked into a corner as more visible and spread across the redesigned store. The DIY area is near the entrance, and several aisles of 3D printers make the equipment, materials and finished objects easier to encounter. That is a reported description of the layout, not an independently audited comparison of floor plans.
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Columbus is the second Micro Center location to receive this redesign, after a store in New Jersey. Reed calls it a kind of flagship because it is close to the company’s headquarters; the report does not lay out a complete plan for redesigning other stores.
What can visitors see and try?
3D printing and DIY projects
The maker area includes small robots customers can assemble, printers producing sample objects, shelves of finished prints, packages of filament and a row of filament samples. Smaller printers were described as costing a few hundred dollars, but the report does not identify models or give a precise price range.
#1 Best Overall
- 35+ Guided Electronics Projects: Progress from LEDs and buttons to RFID access, real-time clocks, motion and distance sensing, environmental monitoring, motor control and interactive displays for STEM learning, coding clubs and maker projects
- More I/O and Memory for Larger Builds: The MEGA 2560 R3 provides 54 digital I/O pins, including 15 PWM outputs, 16 analog inputs, 4 hardware serial ports and 256 KB flash for projects that combine more sensors, controls and displays
- 200+ Components for Prototyping: Includes LCD1602, RC522 RFID, RTC, DHT11, HC-SR501 PIR, ultrasonic and water-level sensors, GY-521, MAX7219, keypad, joystick, rotary encoder, relay, SG90 servo, stepper motor, DC motor, breadboard and more
- Learn, Modify and Create: Follow 35+ guided lessons with example code, then adjust sensor thresholds, timing, display text, motor behavior and control logic to turn structured exercises into access systems, monitors, alarms and interactive projects
- Organized for Repeatable Learning: Pre-soldered modules, a solderless breadboard, storage case and small-parts box reduce setup time and keep sensors, LEDs, ICs, wires and other components easy to find between projects
The most conspicuous demonstration was an Elegoo OrangeStorm Giga, described as roughly phone-booth-sized, printing a scale model of downtown Columbus. Reed reported a $2,500 price tag during his August 2026 visit; that is an article-time observation, not a current quote.
PCs, keyboards and creator gear
Other areas Reed saw included colorful PC cases, customizable keyboards and themed keycaps, plus microphones and ring lights for people interested in making video or other creator content. The store also displayed trading cards, Lego kits and Apple devices.
Rank #2
- TURN CODE INTO REAL-WORLD RESULTS — Follow 22+ guided lessons to make LEDs blink, read temperature and distance, move servo and stepper motors, control an LCD and respond to joystick or IR input; ideal for a family weekend build, homeschool unit, coding club or STEM classroom
- MORE PROJECT VARIETY IN ONE ORGANIZED KIT — Includes the UNO R3 controller, LCD1602 with pre-soldered header, breadboard power module, ultrasonic and DHT11 sensors, joystick, IR receiver and remote, SG90 servo, stepper motor, relay, DC motor, fan blade, displays, LEDs, buttons, resistors and jumper wires
- START WITHOUT SOLDERING — Plug-in modules, a solderless breadboard and the pre-soldered LCD help beginners focus on wiring, code and testing; the illustrated component list makes it easier to find each part and move from one lesson to the next
- LEARN THE LOGIC, THEN CREATE YOUR OWN — Use Arduino IDE and the included example code to understand digital input and output, analog sensing, timing, motor control and display functions, then change thresholds, speeds and sequences for alarms, environmental monitors, reaction games and motion projects
- CLEAR SETUP SUPPORT FOR FIRST-TIME BUILDERS — Download the latest tutorial and code, select the UNO board and correct computer port, check component polarity and breadboard rows, and keep power-module input at 9V or below; younger learners should work with an experienced adult
Robotics and local AI
A chess-playing robot physically moved pieces, making its operation visible rather than leaving the technology abstract. The store also showed an Nvidia DGX Spark in action as an example of local-AI hardware. CNET reported that the displayed system had 128GB of memory and a price of about $4,500 at the time of the visit; neither figure should be treated as a current specification or price without checking the product listing.
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Tour guide Dan Ackerman, who heads Micro Center News, called the Knowledge Bar “the heart of the store.” It offers technology help and expert PC assembly, connecting the shopping floor’s hardware with assistance for people who need guidance building or using a system.
Rank #3
- 30+ Guided Electronics Projects: Start with LEDs and build toward LCD1602 displays, RFID access, motion detection, distance sensing, motor control and environmental monitoring for STEM learning, coding clubs, classrooms and hobby projects
- 200+ Components Across 63 Types: Includes an ELEGOO UNO R3 controller, LCD1602, RC522 RFID, RTC, HC-SR501 PIR sensor, ultrasonic sensor, DHT11, GY-521, MAX7219, keypad, joystick, relay, SG90 servo, stepper motor, breadboard and more
- Begin Without Soldering: Pre-soldered modules, a solderless breadboard, organized storage case and small-parts box reduce setup time and help beginners move from lesson to lesson while keeping LEDs, ICs, wires and sensors easy to find
- Learn, Modify and Create: Program the ELEGOO UNO R3 board with Arduino IDE using the included PDF tutorial and example code, then adjust sensor thresholds, timing, display text and motor behavior to turn guided lessons into original projects
- Flexible Power and Project Setup: Includes a 9 V, 1 A power supply, breadboard power module, 9 V battery and USB cable to support controller, breadboard and module experiments without sourcing basic setup accessories separately
The reported Build and Learn program goes a step further by letting customers take part in assembling a device with guidance. Ackerman described the level of participation as flexible: “You can do as much or as little as you’re comfortable with, and they will teach you as you’re doing it.” The report does not specify program schedules, eligibility or fees, so visitors should confirm those details with the store.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the redesign feels different
Reed’s account presents the store as more than a place to compare boxes and specifications. Active printers, assembled projects and a robot moving chess pieces turn technology into something visitors can watch and imagine making themselves. The question the layout seems to invite is simple: what can you make?
Rank #4
- BUILD BREADBOARD CIRCUITS AND MINI PROJECTS - Create LED indicators, button inputs, traffic-light sequences, light-activated circuits, RGB effects and buzzer alarms for electronics practice, classroom demonstrations and maker projects
- 235 PARTS FOR REPEATABLE EXPERIMENTS - Includes a 400-tie-point solderless breadboard, power module, jumper wires, Dupont wires, potentiometer, buttons, LEDs, resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, buzzers and light-sensitive components
- LEARN HOW CORE COMPONENTS WORK - Use the 74HC595 to expand outputs, the 4N35 optocoupler to explore signal isolation, PN2222 transistors to switch loads and 1N4007 diodes for polarity protection and rectification experiments
- POWER AND REWIRE PROJECTS QUICKLY - Use the breadboard power module for selectable 3.3 V or 5 V rails, while rigid jumpers and female-to-male leads simplify connections; use a suitable 6.5–9 V DC input and do not exceed 9 V
- COMPONENT KIT WITH CLEAR EXPECTATIONS - A controller board, programming cable and wall power adapter are not included; use a compatible microcontroller for coded projects and follow the current tutorial, datasheets and wiring guidance
That is an interpretation of one reported visit, not evidence that the redesign has changed customer behavior, sales or the experience of every shopper. The article documents what Reed saw and how the store was presented; it does not measure visitor response.
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