How-To Geek

Microsoft dropping support for Windows 10 has left a lot of perfectly good hardware in limbo just because it doesn't meet the requirements for Windows 11. Naturally, people are reluctant to let Microsoft turn their functional computers into e-waste, so they're switching over to Linux. One Linux distribution in particular has seen a surprising uptick in users, ZorinOS. Just a month after its latest version released, it was downloaded over a million times. According to ZorinOS developers, almost 800,000 of those downloads came from Windows users. Windows 10 users are clearly flocking to this distro, so I installed it to see what the appeal is. Turns out, it's the perfect replacement.

Recently my PC just didn’t feel as quick as it used to. Apps seemed slower to launch and file operations felt laggy. I started digging with the usual tools I trust, like Task Manager, Resource Monitor, and CrystalDiskInfo, and everything kept pointing back to storage. At first, my assumption was the obvious one. I figured the SSD might be wearing out or starting to fail, which is where most people’s minds go when a system suddenly feels sluggish.

In case you haven't heard, we are smack in the middle of a massive RAM crisis. DDR5 prices have gone through the roof, and kept going until it reached orbit. Since DDR5 is in so many devices, this affects everything, including the Raspberry Pi 5.

I never used to give much thought to the peripherals I spent my money on. That led to some impulse buys, which, unsurprisingly, ended in disaster.

There are tons of browsers out there. A lot. And really, I could go for any. I've thought about my options in the past and gauged whether any other browser is a better fit for me.

Our lives revolve around the internet, but online security is often not up to the job of protecting our sensitive files and data from prying eyes or malicious actors. This is how I ensure my data is safe on the internet.

So you bought your first mechanical keyboard, started modding it, and realized that you'd like to take the next step of your mechanical keyboard journey: building your own custom keyboard.

In a market increasingly dominated by crossovers and electrified powertrains, affordable all-wheel-drive sports sedans are becoming rare, but one Japanese model still delivers serious performance without a supercar price tag. Its blend of spirited acceleration, sharp handling, and everyday usability makes it easy to overlook, especially alongside flashier rivals, but that would be a mistake for drivers who value grip and engagement in all weather.

Installing Windows used to be a simple process back in the days of Windows 7 and 8, but Microsoft has made it a terrible experience in Windows 11. Linux, which had a reputation for being hard to install, takes 5 minutes to set up and install. Windows 11 takes ten times as long and forces you to jump through countless hoops just to collect more data.

Many PC builders have one or two components they don’t like buying or recommending. I’ve got quite a few of them, and there’s a good chance you’ll agree with me once you hear why.

Tired of using many different commands, each with dozens of flags, to transform text? Meet sttr, a command-line tool that can replace your whole text processing toolbox. Let’s look at why this tool is making the "old way" of text processing look like hard labor.

We always get advice to use a surge protector of some sort when it comes to sensitive electronics. The idea is that if there's a sudden spike in power from your outlet the surge protector in your power strip will prevent it from reaching your device.

Five years ago, spotting a hybrid or electric car was a rare treat. Tesla sold about half a million EVs globally in 2020, proving the technology worked, while the Toyota Prius led hybrids in the US with 43,500 sales.

MAME is a fantastic emulator for classic game consoles, arcade cabinets, and computers, delivering major updates roughly once a month. MAME version 0.284 has arrived just before the end of 2025, complete with support for new systems and games, and many bug fixes.

Cars have a tendency to attract technological gimmicks (automatic seat belts, anyone?) but there are some genuinely useful and important technologies that you should look out for when buying your next car. In fact, a few of these can be added to your existing car as an upgrade, rather than a whole new vehicle. Of course, I'm not saying your next car should tick every box on this list or that all of them are essential, but they're all honestly useful.

In this world of modern technology, we have a lot of cables. Chargers, auxiliary connections, peripherals for our laptops, Ethernet, you name it. When you have a dozen cables lying in the corner of one room, they're a messy eyesore, so try out these tips to manage your cables for cheap.

We take for granted just how impressive laptop computers are. As this form factor becomes the standard way most people do traditional computer tasks, it becomes more and more necessary to get the most out of our portable computers.

The average "smart" home today looks and works nothing like I imagined it would when I was a kid. What I expected was a house with a brain in it, that anticipates your need, and does what you ask. Instead, a modern smart home is filled with barely functional hardware that does almost nothing itself and the "brain" is somewhere out there in a big company's server room.

Click around in the Linux world long enough and you'll no-doubt come across mentions of Canonical. It's an influential entity within the world of Linux and free software, which is why it's helpful to understand the creators of Ubuntu and what they do.

Affordable performance sedans are rare these days, but in the used market, one Japanese sports sedan stands out as a genuinely compelling bargain. For less than $20,000, you can step into a vehicle that delivers not just spirited driving dynamics but also a plush, refined cabin, something many buyers assume only comes with a luxury badge and a hefty price tag.