How-To Geek

I first had solar panels installed on my rooftop nearly a decade ago. I've moved since then and have had them installed on my new home as well. At this point, I'm now familiar with having panels installed and what it's like using them. Here's what I've learned along the way.

The Subaru Outback has been a staple of the brand for three decades, with sales exceeding three million units. Now in its seventh generation, the 2026 model represents the most comprehensive makeover for the Outback yet, characterized by a boxy new exterior design and a more optimized infotainment system that offers faster response times.

Did you know that Plex has free movies on demand? I'm sure many customers use Plex as a personal media server, and rightfully so. It's an effective platform where users essentially create their personal streaming services. For those who love customization, Plex is the server for you.

You're probably used to seeing M.2 SSDs as little sticks of around 8 centimetres long. But they actually come in many shapes and forms. The smallest of them all, M.2-2230, measures a mere 3 centimetres.

Reliability remains one of the most important factors for car buyers, especially as vehicle prices continue to climb, and modern cars become increasingly complex. While flashy technology and performance numbers often dominate marketing campaigns, long-term dependability ultimately determines how satisfying, and affordable, a vehicle is to own. According to the latest reliability data, some automakers continue to outperform the rest when it comes to building vehicles that last.

It's never been more expensive to watch movies than it is today. Depending on where you live, theatrical tickets could cost north of $20. Throw in snacks and drinks, and you're spending over $40 to watch one movie. It's not much better at home thanks to an abundance of streaming services that constantly increase their fees.

If you’re invested in the Milwaukee tool ecosystem, you understand that those battery packs are just as important as the tools. And not only are they important, but your Milwaukee M12 or M18 batteries are expensive, too. However, many people have a few bad habits that shorten their batteries' lifespan, and a few simple habits can extend runtime or prevent premature failure.

Android Auto is one of the best things since sliced bread. Whether you have an aftermarket Android head unit in an older car or a new car that supports it natively, it’s one of the most transformative ways to make your driving safer, smarter, and more convenient.

Finding good presentation software doesn't mean you always have to resort to premium options. Whether you're looking for something web-based or a desktop app, it's easy to find a program to create slideshows for any occasion and for free. Let's look at several options, including some that are open-source.

I'm no stranger to various internet-related issues, and by that, I mean an unsteady connection. Most of my problems have been on the ISP's side, but many bad connections are kind of self-inflicted. That's the best kind, though, as they're usually easy enough to fix.

Do you ever feel like no matter how much you spend on a fancy smart TV, the performance is never all that great and gets worse over time? If your Android TV is running poorly with laggy menus, slow apps, and a stuttering user interface and experience, you're not alone.

Using your 3D printer to extract even more utility and value out of your home is a great reason to get into the hobby. So imagine what happens when you take a product from IKEA, a company best known for min-maxing your living space, and combine it with the infinite possibilities of a 3D printer.

Nothing beats an addictive documentary, whether a feature-length film or a multipart docuseries. Netflix has an attractive collection of documentaries, providing so many to choose from that I never run out of options when I need my documentary fix.

I’ve been running a Plex server for a long time, which means I’ve made my fair share of amateur mistakes. Storage is probably one of the biggest things plaguing my Plex server, and I have definitely made all three of these mistakes at least once (if not multiple times).

As the way we use our computers changes, new problems always crop up that need a solution. In my case, I've had to deal with big gaps between my display device and computer. The solutions have been various, but only recently did I spot a long HDMI cable that was perfect for my needs.

If there’s one thing Android is known for, it’s being on the bleeding edge of technology. Countless features have debuted on Android devices years before they made it to the iPhone. However, even Android was too far ahead of the game sometimes.

Microsoft Copilot is marketed as a genius coworker, and in many ways, it lives up to that promise. It can summarize 50-page transcripts, draft repetitive emails, and generate Excel formulas. But beneath the hype, it often functions merely as a high-tech shortcut to commands buried in the ribbon.

As I write this, hard drives are selling out all over the world and prices are rising, so finding storage for your NAS is more of a challenge than ever. But, while browsing the web looking for a deal, you spot some large hard drives marketed as "surveillance" hard drives at a good price. How has no one else snapped these up? A hard drive is a hard drive, right? Wrong!

Getting started with a Raspberry PI can feel daunting, especially with so many peripherals and projects out there. This was the project that got me started, and it is still a great beginner project today.

I grew up on Windows 7 because it was my main operating system for years. I spent some of my early computing days on Windows XP, but Windows 7 was my digital home for the longest time. I haven't used it in almost a decade. Microsoft dropped support for it about six years ago. There was an extended release version, but software companies are abandoning that ESR version too. Just this month, Firefox announced that it's ending support for Windows 7, which prompted me to try it again for old time's sake.