How-To Geek

The Raspberry Pi is one of the most popular single-board computers out there among tinkerers, self-hosting enthusiasts, and homelabbers. However, if you're looking to get the best homelab performance for your dollar, the Pi isn't a great option—it just isn't designed for that use. There are better options out there at the same price.

Are you ready for another set of homelab projects? It's all about backups and optimizations this weekend, as I show you how important game server and GitHub backups are, as well as how to optimize the downloading of updates and apps across Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Samsung has never been scared to include as many options as possible in its devices. That includes the Galaxy Watch as well, of course, but not all of the best features are enabled fresh out of the box. Let's make sure you haven't overlooked some grayed-out toggles.

Like all good tech geeks, I am a terrible hoarder. I have drawers full of old cables for phones I no longer own, and empty boxes from devices I sold years ago. I also have several old routers gathering dust, and decided to put one of them to good use.

My favorite thing about owning a 3D printer is being able to invent solutions for my everyday life. Those small annoyances or inefficiencies that store-bought products can’t fix. One recent example is my custom desktop water tracker. Come along with me on this problem-solving journey.

Are you pondering learning how to script on Linux? Perhaps you wanted to create a service or automate something, but thought Bash was too much. The if-statement represents a huge chunk of how a script functions, yet you can learn it in an hour. That knowledge opens up many new, strong options on Linux, so it's worth taking the time to learn.

Intel finally has a clear answer to the AMD Ryzen Z chips powering handheld gaming PCs like Valve's Steam Deck and Lenovo's Legion Go. The company has introduced Arc G3 and G3 Extreme processors that are meant to deliver "PC-class" performance in Windows handhelds without compromising on battery life.

The weekend is almost here, and the weather is getting warmer outside. That means you're probably want a way to cool off this weekend with a fun new Raspberry Pi project or two. So, here are three Raspberry Pi projects you can try this weekend.

Reading a technical report or a dense academic paper sometimes feels like a chore. You tend to need a quiet desk and hours of uninterrupted time. I used to let important documents pile up in my downloads folder because the mental effort required to go through complex charts and over sophisticated wording felt like a battle of attrition. Google Illuminate ended up being better than NotebookLM, and I pay for the latter monthly.

Now that Intel has released Core Series 3, it's Qualcomm's turn to provide its effective response to the success of Apple's MacBook Neo. The tech giant has unveiled Snapdragon C, an ARM system-on-chip aimed at the "entry-tier" Windows PCs not covered by the X2 series.

Home networking is something we all wish was simple, but anybody who has spent more than a weekend messing with routers knows that it's really not. Stuff breaks for no apparent reason, and there are so few ways to know what kind of problem you're having.

If your car came with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, you may have used it during the trial period and then let it expire, assuming your phone's hotspot could handle everything just as well. For short trips around town, that's probably true.

Snagit is a powerful screen capture tool that packs a ton of handy features, but it also costs a pretty penny. Worse still, you can't buy a perpetual license anymore, and instead need to shell out $39 a year to keep using it.

In its early days, Android was pretty barebones. You had to install standalone apps to perform all sorts of basic tasks and get functionalities that Android simply didn't include. Many built-in features we now take for granted actually started life as standalone apps before Google folded them into the OS itself.

For many years, building a digital music library involved ripping CDs and downloading free songs. If you wanted a specific song or album, you'd have to find it and pay good money for it or wait until a used copy popped up for sale. Streaming services like Spotify flipped digital music on its head by allowing anyone to stream almost any song in the world, either for free with ads or through a small subscription.

Excel's Remove Duplicates button looks like a harmless cleanup shortcut, but one wrong click can permanently delete data you actually still need. Instead of risking your source records, use built-in tools to safely inspect, extract, or rebuild datasets without destructive edits.

While there are some interesting specialty filaments for 3D printing, most of us stick with basics like PLA. It has many great qualities, but I’m often left feeling like my prints don’t feel substantial enough. The solution isn’t more infill—it’s plaster of Paris.

There have been plenty of times when my Windows PC has felt slow online, and my first instinct is usually to blame the connection. I'll run a speed test, which is easier now that Windows can surface a speed test from search, and check whether I'm actually getting the speed that I'm paying for. If the numbers look off, the next move is obvious: reboot the PC, reset the Wi-Fi router and modem, and hope the problem clears itself up.

Luxury SUV ownership is starting to feel like more hassle than it’s worth for a growing number of buyers. Between complex tech, turbocharged engines, and rising repair costs, the shine of premium badges isn’t hitting the same way it used to.

Compact SUVs have become more expensive than ever, especially as automakers push heavily toward electrification and higher-tech interiors. For many buyers, the Toyota RAV4 has traditionally been the default recommendation thanks to its efficiency and reputation for reliability. However, its latest redesign and hybrid-only approach have also pushed pricing noticeably higher, leaving room for rivals to make a strong case on value.