How-To Geek

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We explain technology. Learn more with our articles, reviews, tips, and the best answers to your most pressing tech questions.
Updated: 1 hour 14 min ago

3 simple, FOSS Markdown editors as Obsidian alternatives

Mon, 12/01/2025 - 13:30

Obsidian is incredibly powerful, but all that power can be distracting. I've spent more time customizing my vault with different plugins than actually building my notes library. If this sounds familiar, it’s time to switch to one of these three user-friendly, free and open-source Markdown editors.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Prime Video movies you have to watch this week (December 1 - 7)

Mon, 12/01/2025 - 13:00

They say ‘tis the season to be jolly, but I say ‘tis the season to be bingeful, and there’s no better place to do that than on Amazon Prime Video.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How I built my own command-line weather app with Python

Mon, 12/01/2025 - 12:30

After writing small scripts in Python, I wanted to try to write a "real" command-line app. I decided to build a simple weather forecast app. I was surprised at how quickly and easily I could throw together something like this over a weekend. Here's how I did it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

ACEMAGIC M1 Mini PC review: Compact computing with few compromises

Mon, 12/01/2025 - 12:00

There are numerous budget-friendly compact PCs for those with limited space, but there's often a trade-off in performance. While the ACEMAGIC M1 Mini PC is not ideal for graphics-intensive tasks or gaming, its processor and ports are stand-outs for productivity.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This $400 all-SSD NAS is the ultimate homelab starter kit

Mon, 12/01/2025 - 06:00

When it comes to starting a homelab, it can be a bit of a daunting task. What hardware do you choose? What capabilities do you want? How do you build out your initial setup? Well, the TerraMaster F4 SSD NAS takes care of all that for you.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don't toss your old TV: 4 Christmas decor hacks you need to see

Mon, 12/01/2025 - 00:00

It's the start of the festive season, and so people are unpacking their trees, putting up lights, and doing the same old Christmas decoration thing as last year, and the year before that.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This is the only Linux distro I recommend for self-hosting

Sun, 11/30/2025 - 23:15

Self-hosting is a great way to save money on subscriptions and take control of your data, but getting everything running smoothly on one system can be difficult, especially if you have incompatible dependencies.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These hidden Windows repair tricks fix corrupted files—and Microsoft won't tell you about it

Sun, 11/30/2025 - 23:00

Corruption is bad in any walk of life, but you certainly don't want it in your computer. Yet when your apps aren't working correctly, or Windows seems to just crash for no reason, there's a good chance file corruption is the culprit.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 Linux apps I always run at startup (and why they’re worth it)

Sun, 11/30/2025 - 22:00

If you're like me, you don't like unnecessary friction when trying to accomplish tasks on your Linux PC. The following desktop software is so useful to me, I want them to be running when I start using my computer so that I don't have to manually launch them.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How Phone Link and KDE Connect can connect your Android devices and Windows PC

Sun, 11/30/2025 - 21:30

You don’t need to email files to yourself or text yourself notes just to sync them between devices. There’s a better way to wirelessly share data between your phone and computer. I’ll show you two ways to do exactly that. In addition to sharing text and files, you will also get quality of life features. For instance, you can have your phone’s notifications sent directly to your PC, answer texts without picking up the phone, and even control the phone’s media playback using a Windows PC.

Categories: IT General, Technology

2.4GHz routers are officially too old for 2025

Sun, 11/30/2025 - 21:00

When was the last time you upgraded your Wi-Fi router? If you can't remember because you've had your router for many years, there's a good chance that it's time for an upgrade.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I 3D printed these four PC mods to take my setup to the next level

Sun, 11/30/2025 - 20:30

I love organizing my workstation, and my PC gaming setup isn’t immune to getting 3D printed upgrades. From keeping my graphics card from sagging to organizing my USB drives and even holding my controller, here are my top four 3D prints that took my setup to the next level.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I don't use Linux for free anymore, and you shouldn't either—here's why

Sun, 11/30/2025 - 20:00

The first time I gave money to a Linux project felt weird. I'd been playing with one distro or another for a while, never quite figuring it out. Then Ubuntu Linux launched just as I started college, and because we all had bad internet, they sent me an installation disc for free.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to clean up old Windows drivers and hidden files

Sun, 11/30/2025 - 18:30

Over time, hidden junk files and old drivers clog up Windows systems, slowing them down, and even introducing security vulnerabilities. That’s why it’s a good idea to ‘spring-clean' your computer every once in a while. Clearing away old junk files will speed up your computer and free up disk space at the same time. I’ll show you two ways you can do this.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I waste plenty of money on gadgets, but I won't buy these

Sun, 11/30/2025 - 18:15

I probably spend way too much money on gadgets, but if there’s one thing that makes me not want it, it's a battery compartment meant for disposable batteries. No matter how good the tool is, if it isn’t rechargeable, I'm not interested and you probably shouldn't be either.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why everyone suddenly cares about Linux gaming—and it's not just the Steam Deck

Sun, 11/30/2025 - 18:00

The numbers on Linux installations are finally starting to show some life, and despite what some people might say, it's not all down to just one or two major moves. But, undeniably, the rise of Linux gaming has something to do with it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Used Japanese sports hatchback available at excellent value

Sun, 11/30/2025 - 17:45

If you’ve been searching for a sporty, fun-to-drive hatchback that won’t break the bank, the used market has a surprising standout. One Japanese-built sports hatchback has become a steal, offering sharp handling, peppy performance, and stylish looks, all at a price far below what you’d expect for its driving experience.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why you should enable "Advanced Protection" on Android

Sun, 11/30/2025 - 17:30

Android phones are remarkably more secure than they used to be, but Google is holding back on you. There’s a lesser-known feature that’s off by default, and enabling it is an easy way to get a serious security boost.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your motherboard might be secretly killing your CPU — here's how to check

Sun, 11/30/2025 - 17:15

Modern PCs can set you back by a considerable amount, so it makes sense to protect your hardware from heat and excessive voltage. Over the past few years, there’s been a noticeable rise in CPU failures linked to overvolting on default motherboard settings. What’s causing this, and is there a way to prevent it?

Categories: IT General, Technology

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