How-To Geek

I must have installed Windows XP on computers at least a hundred times in my life, and probably quite a bit more than that. While it was still a supported OS, it was as easy as booting from a disc (remember those?) and clicking a few options.

Visual Studio Code version 1.106 has officially released. This version comes with a focus on AI integration, a significant refresh of the user interface, and making the integrated terminal smarter than ever before, so it's a pretty thick update for everyone.

The Vivaldi web browser is already a compelling alternative to Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox, and now it's getting even better with upgraded tab synchronization. There are also some helpful changes to the new tab page, performance controls, and the built-in mail client.

You've heard of CPU or GPU bottlenecks, but monitor bottlenecks? Well, when you think about it, your monitor is where the rubber hits the road when it comes to gaming performance. Just like a high-performance car with bad tires, it doesn't matter how good things are under the hood if you can't make it to the finish line.

Microsoft Word is ubiquitous in the professional world, and its widespread support and capabilities have lead to it becoming one of the most popular word processors today.

I love smart home technology, and I've always dreamed of living in the house of Back to the Future 2 or The Jetsons, but as a grownup with a little more experience of what technology is really like on a day-to-day basis, I have some reservations about what should or should not be "smart". With "smart" these days meaning "connected to the cloud".

Virtual reality headsets have struggled to find a place with consumers, even among gamers, who are not usually shy about spending money on their hobby.

Toyota may be the first name that comes to mind when people think of reliability, but another Japanese automaker has been quietly perfecting the formula even further. Known for its precise engineering and attention to detail, this brand consistently produces vehicles that shrug off mileage and age with remarkable ease, often outlasting Toyota’s own offerings in real-world ownership tests.

After months of rumors, Valve has finally revealed the new Steam Machine, a home console that can run PC games. It has the same SteamOS software as the Steam Deck, and it could be a fantastic alternative to an Xbox or PlayStation console.

Every so often, a car shows up that doesn’t quite fit in. Most of the time, it doesn’t sell well, and the 2019 Lincoln Continental Coach Door Edition was exactly that kind of car. Sedans haven’t been hot for a while, and this one was rare, limited, and largely overlooked. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t cool—or a smart buy today.

Amazon is rolling out a serious, tough new policy designed to block illegal streaming apps sideloaded onto its Fire TV Stick devices. This is an intense move by Amazon to fight piracy, among other things, but this clampdown is slated to apply to all Fire TV devices and sticks.

Linux users love to talk about how much faster their systems are compared to Windows, and you might wonder what kind of performance boosts they're actually talking about. I decided to do a few of my own tests to get some answers.

Homebrew, the popular package manager for macOS and Linux, just released its big 5.0 update. The new version has faster downloads, improved hardware support, and an important security change for Mac software.

Lexus has long built its reputation on one key trait, unmatched reliability. Year after year, the brand continues to top dependability studies and owner satisfaction surveys, and nowhere is that legacy more evident than in its SUV lineup. From compact crossovers to three-row family haulers, Lexus offers a model for nearly every type of driver, all backed by bulletproof engineering.

Google Pixel phones are popular due to their clean, smooth, and customizable software experience, but there's room for improvement. While Material 3 Expressive makes these phones more customizable than ever, one of my biggest complaints is the at-a-glance widget. It's a non-removable "feature" inside the Pixel launcher.

I understand if you don't subscribe to MGM+. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you've never heard of it. The streaming service, now owned by Amazon, doesn't have the extensive catalog or popularity of something like Netflix. Plus, there are only so many subscriptions one person can have!

Windows 11 now has native support for third-party passkey managers. The November 2025 security update is adding this in. This should bring an end to the disjointed feeling that Passkeys used to have if you weren't fully using Microsoft’s built-in tools.

Look anywhere online, and you'll see discussions about how streaming services are ruining the cinema experience and negatively impacting movie theaters. And while I agree with many of those points, there's more to it than that. This new generation of endless content available to stream at a moment's notice ruined movies and TV in more ways than you realize.

ChatGPT has become the poster child for artificial intelligence and large language models everywhere, but if you want something more specialized, or you want something you can guarantee is private, it isn't your only option.

There are ways to use the Python programming language on a typical Android device, iPhone, or iPad, but with fewer features available than Python on most desktop computers. Thankfully, you can still get the full Python experience on those devices—you just need a Raspberry Pi or other low-power server on the same network.