How-To Geek

If you don't have $100 (or more) for a standalone Windows license, then you can download any distro of Linux for free right now and have a working computer in just a few minutes. However, the cost of something can be measured in more than just dollar bills, and there are more than a few ways Linux ends up costing you more than a commercial operating system like Windows or macOS.

Phone makers used to spend years chasing the thinnest flagship possible, and buyers mostly shrugged. The sales numbers have been in for a long time; the compromises are obvious, and I still don't get why there are attempts at bringing thin phones back. Still, here's why an extra millimeter or two is worth it.

I love the convenience of my battery-powered home security cameras, but buying a dozen new AA batteries every few months—not so much. Most of the big-name security and smart device brands, like Arlo and Blink, strongly advise against rechargeable batteries, but I tried it anyway, and the results are better than I expected.

If you have a Roku, then you know the home screen is no stranger to advertisements. Whether you're scrolling through your apps or just taking in the pretty landscape of Roku City, ads are everywhere.

I've always thought a PC's power button should be fairly self-explanatory. Press it, and the computer shuts down safely. But Windows 11 is never that straightforward. It gives you several choices for what that button actually does, including one that makes shutting down your PC much simpler.

A router that keeps dropping out sends most of us straight to firmware, settings, and the internet provider. Sometimes the culprit is duller: the power feeding it. Here is what changed when I moved my router, why it works, and how to avoid the same headache.

Want to add more USB ports to your desktop PC? There are several ways you can do it, from simply connecting a USB hub to adding a PCIe add-in card. Here are four different ways to add extra USB ports to your desktop.

If you've spent any time working with data in Excel, you've probably come across filtering. It's a quick way to focus on the records you need, analyze a subset of your data, and hide everything else from view. But Excel's regular filter buttons come with a few annoyances: they hide entire worksheet rows, can make the original dataset harder to see, and leave you with filters to clear when you've finished.

I got a new phone for my birthday. And you know what happens next: you start playing around with everything. Relatable enough, right? At first, I was genuinely excited. New phone, new tricks, new excuses to spend way too much time digging through settings.

For years, my dishwasher drove me insane. No matter what settings I changed or how carefully I loaded it, some things always came out far from clean, and I had to wash them myself or run another cycle. The solution I discovered through a truly awesome YouTube video was incredibly simple: I just needed to add a little dishwasher powder.

HDDs are definitely not dead yet, especially since so many PCs and laptops still have them. Because they are so affordable, they still hold value, and people actually purchase them. HDDs are also useful for NAS setups and archiving or backing up data. Some last longer than others based on design and use, yet many can fail for any reason at any time. Velcro is one potential way to help prolong their life, helping you get years of use out of them… and your money's worth.

Android reigns supreme over foldable phones at the moment. It has a lead stretching several years, with a wide range of designs and prices. You can get everything from an affordable flip phone like the Motorola Razr through to three-panel beasts like the Huawei Mate XT2.

Ryobi's 18V ONE+ power tool system is massive, but one thing that's often overlooked is the battery pack. In recent years, the biggest advancement isn't a tool, but the new "EDGE" battery technology that powers them. It's a pack that promises extra power, longer runtime, and more. If you're in the market for a new battery, here's what you need to know and whether it's worth buying.

This week's recommendation roundup for Paramount+ subscribers in the U.S. is a glorious mixed bag. Up top, it features a new addition to starring Russell Crowe that, despite it getting skewered by critics and a 45% on Rotten Tomatoes, remains the No. 1 movie on the service this week. Meanwhile, Joe Dirt, which we wrote about two weeks ago, is still hovering in the top 10.

Are you planning to record some professional audio but don't own a good microphone? Turns out, that old phone you've been keeping in your drawer for years is nearly as good, if not as good, as some of the cheap USB microphones out there. With some setup around your recording space, you can get good audio quality without compromising your wallet.

Excel is usually filed under spreadsheets, yet its formulas and macros can carry software that goes well beyond budgets and pivot tables. From schedulers to games to financial dashboards, these three kinds of programs show how far a workbook can stretch before it needs a separate application.

There was a time when creating automations on your phone required powerful third-party apps with complex tools. Nowadays, most Android phones come with built-in automation features. You can easily set them up without much effort.

Microsoft replaced Battery Saver with Energy Saver in Windows 11 a couple of years ago. The new feature includes an always-on toggle that, if left enabled, can reduce your PC's performance without you even noticing. Combine that with a power mode set to favor efficiency, and your Windows PC might throttle itself even when it's plugged in.

My home network has grown into a small lab with computers, virtual machines, storage devices, and plenty of other things that occasionally decide to behave strangely. When something goes wrong, figuring out what happened can be difficult because the useful information may already be gone by the time I start investigating.

The Apple iPad is an exceptionally long-lived device. There's no reason to upgrade them frequently and in my personal experience these tablets don't show much battery wear over the years either.