How-To Geek

A low-powered CPU can make some tasks slower, while a small disk drive means you’ll have space for fewer files. But a machine with low memory can be catastrophic: applications hanging or getting closed by the memory manager, or even the whole system coming to a halt.

There is an interesting part of the used server market that I think more homelab builders should pay attention to. Most of you probably already know that companies regularly get rid of perfectly usable enterprise hardware once it reaches the end of its supported life. The problem is that when people talk about buying retired enterprise equipment, they usually think about rack servers, workstations, CPUs, or workstation laptops. Disk shelves rarely get the same attention.

Winamp is one of the most iconic programs of the late 90s and early 2000s. Despite its long history, it has fallen by the wayside as newer, more capable programs have taken its place.

If you still have a printer, it's likely something you only use occasionally, so you haven't really been pressured to buy a new one for years now.

I wanted to see whether I could do something more interesting with my NAS than simply use it for storage. I decided to run games on it and stream them across my local network to another computer, with the NAS handling the rendering while the client handled the display and controls. I used a TerraMaster F4–425 Pro NAS and focused on games that matched the hardware rather than trying to turn it into a replacement for a dedicated gaming PC.

If you've ever tried to get a remote desktop working on a Windows Home machine, you've discovered that it isn't especially easy. You have two unappealing options: you can pay for a Windows Pro license just for RDP or you can accept the privacy and security risks of third-party remote access accounts.

File Explorer handles most copy jobs, but it stumbles when transfers get large, long, or interrupted. Microsoft has shipped a command-line alternative for roughly three decades, though, and believe it or not, it's already on your PC. Here's what Robocopy is, where it beats the graphical approach, and who should bother learning it.

Linux Mint has a reputation for being the friendly face of Linux and the perfect first step. The one people point to when they say switching from Windows is easier than you'd think. I believed that for a while. I installed it on my Lenovo IdeaPad Y70, got comfortable, and figured I'd finally made the jump for good. What followed was about a year of regretting that choice entirely, and I would take it back if I could. I wish more people told you what to expect when you switch from Windows to Linux.

I didn’t expect to get this attached to Android Auto, but here we are.

I love reading. My home is stuffed full of books, and so are my eReaders. The problem is that with so many great books to read, I find it hard to finish the book I'm on before I start the next one. I ended up adding a small script to my jailbroken Kindle that stops me from opening any other books until I've finished the one I'm reading.

It's business as usual for Netflix, as the streamer continues to put out new movies this month. Unabomber, a new thriller about the life of Ted Kaczynski, shot straight to No. 1 on Netflix. I expect that movie to stay at No. 1 for at least the next week.

Remember when the most expensive consumer GPUs in the world actually melted? Or, most of the time, when their connectors melted? I do too. But it's not a thing of the past.

A PC desk setup is like an iceberg: on the surface, it looks good, but beneath it lies much more. The hidden portion usually consists of messy cables and wires leading to various ports and outlets.

I’ve used OneNote for years, which apparently gave me just enough confidence to assume I knew what I was doing. I have notebooks for work, random ideas, recipes, travel plans, and all the little things I swear I’ll come back to later.

I never disliked working in the Linux terminal. In fact, I always look around for different terminal tricks to save time and make me more productive. I also like to customize the terminal to make it look stunning. Out of so many ways to upgrade the terminal, these are the tools I chose to get the best of both worlds.

Multicolor and multi-material 3D printers aren't new, but they are quite a recent development if we're talking about the world of affordable, consumer 3D printers.

I used to think a $50 Android tablet was the kind of device you bought when you couldn't justify spending more on a proper one. These days, though, I've started looking at cheap tablets very differently. You don't necessarily need a powerful processor, a beautiful display, or the latest version of Android when you're buying a device for a very specific job. In fact, a cheaper tablet can be perfect for the kind of projects where you wouldn't want to spend tons of money, anyway.

Wi-Fi is super convenient, but when it comes to its ability to travel through walls and cover the entire house, things can get a little sketchy. It's not just about the stability of your connection, but also about the speeds.

I’ve been using an OTA antenna for TV for a while. I hate monthly subscriptions and this is another way I can make the most out of what’s available for zero cost. I can access all the major networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX, but if there is a specific show I want to watch, I have to be there when it starts and watch until it’s over. Network shows, NFL games, and reruns are all there, but what I really miss most is being able to watch them when I want, and more importantly, fast-forward through the commercials.

Have you ever opened Blender hoping to create something, only to get overwhelmed by the interface and close the app a few minutes later? If so, you’re in good company. A lot of people, myself included, have wanted to use this powerful software to create something beautiful, especially after hearing about Flow — the animated film that won the 2025 Oscar for Best Animated Feature and was entirely created using Blender. However, as soon as you open the app, all the panels, modes, menus, submenus, and hundreds of settings make it seem like an insurmountable learning curve, leading many of us to give up on the idea.