Windows’ problems are often discussed as if they’re the result of bad decisions layered on top of an otherwise sound foundation, but I'd argue that a lot of what plagues Windows actually comes from its legacy roots. Microsoft keeps trying to stabilize Windows by refining update processes, adding safeguards, ways to "backup" data, and offering rollback options, but the underlying model hasn’t changed in decades. The operating system is still mutable at its core, which I think is the primary issue.

Raspberry Pi 5 is the most powerful board on the brand's roster, but its most expensive option is now rivaling mini PCs. Storage and RAM prices have doubled (to say the least), and if you're planning to spend that much on a small single-board computer, you should be aware of the options. A mini PC has much more room for upgrade with versatile connection options that put most single-board computers, including the Raspberry Pi 5, to shame.

If you need some more storage space, you might be looking at getting a 4 TB or even an 8 TB drive. A new consumer NVMe SSD like a Samsung 990 Pro would cost a fortune, but on eBay, you may have come across a used enterprise drive that is listed for 30% of the price. You might see some pretty great specs like high drive writes per day and power loss protection so you pick it up. But then in reality, when it arrived, it wasn't just plug and play.

Windows desktop has always felt like a curated showroom for Microsoft’s latest services. After all, the company’s defaults are baked into every corner of the OS. But what happens when you strip away Edge, Outlook, OneDrive, and more to make room for a purely open-source workflow?

Finding that one specific email or the final version of a project proposal shouldn’t feel like a hunt across different browser tabs. For a long time, I used Microsoft Copilot as a standalone assistant, but I was still manually digging through Outlook and OneDrive every time I needed actual data.

Luckily, monitors aren't going up in price like other computing products as of late, which means you can still purchase one for a good price if you're looking for something new. While everyone would love to get their hands on a QD-OLED monitor, sometimes, it's just not in the budget.

We've all chased lower CPU temperatures at some point. After all, who wouldn't want a CPU that runs cooler, quieter, and sustains higher boost clocks? In fact, I used to panic every time my CPU exceeded 80 degrees while gaming and try every method to lower it because I always felt like that was affecting my performance in some way. I'd start second-guessing my cooler, thermal paste, and airflow, assuming that if I could just shave off a few degrees, my games would feel smoother and more responsive.

It has been a long time since I've really tried to manage the storage on my PC. I have several drives connected to my build, including a 1TB SSD dedicated to my games, and another 1TB SSD dedicated to my OS, downloads, and apps. But there are some older storage drives that feel more like digital clutter than a useful addition.

When you're picking components for a build, it's easy to get hung up on "must-have" features that you think you can never do without. I've been in the same boat before, endlessly debating the merits of CPU cores and GPU VRAM against value for money and practical considerations. In 2026, I've decided not to chain myself to a handful of specs that keep delaying the research phase without benefiting it in any way. Going forward, I'll focus on performance rather than specs, and features rather than looks, when choosing components for a new build. This way, I can also save myself a significant portion of my budget that would otherwise be wasted on vanity metrics and "future-proof" specs.

It looks like Sony could have plans to release an upgraded PlayStation Portal.

Down the street from the Los Angeles Angels' stadium in Anaheim, a crowd gathers to watch two homes burn. In less than 30 minutes, one structure is reduced to its smoldering, blackened wood frame, while the other, thanks to simple changes to its design, is remarkably unscathed. Of course, this was the point of the demonstration, which was held last June by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) at a firefighting training center.The heat from the burning demo home is fierce as we stand outside under a bright, cloudless sky. The plume of thick, black smoke is what eventually pushes me back from the front of the audience. …Read the full story at The Verge.

My home network isn't the same without a NAS attached, whether it's serving media files or backing up my devices. I've had a variety of enclosures over the years, from bespoke to DIY, and there's one feature that I can't live without. That's having a second Ethernet port, preferably with both at the same transfer speed, although I've owned models with one 10GbE and several 1GbE ports before.