When transitioning from Windows to Linux, it's essential to select the proper distribution that best suits your needs. There is a plethora of Linux flavors to choose from, and experimenting with them in VMs or a dual-boot configuration is your best bet. Since Ubuntu is a popular operating system, and part of the Windows Subsystem for Linux and Hyper-V, you should give it a try.

Graphics cards have become increasingly bulky in recent years, with high-end models typically occupying three or more PCI Express (PCIe) slots on the back of your case. This is mainly because modern GPUs draw more power and require beefier cooling solutions to keep operating temperatures in check. I used to love these chunky GPUs with triple-fan coolers because they gave me peace of mind about long-term performance and thermal headroom for overclocking.

Back in 2010, my parents got me a PlayStation Portable—more commonly known as the PSP — for my eleventh birthday. To date, it remains one of the best gifts I've received. I spent hours every day playing GTA Liberty City, Chinatown Wars, FIFA, God of War, and a ton of other games on the console. It was a massive upgrade from the Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP I had earlier — in terms of graphics, screen size, and the overall experience. As I grew older, though, I built a custom PC and moved to PC gaming, which meant that my PSP was now lying unused in the closet. It stayed like that for over a decade, until I recently unearthed it while moving out of my current house.

If you’ve ventured into the world of NAS operating systems, you may already be familiar with the Unraid vs. TrueNAS Scale debates. Both distros have their followers, and for good reason. Unraid combines a simple UI with a plethora of apps and file systems, though it can cost a pretty penny to set up. Meanwhile, TrueNAS Scale offers top-tier performance alongside terrific support for ZFS and (more importantly) doesn’t charge for a paid license – but its interface has a rather steep learning curve.

I can't tell you the number of hours I've wasted rebooting PCs. When you're constantly swapping hardware, trying out new software, and sitting on the bleeding edge of software support, you're bound to run into issues, particularly with Windows. It's an operating system that's extremely powerful, but also bulky and complex, as well as notoriously fickle when it comes to recovery. I've wasted hours upon hours holding down the power button and hoping something changes the next time I go to boot the PC.

As a visual thinker, I love a good diagram, especially mind maps and flowcharts. They allowed me to gain an overview of all the details, draw connections, summarize information, and identify problems. However, diagramming tools (or using a design app as a diagramming tool) can feel like navigating a messy whiteboard. I end up spending too long placing and aligning elements to nail the aesthetic, rather than focusing on the content of the diagram.

Whenever I stumble upon an interesting article while browsing, I prefer saving it to read later. For the longest time, I used Pocket as my read-it-later app, but since it is shutting down, I set out to explore my options. I didn’t have to look far since the ReadItLater plugin for Obsidian makes it possible to save and catch up with all the content I plan to read. The free plugin lets me save a variety of web content as a Markdown note inside Obsidian and also includes templating features.

The Nintendo Direct presentation for Donkey Kong Bananza showcased more about the game that Nintendo Switch 2 owners can expect to see on July 17th, 2025. Those who have been waiting for another reason to justify purchasing a Switch 2 won't have to wait much longer for a single-player adventure that will have them smashing their way to gold bananas with Donkey Kong. But in addition to a brand-new adventure for Nintendo's favorite gorilla with a tie, Donkey Kong Bananza has a few interesting features on the Switch 2 that are drawing attention. The game will have a co-op feature that lets players bring a friend to control the young Pauline on Donkey Kong's escapades. But this is part of something that is much more intriguing for Switch 2 owners, and could mean something even greater for future games for the console.

I have been using Proton VPN for a couple of years now due to Proton’s privacy-focused and encrypted zero-knowledge architecture. Like other VPN clients, it includes optional features that can optimize security and improve connectivity performance. Not all the features are enabled by default, but there are some great ones that I wish I had started using sooner. All the following features are available with a subscription to one of the available tiers. Also, since Proton VPN is cross-platform, you can use it on Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS.

Handheld gaming is about the only time I get the chance to work through my ever-growing library of games, whether it's on the Legion Go, Switch, or Switch 2, or even on my phone with a clamp-style controller. It's not the portability, although that helps, but most of them have some pause and resume function, so I can get a few minutes when I have time and get back to whatever needs doing.

A decade ago, if you wanted to play games on your PC, you went with Windows. Linux didn't cut it, and Mac wasn't quite there yet, so Windows it was. However, the Linux camp has been slowly gaining on Windows, and while it may not be there just yet, it's still taking wins against Microsoft's operating system.

Failed 3D prints are a natural part of the process, often due to clogged nozzles, bed adhesion issues, or slicing errors. Instead of tossing them out, I've started finding ways to repurpose these leftovers into handy tools for my home and workspace. It's become a satisfying habit that not only saves plastic from the landfill but also adds function where I least expected it. Here are some real-life examples of how I've transformed broken or unfinished prints into something useful.