With the Windows 10 end-of-life date approaching rapidly, I've decided to upgrade my aging PC to Linux instead of Windows 11. The problem is, I haven't used Linux properly during my entire time using computers. The best I've ever done was about a decade ago, when I installed Ubuntu as a dual boot, tried it for a day, then went back to Windows and scrubbed Linux off my system again.

TrueNAS is the best NAS operating system if you're building a NAS from scratch, packed with handy features and tools that will get you into data storage nirvana in no time at all. Sure, going with a pre-built NAS enclosure makes the initial setup quick, but it's really not that much harder to build your own, and then you don't get stuck in vendor lock-in.

Like everybody else, Google Drive was my default cloud storage system — until the day I replaced it with a NAS. My home NAS was supposed to outsmart Big Tech, save me some cash, and get my digital life in order. Some of that happened, but not how I expected. Turns out, going self-hosted isn’t a shortcut to a setup designed around convenience. You get fine control over your files, backups, and privacy, but you also have to put in extra effort.

If you ask any Windows user, they will tell you how PuTTY is a must-have tool for your home lab, and a go-to SSH client since the beginning of time. It's certainly one of the most reliable ways of connecting to remote servers, and its open-source nature means that it has become popular among developers and enthusiasts. That said, PuTTY isn't perfect. It has a dated interface that needs a massive overhaul. There's only a single window which is poor for workflow management, and the customization options are extremely limited. Owing to this, you may have felt like looking for a better alternative to PuTTY, but you were probably too reluctant considering how you were so used to the app.

Being a PC user, you must expect to come face-to-face with seemingly inexplicable behavior. Over the last two decades, I've encountered and fixed multiple issues with my PCs. One way or the other, I was able to either pinpoint the root cause and eliminate it, or at least get rid of the issue if I couldn't figure out the actual reason behind it. The fixes to the issues listed below, however, have managed to elude me over the last three years. These problems come and go as they please, and I'm no closer to solving them than I was 3 years ago.

As someone who has been gaming my whole life, but only got a PC over a year ago, PC gaming has turned out to be much cheaper and easier to use than I previously believed. I'm not the only console gamer that has had this experience, but there are still plenty more that won't make the transition because they worry about the ease of use. Now, with my new experience, I can speak to some of the myths about PC gaming that have continued to circulate, despite them being clearly untrue. Since this is based on my own experience, and I bought a prebuilt gaming PC, I'm not going to discuss building a PC from scratch, although having changed out a component or two on my rig, I feel confident that I will eventually build one.

I recently reached a breaking point after losing track of yet another warranty of one of my electronic items. My receipts are generally scattered in random folders or buried deep within my email inbox, making it nearly impossible to find proof of purchase when needed. Apart from that, it's challenging to remember essential appliance maintenance dates, which sometimes leads to costly last-minute repairs or replacements.

Graphics cards have become bigger and heavier in recent years due to increased power draw and the need for beefy cooling solutions to keep temperatures in check. The first time I bought a triple-slot GPU was when I built my current gaming PC back in 2020. I went with the Asus ROG Strix 3090, which seemed like the best option at the time since cooling performance was my top priority. But after using such a thick and hefty graphics card for over two years, I opted for a slimmer 2-slot liquid-cooled model when I upgraded to the RTX 4090 in 2022.

It didn't take long from building my first gaming PC to running out of storage space. First, I kicked the decision down the road by adding an external hard drive. I mean, I'd only just bought the PC, and my wallet was hurting. It was only supposed to be a stopgap measure, but then I remembered the old chestnut about how "there is nothing more permanent than a temporary solution", and decided to do something about it, the right way.

There are plenty of bespoke smart devices out there that you can pick up for your smart home, ranging from smart switches, motion sensors, and temperature sensors. Yet, one particular "device" has seemingly slipped under the radar in the last few years: the humble NFC tag. Everyone's phone these days has an NFC reader, and the technology is still in use across the board, from passports, ID cards, and mobile payments. But did you know you can buy a lot of NFC tags for as little as $5, write your own data to them, and use them for automating your home?

The forthcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7 is Samsung’s thinnest foldable yet. Our own Allison Johnson just published her full review ahead of the phone’s launch on July 25th, and while there’s certainly no denying it’s a spendy device, know that various carriers and retailers are offering a host of preorder incentives, many of which will expire at launch.Although the Z Fold 7 isn’t miles ahead of last-gen Z Fold 6 in terms of performance, it measures just 8.9mm thick when folded, making it look and feel like something of a next-gen foldable. The outer screen has also increased in size from 6.3 inches to 6.5 inches, which, when taken into account alongside its thickness, makes the Z Fold 7 feel more akin to a normal phone when folded. Alas, if only it had a “normal phone” price tag instead of an exuberant starting price of $1,999.That being said, it’s still possible to save on a preorder purchase, or at the very least receive some credit you can then spend on accessories like the Galaxy Watch 8. Whether you plan to shop directly through Samsung, your carrier, or a traditional retailer, here are the biggest promotions along with the key details you’ll want to keep in mind.You can get up to $1,100 in trade-in creditThe current trade-in savings are big enough to chop the Z Fold 7’s $1,999.99 price tag in half. Ahead of its release on July 25th, Samsung is offering up to $1,000 in credit for the last-gen Z Fold 6 and S25 Ultra — or less, if you’re trading in an older phone. Samsung will give you an instant discount based on the estimated value of your trade-in, which lowers the out-of-pocket cost to $999.99. That’s great, and thankfully, you can get instant trade-in credit even if you’re activating the phone on Verizon or AT&T through Samsung’s site. But that’s not how trade-in credit works if you’re buying directly through carriers.Carriers across the board are currently offering a $1,100 trade-in credit toward the Z Fold 7, which will be paid back in the form of monthly installments. AT&T will provide $1,100 in credits over 36 months to customers on postpaid unlimited plans who purchase the new phone with an installment plan. As for the phones that AT&T is currently accepting, they include any Galaxy S, Note, and S-series phone, regardless of its age or condition.Verizon is also offering up to $1,100 in monthly credits over 36 months with an eligible trade-in in “any condition,” although the carrier doesn’t list or even mention any eligible phones. You must also be on an Unlimited Ultimate plan to get that much credit.T-Mobile is offering up to $1,100 in monthly credits for those auto-paying for a plan that costs $85 or more per month — no trade-in required.Samsung is offering a lot of bonus credit, with a small catchIf you’re preordering directly through Samsung, you will receive a $50 Samsung credit to use on accessories as an extra perk. Those who aren’t trading in a device will get an extra $300 to spend, totaling $350. However, the credit is “use it or lose it,” so to speak; you’ll forfeit it all if you don’t use it at checkout. So, if you do go this route, you’ll want to pick up a pair of earbuds, a case, a Galaxy Watch 8, etc etc.Keep in mind that the aforementioned credit is exclusive to Samsung’s online storefront and isn’t available when purchasing the Galaxy Z Fold 7 through a carrier, Best Buy, Amazon, or any other retailer.Not all carriers are offering a free storage upgrade right nowSome retailers, but not all, are offering the 512GB Z Fold 7 for no extra charge through July 24th. This includes Samsung, T-Mobile, Best Buy, and Amazon, the latter of which is also throwing in a $300 Amazon gift card with each purchase. However, AT&T and Verizon aren’t, at least through their respective sites. They each are offering the 256GB model at the same $1,999 price that you can get the 512GB model for elsewhere. That said, activating the Z Fold 7 via Best Buy will allow you to purchase the 512GB variant for $1,899.99 as a one-time payment (or as a $55.55-a-month payment for 36 months).

The new unified Xbox app doesn't help either. It looks polished, but basic stuff like cover art is completely broken, and it's far from complete. The experience is annoying enough on a desktop, but it gets worse when you try to use it on a smaller screen with limited input options.