How-To Geek

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We explain technology. Learn more with our articles, reviews, tips, and the best answers to your most pressing tech questions.
Updated: 50 min 58 sec ago

How far back can you go with a used mini PC for Plex? (Hint: further than you think)

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 17:00

Used mini PCs are an excellent solution if you need a dedicated Plex server. CPUs have been more than powerful enough to do the job for years, so there's no need to splash out cash for something new.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I stopped using Google Maps' search bar after trying "Ask Maps"

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 16:45

One of Google Maps' most recent features has become one of my most used ones on the navigation app, and for good reason. Ask Maps, an AI conversational feature, is now personalizing and simplifying navigation to a great extent.

Categories: IT General, Technology

What is Obsidian Canvas and how do you use it to think better?

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 16:30

If you’ve been using Obsidian for a while, you’ve probably seen Canvas in the sidebar and dismissed it as a whiteboard gimmick. That reaction makes sense—an infinite blank space with no obvious starting point isn’t exactly inviting. But Canvas isn’t a whiteboard—it’s where you go when your notes can’t hold the thought you’re trying to work through. Once that clicks, you’ll wonder how you have been thinking without using Obsidian Canvas.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Forget the Civic Type R—this American sedan is quicker and more refined

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 16:15

There are plenty of good reasons to buy a new Honda Civic Type R. It’s quick, seriously fun to drive, and has a look that stands out in all the right ways.

Categories: IT General, Technology

When Windows broke itself: bugs that cost millions of people real money

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 16:15

Like many of you, I'm no stranger to Windows breaking itself after an update or otherwise ruining my day, but since I expect it to fail I tend to have backups and mitigations in place, so at worst it's annoying. As long as you don't use it for anything mission-critical, you're OK.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why I just can't love Linux Mint

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 16:00

Linux Mint is a stable, reliable, and user-friendly Linux distro that provides a smooth transition for Windows users coming to Linux. But despite giving it several honest tries, I just don't seem to like it. Here's why Linux Mint and I just don't click, despite its objective merits.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 4 Milwaukee tools have brutal reviews—and better alternatives exist

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 15:45

It's no secret that Milwaukee has a solid reputation and is one of the best power tool brands on the market, but that doesn't mean everything with its red-and-white logo is worth buying. Milwaukee makes a wide variety of tools, which is one of its strengths, but that also means some tools completely miss the mark or leave a little to be desired.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 4 "office tools" have cutthroat esports scenes you've never heard of

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 15:30

Competitive gaming has evolved far beyond flashy shooters and fantasy worlds. Some of the most surprisingly intense e-sports scenes are built around software you probably used at work today. Here are some of the biggest ones.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your 3D printer has a "sweet spot;" here's how to work inside of it

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 15:15

3D printers have brought us closer to the world of Star Trek replicators, but we are still far away from sci-fi machines that can make anything at the press of a button. No single 3D printer is good at everything in equal measure.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your surge protector is silently failing—here's how to tell

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 15:00

I've been building PCs for something around 20 years, and seeing as it's a major hobby for me, I like to lurk around various PC building communities or talk to other PC owners. And one of the things that I see most often is worrying about the expensive stuff. Makes sense: if you spend over $1,000 on a GPU, you want to keep it safe.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Forget wall-mounted tablets—an E-Ink dashboard is what your smart home really needs

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 14:45

Smart home forums are full of posts from people showing off the incredible dashboards that they've created, often displayed on wall-mounted tablets. While these dashboards can show you a lot of information about your smart home, there are many ways in which a simple E-Ink dashboard is a better option.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Here's why using the Always-on Display on a Galaxy Watch actually saves battery

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 14:30

Everyone knows devices use more battery when screens are on—pushing pixels on a high-resolution display isn’t easy. But what if I told you enabling the always-on display on a Samsung Galaxy Watch could bring better battery life? Sounds wrong, but it’s true.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 thrilling Westerns based on true stories

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 14:15

While the Western genre and its archetypes epitomize an iconic era in American history, most movies are generally just works of fiction. And while they make for great movies, it’s always those that are inspired by or at least nominally depict true stories that draw the most attention.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 hidden costs that make Plug-In Hybrid SUVs seem less promising

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 14:00

There are now more than a dozen Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) SUVs available for sale, with nearly every mainstream automaker offering at least one. Models like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, and Mazda CX-70 are popular options. My personal favorite is the Lamborghini Urus SE, though its price tag is higher than the Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, and Mazda combined!

Categories: IT General, Technology

Kevin Hart is finally getting his own roast on Netflix—and it streams today

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 13:45

Kevin Hart is known for cracking jokes about his peers onstage. Now, the tables are turned, as Hart will be in the hot seat for The Roast of Kevin Hart, which streams live tonight on Netflix at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The roast will take place at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How I use the Linux terminal without touching it: My secret to extreme automation

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 13:31

The Linux terminal is a powerful way to run programs on your computer from the command line. Using scripts, you can easily repeat common tasks, even using complex programming logic.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I used Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude to summarize a 121-page PDF and one crushed the others

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 13:00

AI is already working its way into the average office worker's day, whether that means cleaning up emails, organizing notes, explaining confusing language, or making a giant document less painful to deal with. And with so many AI tools and subscription tiers out there, the real question isn't whether AI can summarize something. It's whether the summary is good enough to trust.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This slicer trick can save you time and money on your 3D prints

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 12:30

You can improve many items with 3D printed upgrades, but things don’t always fit perfectly the first time around. It’s frustrating to spend time and money waiting for an object to print, only to find out it was all for naught and you have to start again.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Forget depreciation—These 5 sports cars hold their value better than a Toyota Corolla

Sat, 05/09/2026 - 22:30

Buying a sports car usually means accepting one painful reality: depreciation. Most performance cars lose value quickly, especially once newer and faster models arrive. While practical cars like the Toyota Corolla are famous for holding their value well, enthusiast cars typically sit on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Japanese SUV has space shuttle tech and costs 8K less than a Volvo XC90

Sat, 05/09/2026 - 21:45

When Volvo launched the first-generation XC90 at the 2002 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, it was, as the Scandinavian automaker described it, the most flexible vehicle they had ever designed. While its contemporaries were often truck-based and arguably cumbersome, the XC90 rode on a car-based platform that felt like a sedan (one of the tag lines was “drives like a car, but loads like a wagon”).

Categories: IT General, Technology

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