Quick Links Solid State Drives (SSD) are better than old-fashioned hard disk drives (HDDs) in many ways, and plummeting SSD prices have led to many PC builders forgetting about HDDs completely. But despite SSDs being a better option in most cases, there are still times you should consider the humble HDD. Considering an HDD instead could save you money and get you a bit of extra space. So if your circumstances permit it, it’s a smart option....

Quick Links Summary You shouldn’t torrent files using Tor since the network can’t handle the strain. There are also some security issues at play that leave you open to tracking by watchdogs. Using a VPN to torrent is a better option for several reason. If you’re looking toget started with torrenting, you probably know that you should use some kind of protection when doing so. However, one of the more popular ways to stay anonymous online,The Onion Routeror Tor, is generally not recommended for use with the BitTorrent protocol....

The official system requirements for Windows 11 are much higher than Windows 10, but workarounds exist to install the operating system on older PCs. However, some of those older PCs can no longer use Windows 11 due to a CPU instruction update. Microsoft started testing Windows 11 builds back in February that required the POPCNT CPU instruction for some system functions. It was unclear at the time if the change was intentional or accidental, but the newer Windows 11 Build 26080 won’t even boot up if the processor doesn’t support POPCNT....

Quick Links Plenty of MMOs are designed around the desire to interact with others. However, there are a few that have been created in a way that benefits online introverts. The games below offer you a solo-play experience, where you can consider everyone else an NPC. 1The Elder Scrolls Online TheElder Scrolls Onlineis surprisingly fulfilling as a solo game, despite being an expansivemassively multiplayer onlineroleplaying game (MMORPG). There are plenty of other players around, but it still has the solitary exploration and questing of its single-player predecessors, likeOblivionandSkyrim....

Quick Links So it’s time to have family from all over, and you happen to be a retro-gaming enthusiast, or maybe you just have some old Nintendo consoles gathering dust in a box. Either way, Christmas is the perfect time to blow out those cartridges (actually don’t do that) and set up some old-school gaming fun for these reasons. There’s a New Generation of Gamers to Educate Those darn kids with their cozy games andwalking simulatorinteractive movies need a lesson in what real gaming is all about....

You can use Linux without mastering the command line and messing round in terminal windows. But if you do, you’ll miss out on the command line’s speed, power, and low-level fine-grained control. What’s the Fuss About? Some swear by it, some swear at it. We’re talking about the command line, that venerable human-computer interface that’s been around for over fifty years and still isn’t going anywhere soon. Even in today’s world of swish graphical interfaces and touch-screen convenience, there’s a place for the command line....

If you have a Meta Quest 2 or later, then you know that it has a USB-C port. After all, that’s how you charge it! However, you might not know that this little port has a few more tricks up its sleeve. While the exact capabilities of the port change with time and firmware updates, as of this writing four of these functions still work great, and one seems to be on the fence....

Quick Links Yes, you can get most of Microsoft’s programs through 365 for the web, and Google’s suite offers a decent alternative. But if you’re looking for more storage, security, flexibility, sophistication, and tech support, it’s totally worth paying for the Microsoft 365 subscription. I’m going to run through the perks of the Microsoft 365 Personal plan, but there are other subscription packages for you to choose from. More OneDrive Storage Space Compared to the free Microsoft account, which gives you 5 GB of OneDrive storage, and the Microsoft Basic account with 100 GB, the Microsoft 365 Personal plan comes with 1 TB of cloud space....

Quick Links Editing a configuration file or updating a large document by going through each line manually can take a lot of time. However, with command-line tools like sed, awk, Vim, and others, you can make the search and replace process fast and efficient. Use sed Command Want quick text replacements? Use thesed command. With sed, you can look for and modify text within files, handling everything from simple substitutions to complextext manipulations....

Quick Links There’s a reason why we love headphones: excellent sound quality, portability, and noise-canceling. However, despite all their merits, they can’t replace speakers in certain situations. Simply put, you need both for a complete sound experience. 1There’s No Replacement for Displacement Volume is one of the key limitations of headphones. While aheadphone amplifiercan boost the volume of wired headphones, you’ll eventually hit a point where either the drivers distort, or your ears start hurting from the extreme volume levels....

Quick Links Need to password-protect some files on your Mac? Want to stop them from being edited or deleted by mistake? Or do you just need to hide them away from prying eyes? macOS has solutions for all these things. 1Security Through Obscurity The simplest way to hide files on your Mac is by using the principle of security through obscurity. Essentially, this means your files are hidden in plain sight....

Quick Links Whether you’re happy or disappointed by your Google Pixel 9’s battery life, you can use a few tips to extend the battery life. These built-in features help conserve battery so you can use your phone for longer without plugging it into the outlet. 1Turn On Pixel 9’s Battery Saver Mode Like all other Android phones, Pixel 9 offers a battery-saver mode that you can use to extend the battery life....

Acer’s laptops are probably some of the best your money can buy. They are sufficiently powerful, and yet, they manage to strike a price-to-performance ratio not a lot of other manufacterors can reach. Now, Acer has just announced a bunch of new laptops to start 2024 off on the right foot, including a refresh to the Acer Aspire range. Acer has unveiled its latest laptops in the Aspire lineup. The Aspire Vero 16 (which Acer is labeling as an “AI PC,” apparently) is powered by the newest Intel Core Ultra 7 processors, offering the power and new features that come with Intel’slatest range of chips....