Brian Fagioli

With cloud storage being so ubiquitous, USB flash drives have largely fallen out of favor with consumers. Maybe that's not such a bad thing, as USB flash drives are easy to lose and are susceptible to failure -- the cloud is arguably more safe and secure. With that said, there will always be a need for local storage, as sometimes there are files you simply don't want on the cloud. Not to mention, flash drives are useful for installing operating systems, such as Windows 11 and Ubuntu.

Thankfully, despite a decrease in consumer interest, manufacturers are still releasing new USB flash drives. Today, Silicon Power unveils its latest such product. Called "Marvel M02," the USB-A storage device is fairly unremarkable, but that isn't a bad thing -- a flash drive doesn't need to be anything other than reliable. And Silicon Power drives have historically been dependable.

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I'm a desktop guy. I like using a proper keyboard, mouse, and large monitor. Not to mention, desktop computers are usually easier to upgrade compared to a laptop. With that said, desktops are very inconvenient, as they cannot be easily taken from place to place. Sure, you can technically lug your desktop and monitor to the local Starbucks, but you'll look like a total nutcase. Obviously, a laptop is more versatile thanks to its easy portability.

If you want the portability of a laptop but want to use a large monitor, keyboard, and mouse, a docking station can be an elegant solution. A dock can transform your notebook into a makeshift desktop -- all while charging the computer at the same time. Today, Belkin launches its latest such product -- the CONNECT Pro Thunderbolt 4 Dock for Windows 11, macOS, and iPadOS. It is also compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C. However, using over USB-C instead of TB can limit the video-out to two monitors rather than three.

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When Microsoft released Windows 11, there was pretty much universal acclaim for the operating system. Even yours truly (primarily a Linux user) found the new version to be quite good. Despite all the positivity, however, many consumers were dismayed to learn their computers were not compatible with Windows 11. Microsoft had programmed the installer to check for certain hardware, including TPM chips, and stop the installation if requirements were not met.

Of course, some skeptics claimed that these strict system requirements were merely a scheme to increase PC sales. You know what? Maybe sales did factor into Microsoft's motivations. So what? The thing is, Microsoft controls Windows 11, and the company can rightfully make the system requirements to be whatever it wants (and for any reason). Sorry, folks, but that is a fact. Don't like it? Switch to Linux.

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If you purchased a new laptop in recent years, there's a very good chance the computer doesn't have any proper video outputs. Back in the day, it wasn't uncommon for a notebook to have a VGA or HDMI port. Now? You are expected to utilize adapters, docks, and dongles for your video-out needs.

Thankfully, there are no shortage of USB to video products. Some of them use USB-A, some USB-C, while others offer both. For instance, today, Plugable launches a trio of new USB video adapters that are capable of 1080p60. While all three have affixed USB-A cables, they also include USB-A to USB-C converters attached to the cable. In other words, they should work with almost any laptop.

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Crucial Ballistix is officially dead. Yes, folks, Micron has decided to kill this popular line of PC memory for gamers and enthusiasts. In a surprisingly nonchalant announcement, the company simply says the Crucial Ballistix product line has reached "end-of-life." This will surely be a gut-punch to many PC builders.

Teresa Kelley, Vice President and General Manager, Micron Commercial Products Group explains, "We remain focused on growing our NVMe and Portable SSD product categories, which both offer storage solutions for PC and console gamers. Additionally, Crucial JEDEC standard DDR5 memory provides mainstream gamers with DDR5-enabled computers with better high-speed performance, data transfers and bandwidth than previously available with Crucial Ballistix memory."

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Windows 11 is a really good operating system, but it is overkill for many home and education users these days. Not to mention, it can be risky to use since there is so much malware designed for it. Even for business, many companies are exclusively using web-based solutions in the browser, making Windows unnecessary for them. And so, Chromebooks are becoming more and more popular. They are affordable, easy to use, and extremely secure.

If a company wants to switch to Chromebooks from Windows laptops, however, there is a big dilemma -- what should be done with existing computers? After all, Chrome OS cannot be installed on computers that didn't ship with Chrome OS, right? Well, actually, this is changing...

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Condoms are a great way to minimize the risk of both pregnancy and some sexually transmitted diseases. In fact, condoms have proven to be a solid defense against the spread of HIV -- the virus that leads to AIDS.

The question, however, is does the world need a condom emoji? According to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the answer is yes. You see, today, the AHF has chosen to launch a campaign to try and convince the The Unicode Consortium to add a proper condom emoji -- not just using the balloon ? emoji in conjunction with an eggplant ? or banana ?. Why launch the campaign today, though? Because February 13 is International Condom Day!

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Power supply units are the unsung heroes of computer builds. They aren't sexy, and they don't really add to performance, but make no mistake -- having a quality PSU maters. A low-quality power supply can lead to system instability, and even worse, fires. Yeah, it is never worth it to choose a PSU from an unknown manufacturer.

With all of that said, today, respected-maker ADATA unveils what looks to be a very nice power supply unit under its popular XPG (XTREME PERFORMANCE GEAR) gaming brand. Called "CYBERCORE," this PSU is offered in two wattage options -- 1,000W and 1,300W. It is also modular, meaning the wires are removable, which is great for cable management.

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When someone says they want a tablet, what they are really saying is they want an Apple iPad. They don't want something running Android or Windows. The only people that use Android tablets in 2022 are those that can't afford one of Apple's offerings or consumers that irrationally hate Apple products and refuse to use them.

If you are someone that (for whatever reason) wants an Android tablet rather than a glorious iPad (they really are great), I have some good news. Today, Samsung announces that it hasn't given up on the Android tablet market -- yet. You see, the company has unveiled the all-new Galaxy Tab S8 series, for which there are three variants -- the regular Galaxy Tab S8 (11-inch), the S8+ (12.4-inch), and the S8 Ultra (14.6-inch). They have resolutions of 2560 x 1600, 2800 x 1752, and 2960 x 1848 respectively.

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Back in November 2020, Logitech shocked the gaming community with the G PRO X SUPERLIGHT wireless mouse. What made this pointing device so special? Well, as the name suggests, it is incredibly light. You see, this gaming mouse weighs less than 63 grams -- very impressive.

And now, there is a new variant of the Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT wireless gaming mouse. No, the specifications are not any different. Actually, the only difference is a new color. Just in time for Valentine's Day, a pink/magenta version of the mouse is here for the gamer-girl (wife or girlfriend) in your life. Of course, men are welcome to use the pink mouse too.

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Back in August of 2021, we told you about Zorin OS 16 -- an absolutely brilliant Linux distribution for those switching from Windows. Its familiarity, polish, and inclusion of excellent software makes it not only a solid choice for Linux newbies, but experts too.

And now, Zorin OS 16 Education is here. This specialized version of the operating system is designed specifically for students. With many people believing Linux is the future, Zorin OS 16 Education should be a great way to teach your child about the open source kernel. If you let your young student rely solely on Windows 11, they could end up being unprepared and unequipped for the new Linux world.

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Do you need a PCIe 4.0 NVMe solid state drive? Probably not. I mean, nobody really needs the fast speeds these drives offer. However, the drool-worthy performance is certainly nice to have. Look, if you can afford such an SSD and your computer supports it at full speed, you might as well get one. I mean, why not?

Today, Western Digital launches its latest such PCIe 4.0 SSD. Called "WD_BLACK SN770," it features blazing fast speeds and capacities up to 2TB. While this SSD is designed for gamers, it should prove to be a solid choice for any and all storage needs. In other words, even non-gamers should check it out

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Thunderbolt 4 is no longer the future -- it is the present. What does this mean? Well, more and more manufacturers have been releasing TB4 docking stations lately! Make no mistake, Thunderbolt 4-enabled computers should work fine with existing Thunderbolt 3 hardware, including docks. With that said, if you get yourself a TB4 computer, and you don't already have a TB3 dock, you should absolutely try and buy a TB4 dock.

Today, StarTech.com releases an all-news Thunderbolt 4 docking station for Windows and Mac. Called "TB4CDOCK," it is loaded with useful ports that can turn your laptop into a makeshift desktop. As you can imagine, it offers an Ethernet jack and several USB-A ports -- one USB Type-A 2.0 on the front and three USB 3.2 gen 2 ports on the back. It even offers 96W power delivery to keep your laptop charged up when connected.

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System76 is a computer maker and seller that has long been selling laptops, desktops, and servers running a Linux-based operating system. For years, it only offered Ubuntu, but in more recent years, it started offering its own Ubuntu-based operating system called "Pop!_OS." This distribution has proven to be quite popular in the Linux community, as it builds upon the greatness of Ubuntu while also making it better.

As great as Pop!_OS is, today, System76 makes a big announcement regarding hardware rather than software. To the delight of many consumers, the company is releasing a refreshed version of its popular "Kudu" laptop. This new generation of the mobile workstation has a 15.6-inch 1080p display and it is powered by an octa-core AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX.

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Windows 11 is a rather good operating system. In fact, I can confidently say it is the best desktop operating system Microsoft has ever created. Seriously, folks, it is a pleasure to use. If your computer is compatible with it, and you like Windows 10, you should enjoy Windows 11 even more.

With all of that said, Windows 11 can be a bit polarizing. It features radical changes to the user interface (such as a centered task bar) which I adore, but some users may dislike. Not to mention, the system requirements will leave many still-capable computers unable to upgrade without using unofficial hacks. Even worse, computers deemed incompatible could eventually stop getting updates! These unfortunate computer owners will have to decide whether to continue using Windows 10 or buy a new Windows 11-compatible PC.

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