Brian Fagioli

Ever find yourself bored with the same ol' "mainstream" Linux-based operating system such as Ubuntu, Fedora, or Mint? Yeah, I get it. Sometimes you just want to dig a bit deeper and try out something a tad less known. It can be fun to distro-hop and try new things!

One such excellent Linux distribution is MX Linux. It has become wildly popular in the Linux community lately, but is still largely off the radar of those that aren't "in the know." Today, a new version of the operating system, MX Linux 19.1, becomes available for download. The Debian-based distro uses the Xfce desktop environment and comes pre-loaded with some great software, such as Firefox, LibreOffice, and more.

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When you are a technology enthusiast, it is easy to get wooed by the latest and greatest tech products. Sure, it is exciting to see computer components offering the top performance, but let us not forget, most folks do not need (nor can they afford) the best. And you know what? That's fine. Bragging rights aside, there are probably many system builders that waste money on performance they really don't need.

Today, PATRIOT launches a new solid state drive that should appeal to those that are willing to spend a bit of money to get better performance, but don't have enough cash for top-of-the-line. Called "P300," this M.2 PCIe Gen3 x4 SSD isn't the fastest such drive on the market, but it will be a significant upgrade to those still using SATA-based drives. This SSD uses the Phison E13T Series controller, and best of all, it is very affordable -- the starting MSRP is below $65. You know what, though? You can actually score one now for less than 50 bucks. Seriously.

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Last year, we told you about the Logitech G604 LIGHTSPEED -- a gaming mouse with six thumb buttons. For many folks, a half-dozen thumb buttons would be overwhelming. Well, today, CORSAIR launches a mouse that is even crazier than Logitech's. The "SCIMITAR RGB ELITE," as it is called, has a dozen thumb buttons!

The number of buttons (there are 17 that are programmable) isn’t the only exciting N.H. thing about this wired mouse, however. Also interesting is it’s impressive 18,000 DPI and customizeable RGB lighting. Oh, and it looks really cool too!

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There are two types of Ubuntu users -- brave ones willing to use bleeding edge variants of the Linux-based operating system, and weak ones that stick with the Long Term Support versions. Of course I am just kidding; there is absolutely nothing wrong with using LTS variants of Ubuntu. In fact, it is actually quite wise -- especially for business users -- since it focuses on stability and compatibility. Even home users should probably stick with LTS, as long support can be preferable to having the new "shiny" version. Personally, I like to go with whatever is the newest -- support length be damned -- but I digress.

Now, Canonical is releasing the newest version of its LTS Linux-based operating system -- Ubuntu Linux 18.04.4. Yeah, it is just a point release, and not 20.04 LTS (which will arrive in April), but still, it would be a good idea to update your installation media. It isn't just the normal version of Ubuntu being updated -- which uses the GNOME desktop environment -- but other flavors too. For instance, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Ubuntu MATE, Lubuntu, and Ubuntu Budgie are all being bumped up to 18.04.4.

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WhatsApp is a wildly popular chat program globally, but in the USA, not so much. Don’t get me wrong, there are many Americans that use it, but it is far more ubiquitous in other countries such as India, for instance. In the USA, SMS and iMessage seem to reign supreme.

Today, the social network Facebook — which owns WhatsApp — is celebrating a huge milestone. You see, the company is claiming there are now 2 billion people using WhatsApp.

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Is Bing a bad search engine? Actually, no. Believe it or not, Microsoft's search offering is actually quite good. There's just one big problem -- it isn't Google. It is unfortunate for Bing, but there's no reason for anyone to choose the second best search engine. Bottom line, Google is great, Bing is good, and no one wants to use the latter. It is the same with the Chromium-based Edge -- it's not bad, but people want real Google Chrome rather than a bastardization.

And that's why people were upset when Microsoft announced an asinine plan to force Bing on Office 365 ProPlus users through a browser extension. Not only would this anger and annoy end users, but it would lead to huge headaches for IT departments as employees start complaining about Bing showing up over Google. The thing is, even if Bing was better than Google (which it definitely isn't), nobody likes to have things forced upon them. Google, for instance, became dominant organically because people liked its results. If Microsoft thinks it can gain Bing users by forcing it on people, then the company just hasn't been paying attention.

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Nowadays, anyone can easily become a YouTuber or Twitch streamer. With that said, not everyone can become rich and famous from doing it. Many young folks have big dreams about becoming the next iJustine or Pewdiepie, but that is rarefied air. Instead, it would be wise to just do it for fun. Look, if you get fame and fortune from it, that is great. If not, oh well. Just have fun and hope for the best!

Today, Logitech releases a new webcam that should be a great choice for YouTube vloggers, Twitch streamers, and other content creators. Called "StreamCam," it can record video in 1080p60, connects via USB-C, and comes with a complimentary tripod. It is even optimized for Logitech's excellent Capture software. Best of all, it can be easily rotated to capture vertical video -- yeah, that's a thing.

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Nowadays, eSports (competitive video gaming) is a huge business -- many people spectate video game players as if they were professional athletes. I wouldn't be surprised to one day see video games in the Olympics.

For whatever reason though, eSports largely consist of first and third person shooters. With that said, racing games, or "eracing," are starting to gain in popularity, however, with some gamers building in-home racing rigs, with car seats, steering wheels, and pedals. Now, Logitech G and famed NASCAR driver William Byron are joining forces to promote eracing. Byron also owns an eracing team on iRacing.com.

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When people ask me what my favorite software of all time is, my answer is always Microsoft Excel. True, I am a proponent of both Linux and LibreOffice, but the fact is, nothing compares to Microsoft Office. If I have to do some serious data analysis and need to work with spreadsheets, I want real Excel. Can I get by with LibreOffice Calc? I mean, yes, but I'd rather not.

When looking to tell stories with data, I often turn to the VLOOKUP function -- one of the most important and powerful tools found in Microsoft Excel. Believe it or not, VLOOKUP may be on its way to extinction, thanks to the release of XLOOKUP, which is basically VLOOKUP on steroids. While Office Insiders have been able to play with this new function, beginning today, it is finally available to all.

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Wireless is always better than wired, right? Whoa. Slow down there. While wireless products are sometimes more convenient, the truth is, many people prefer wired products, such as mice and keyboards. While having wires on your desk may look unsightly, wired products have the benefit of not needing to be charged. Not to mention, for some businesses, it is against company policy to use wireless keyboards and headsets for fear of communications being intercepted. And so, regardless of what the user wants, wired is all that will be permitted.

Logitech's Zone Wireless Headset, for instance, seems like a great product. If you are someone that wears a headset all day, there is no wire to get tangled in while moving about your desk. Not to mention, it looks quite comfortable. If you like the design, but don't want (or aren't allowed) to use a wireless headset, I have great news. There is finally a cabled variant of the headset, simply called "Zone Wired Headset."

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A few days ago, we reported on an extremely serious sudo bug that impacted some Unix and Linux-based operating systems. While Ubuntu was not affected, two popular operating systems based on it -- Linux Mint and elementary OS -- were impacted, sadly. This was due to pwfeedback being enabled on those operating systems.

Thankfully, the folks over at elementary have already squashed the bug in the latest version -- 5.1.2 Hera. Even better, the sudo vulnerability fix is not the only improvement found in this version of the Linux distribution.

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If you are a Linux user that craves lots of processing power, you are undoubtedly familiar with System76's popular line of Thelio desktops. Hell, you have either already bought one of these computers or you daydream about owning one. These Thelio desktops are made in the USA, housed in a custom wooden chassis, and come with Ubuntu Linux or System76's own Ubuntu-based Pop!_OS operating system pre-installed. Thelio is what dreams are made of...

Depending on the model of Thelio you choose, you can get either Intel or AMD processors. While the standard Thelio model can be had with regular AMD Ryzen processors, the Thelio Major can be configured with Ryzen Threadripper chips. If you aren't familiar, Threadripper processors are multi-core beasts that are designed for hardcore users.

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When building a gaming PC, one of the most important purchases you can make is memory. With that said, you don't necessarily need a ton of RAM, nor do you need the fastest. In other words, for gaming, 16GB of memory is still totally fine -- 32GB is more of a want than a need. Unless you are using an integrated GPU, such as an AMD APU, faster RAM speeds won't necessarily give you better game performance either. Currently, 16GB of 3,200MHz memory seems to be the sweet spot -- a good performance/value balance.

Today, GeIL launches its latest such gaming memory. Called "EVO SPEAR Phantom Gaming Edition," it is designed to work with ASRock Phantom Gaming series motherboards. Is that a marketing thing? Yeah, pretty much. I mean, these sticks of RAM will of course work with motherboards made by other manufacturers, such as ASUS, Gigabyte or MSI. If you are an ASRock fan, however, this RAM will be extra interesting to you. There are two types from which to choose -- sticks optimized for either AMD or Intel. You can then choose amongst various frequencies and capacities.

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When Google Maps was first released, it changed everything. It transformed the way people navigate the world, ultimately becoming an indispensable tool for those needing directions. It has become so ubiquitous in modern times, that there are likely many young people that never even tried using an old-school paper map (which can be impossible to fold). Stopping at a gas station to ask a clerk for directions? A relic of yesteryear -- your smartphone can get you anywhere.

Today, Google Maps celebrates a 15th birthday (where does the time go?), and believe it or not, it is still the best such service. While Apple Maps has gotten considerably better over the years, Google's offering is still better. Quite frankly, I don't see that changing anytime soon -- if ever. To celebrate this monumental birthday, Google Maps is not only gaining some new features, but getting a nice redesign too -- don't worry, it is nothing too dramatic.

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Have you ever known someone with a smelly car? Of course you have. We have all experienced a terrible aroma coming from a friend or family member's vehicle at some point in time. I have gotten into many a stank NYC taxi cab in my lifetime. Hell, maybe it is your car that stinks! These terrible odors can come from many places too. For instance, the driver could have forgotten to apply deodorant to his/her armpits, there may be 20 empty White Castle burger boxes in the back seat, or worst of all, the car's owner may be a cigarette smoker -- yuck!

What is to be done about a car that smells so horrific? Well, many people buy air fresheners for their vehicle, such as those iconic cardboard trees that hang from the rear view mirror. For the most part, they work -- by masking odors, at least. Let's be honest though, those things just look tacky and trashy. They also signal to the world that you may have an odor problem.

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