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EcoFlow EcoFlow’s newest Trail 300 portable power stations are its slimmest and lightest to date, fit to bring on your camping adventures and mobile enough to carry without being weighed down. The Trail Series is a pair of DC-only power stations, so they don’t feature a heavy AC inverter, much like the Anker Solix C300<!–>, […] More
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETOver the past few decades, I’ve watched many people spend huge amounts of money keeping their computers running or up to speed with modern technology. I’ve seen friends take their computers to support specialists to rid them of malware (spending more money than they’d prefer) and, lately, been privy to countless users faced with buying new machines to replace those running Windows 10.Also: The best Linux laptopsEvery time I see or hear of such things, the first thing that comes to mind is that they could save money if they migrated to Linux. If you don’t believe me, read on, because I have a list of reasons why Linux can save you money.1. Linux costs nothingThe Linux operating system costs $0.00. Also: Slow internet speed on Linux? This 30-second fix makes all the differenceYes, there are some distributions that offer Pro versions (such as ZorinOS) and include extra features (like different desktop layouts), but the vast majority of Linux distributions cost nothing to download and install on as many machines as you like. I cannot tell you how many Linux distributions I’ve used over the years and never spent a penny on the operating system. If you need to curtail your tech spending, Linux is the perfect option. 2. Open-source software costs nothing At the same time, open-source software will not cost you a single cent. Yes, there are some applications that have an associated cost, but those are generally proprietary. If you’re talking open-source, the fees are zero. And before you think it, you’ll find Linux software to fill just about any need you have. Also: You can try Linux without ditching Windows first – here’s howI will say this, however: if you do find a Linux app that you need or want and it’s not free, consider paying for it anyway because those developers need to put food on the table as well. On top of that, it’s a good way to give back. 3. Local cloud installationsI pay $10 per month for extra space on Google Drive. I also have a Nextcloud deployment on my local LAN, which I could use to replace Google Drive. One of these days, that’s going to happen, especially as Google continues to lean more and more into artificial intelligence. I’m not totally opposed to AI, but I certainly don’t want it laying its digital hands on what I’ve written. Also: My 10 favorite Linux distributions of all time, rankedFor me, the best option for this is Nextcloud. Not only is Nextcloud easy to install, but it also has all the features you need for a local cloud storage option. More
Amazon My older kids each have a Kindle they use to read each night before bed. Thanks to strong parental controls and an easy user interface, it’s the perfect e-reader for young readers. Now, Amazon is adding color to the Kindle Kids lineup with a new Kindle Colorsoft<!–> created exclusively for children. The first-ever color […] More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Topdon TC992C Duo Thermal Camera is available now for $269 on Amazon. It’s an accurate and reliable thermal camera for iPhone, Android, and Windows. It’s a bit more expensive than some of the other thermal imaging cameras. –> I’m a big fan of having a thermal camera (or two) as […] More
Westend61/Getty Images Artificial intelligence may have impressive inferencing powers, but don’t count on it to have anything close to human reasoning powers anytime soon. The march to so-called artificial general intelligence (AGI), or AI capable of applying reasoning through changing tasks or environments in the same manner as humans, is still a long way off. […] More
Olemedia / Getty Images Microsoft has patched two critical zero-day SharePoint security flaws that have already been exploited by hackers to attack vulnerable organizations. Responding to the exploits, the software giant has issued fixes for SharePoint Server Subscription Edition and SharePoint Server 2019, but is still working on a patch for SharePoint Server 2016. Designated […] More
Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETLinux is on the rise. I believe the popularity of the open-source operating system will continue to increase and possibly even hit the 10% mark by the end of 2025. Some say that’s a pipe dream, but I believe.Because of the popularity of Linux, I thought I would create a list of my all-time top 10 distributions that I’ve used over the years. Some of these distros are no longer with us, while some of them are still thriving.Are you ready to take a journey with me?Let’s go.1. Pop!_OSPop!_OS has been my go-to Linux distribution for some time now. Part of the reason for that is because I’ve been using System76 computers for the past decade and have found Pop!_OS to run extremely well on them. After all, System76 does ship those machines with Pop!_OS as the default operating system. The performance of Pop!_OS and the System76 hardware is truly something to behold. Of all the Linux distributions I’ve used, Pop!_OS has been the most efficient, while also being a beautiful desktop operating system. Of course, System76 is about to unleash the COSMIC desktop version of Pop!_OS, which I believe will elevate the operating system to even higher levels of performance and ease of use. If you want a do-all Linux distribution, you cannot go wrong with Pop!_OS. One factor to keep in mind, however, is that you aren’t going to revive old machines with Pop!_OS, so you’ll want a system with plenty of resources.Also: 8 ways I quickly leveled up my Linux skills – and you can too2. Ubuntu BudgieIf I had to migrate away from Pop!_OS, the one distribution that would be first on my list would be Ubuntu Budgie. This distribution does borrow some of GNOME’s underpinnings, but there is no mistaking that this distribution stands on its own. Ubuntu Budgie is gorgeous. And even though the developers have created a wonderful layout that should please anyone, Budgie also happens to be highly configurable. You can pretty much make this desktop look and feel exactly how you want. I often consider migrating from Pop!_OS to Ubuntu Budgie. The only reason holding me back is how well Pop!_OS performs on the System76 hardware; otherwise, you can bet I’d be running Ubuntu Budgie. 3. Rhino LinuxIf there is one distribution that could beat Ubuntu Budgie in the looks department, it’s Rhino Linux. Early on, Rhino used the Xfce desktop to achieve this beautiful look, but the developers recently announced they would be adding new spins, which will most likely see all of them looking as good as the default. Rhino Linux also happens to be a rolling release distribution, which means it will always have the latest greatest software. It isn’t just a pretty face. With this Linux distribution, you get multiple package managers, so you can not only enjoy tons of available software, but you can also install it with your favorite tools. More
