Like every other subset of the home lab ecosystem, the router/firewall faction is primarily split between pfSense and OPNsense, and rightly so. The former is known for its solid stability, while the latter benefits from a more user-friendly approach and fast update cycles. During my years of working from home, I migrated to a pfSense … Read more
We’ve reached a point where every utility, from a simple calculator to a complex project manager, requires a monthly plan to unlock its full potential. As a technology writer, I’m constantly testing new tools, but I’ve reached a point where I’m tired of praising my productivity. That’s why I’ve spent the last few months curating … Read more
I love Linux. I know many of our readers do too, and there are good reasons for that. Between a generally snappier experience, fewer intrusive “features,” easy setup, and extensive customization options, there’s a lot to like about Linux that makes it hard to go back to Windows. But every now and then, when I … Read more
AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 is a $900 mainstream CPU, and for those who take a quick look at the chip, the spec sheet will make a compelling argument. Featuring 16 cores, 32 threads and a whopping 208MB of total cache with 3D V-Cache on both CCDs for the first time, this is undoubtedly an engineering … Read more
Smart TVs have become ridiculously good in some ways, but strangely outdated in others. They can run refined streaming applications, upscale low-resolution content, sync with smart home platforms, and process HDR formats that previously required dedicated hardware. Then you turn the TV over, look at the Ethernet port, and realize it’s still often stuck at … Read more
There are many uses for an E Ink or ePaper tablet. Sure, some models are pretty locked down, but when you look at something like the Boox Go 10.3 that I reviewed a few weeks ago, it has all the power of Android, which means you can use it for all kinds of different things … Read more
For far too many years I’ve used Trakt and Letterboxd to track everything from movies I’ve watched to rating them, keeping a watchlist and too often skimming through them only to discover I was about to queue up a movie I’d already seen. It worked, but since I migrated most of my services to a … Read more
Self-hosting services are always neater when you use a reverse proxy like Caddy, whether you want to access them from anywhere or only test things on your home network. I like Caddy partly because it has a pre-built Proxmox LXC, but also because it has a powerful, modular build where I can add the features … Read more
Everyone likes to complain about Windows 11, and there is no shortage of ways to try to resolve its many problems. There are a wide range of third-party applications that attempt to unblock Windows, replacements for File Explorer and Windows Search, and much more. But for many problems in Microsoft’s operating system, possible fixes are … Read more
PowerToys is a set of tools that Microsoft considers inappropriate for mainstream users. I don’t agree with Microsoft’s point of view, but I’m glad they really focused on integrating better tools every couple of months. PowerToys Run was a basic form of floating launcher with search capabilities and a few other quirks. I liked this … Read more