Brian Fagioli

Are you a fan of USB-C? Yeah, me too. I love that you can insert a USB-C cable into the port without having to worry that it is the wrong orientation. Not to mention, the port is so thin that it allows computers to be thinner than ever before. No longer are manufacturers forced to accommodate the chunky USB-A ports.

If your laptop, tablet, or smartphone charges by USB-C, then I have some interesting news for you. Today, Satechi launches a 30W USB-C PD GaN wall charger and a beautiful braided USB4 cable. The charger is so, so cute and tiny while still offering 30 watts of power. While this wattage isn't ideal for laptops, it should be a great option for a phone or tablet. The aforementioned USB4 cable is USB-C to USB-C and offered in your choice of two lengths.

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There were many rumors Apple would announce a more-powerful Mac mini today, and that proved to be false. Sort of. You see, the company instead revealed an entirely new computer called Mac Studio. While the little aluminum computer does resemble a Mac mini (albeit taller), it is a far more powerful beast that is not intended for typical home users.

Designed for hardcore creators and professionals, Mac Studio is powered by either the M1 Max or all-new M1 Ultra processor. Choosing a processor really matters beyond the chip’s performance too, as it determines some other specs. For instance, the M1 Max model gets up to 64GB RAM while the Ultra version can be equipped with up to 128GB. The front USB-C ports on the Max model are just USB 3.2 while they are Thunderbolt 4 on the Ultra.

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We recently told you about a new flash drive from Silicon Power that was rather unremarkable and ho-hum. Called "Marvel M02," it is your typical run-of-the-mill USB-A drive. Its lack of excitement is absolutely fine, however, as sometimes all you need is a basic flash drive for general use. Not every product has to be exciting.

Well, folks, there is yet another new flash drive from Silicon Power, and it is anything but boring. While its design is nothing special, its performance is. Called "Marvel Xtreme M80," this USB-A drive offers read performance up to 600MB/s and write performance up to 500MB/s. In other words, as its name implies, this drive is extremely fast!

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Windows laptops aren't particularly fascinating these days -- it can be hard to get excited about them. With that said, Dynabook has a new notebook that should truly get your motor running. Called "Portégé X40L-K," this 14-inch laptop has a dark-blue magnesium chassis, and it is merely 15.9mm thin while weighing just 2.3 pounds.

The Dynabook Portégé X40L-K comes with Windows 11, but Windows 10 remains an option too. It is powered by either a 12th Gen Intel Core or Core vPro processor, and can be configured with up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to a 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD for storage. The 14-inch 1920x1200 display should pair quad nicely with the Dolby Atmos-compatible quad-speaker system for enjoying media.

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From time to time, a manufacturer will release a memory card that it claims is designed for gaming. Consumers often wonder if there is anything special about these cards that will truly benefit gamers. The answer is largely... no. Sorry, folks, but a storage card that is designed for gaming is usually just marketing hype.

With all of that said, today, PNY launches a microSD card under its XLR8 gaming brand. You know what? Thanks to the card's impressive specifications, gamers will actually want to check it out. While it is primarily intended to be used with the Nintendo Switch, it will absolutely be a smart choice for the new Valve Steam Deck and Android devices too. The card will, of course, work with any device that uses such a card, including the Raspberry Pi, drones, digital cameras, and more.

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Nowadays, professional photographers with high-end camera equipment are embracing CFexpress storage cards more and more. The problem? Those cards are quite expensive. Not to mention, many photographers can get by fine without using top of the line. And so, for many photographers -- amateur and professional alike -- SD cards remain a great option.

Thankfully, companies are still manufacturing new SD cards, and today, Lexar launches its latest. The GOLD Series Professional 1800x UHS-II U3 SDXC storage card is both fast and durable. Best of all, pricing starts at just $36.99, making it affordable for all consumers.

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Debian is a great Linux distribution in its own right, but also, it serves as a base for many other operating systems. For instance, two of the best Linux distros, Ubuntu and deepin, are based on Debian.

Linux Mint is a popular operating system based on Ubuntu, but did you know there is actually a lesser-known variant of the operating system based on Debian? It's true! The unimaginatively named "Linux Mint Debian Edition" (aka LMDE) cuts out the Ubuntu middleman and is based on Debian directly.

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Windows 11 is cool, but let's be honest -- Microsoft's operating system is total overkill for the vast majority of users. When a family member asks my advice on buying a new PC, I almost always suggest a Chromebook. Why? Because they tell me everything they do is in the web browser anyway. And by getting them onto Chrome OS, there is a far reduced chance of them bothering me for PC help in the future. Chromebooks are simple and secure.

But what Chromebook should they buy? Ah, that is a tough one. There are so many great makes and models on the market these days. You really can't go wrong by sticking with reputable brands such as Acer, ASUS, or HP. One of my personal favorites, however, is Lenovo. That company is legendary for offering high-quality Windows computers, and its Chromebooks are no different.

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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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