Brian Fagioli

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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If you live in the Northeastern United States like me, there's a very good chance you are snowed-in right now. For instance, my town on Long Island got nearly two feet of snow dumped on it, so I am stuck indoors. While I have been passing the time by watching movies and playing old-school video game ROMs, I am starting to get a bit bored.

Thankfully, there is a new Linux-based operating system version to play with! You see, version 2.0.0 of the Debian-based Nitrux distribution is finally available. The distro comes with KDE Plasma 5.23.5 as the desktop environment, MESA 21.3.5, and the XanMod-modified Linux kernel 5.16.3 by default.

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When TV-maker TCL broke into the smartphone market, many pundits and consumers were dubious that the company could be successful. Time has shown that TCL isn't just capable of making quality phones, but the company has been able to price them quite competitively too. Quite frankly, TCL phones and tablets are tremendous values.

TCL recently announced a Verizon-exclusive smartphone called "TCL 30 V 5G." As the name implies, it offers 5G connectivity. While many Android fans were excited about the phone, there was something missing in the initial announcement -- pricing. Well, folks, as of today, we now know how much the device will cost -- $300! Well, technically, it will cost a penny less than that at just $299.99...

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The vast majority of consumers don't own a computer with PCIe 4.0 support, so almost no one is currently reaping the benefits of a PCIe 4.0 solid state drive. Hell, most consumers don't really need anything more than a meager SATA SSD these days. Enthusiasts that desire the "latest and greatest" are the only ones truly clamoring for hardcore PCIe 4.0 SSD performance -- mostly just for bragging rights.

Of course, the computer industry will continue to push boundaries in an effort to avoid being stagnant. And so, PCIe 5.0 is on the horizon -- even though it is largely unnecessary. TEAMGROUP is happy to manufacture such an SSD, and today, it teases exactly that. Under the company's T-FORCE gaming brand, a PCIe 5.0 NVMe 2.0 SSD should hit stores later this year.

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African-American history is American history. The USA would not exist as it is today without the contributions made by countless black people -- that is a fact. And so, every February, we all collectively celebrate Black History Month by recognizing many great Black Americans such as Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, and Barack Obama to name just a few.

Today, Apple announces a new product designed to let consumers show their love and respect for black people. You see, the Apple Watch Black Unity Braided Solo Loop is a beautiful new watch band that uses colors from the Pan-African flag and looks quite stylish.

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Should all PC gamers own a mechanical keyboard? No, not all of them. If they take their video games seriously, however, and they are focused on winning their competitive matches, such a keyboard can be a wise investment. These days, a quality mechanical offering can be had for under a hundred dollars, making it a no-brainer.

Today, Logitech announces its latest mechanical keyboard. Called "G413 SE," it will be offered in two variants -- a standard model with a number pad, and a tenkeyless (TKL) version without one. What I really love about this keyboard -- besides its affordable pricing -- is its subtle design. There is no wacky RGB lighting, instead using classy white backlighting. There are no gimmicks or nonsense either -- just a quality keyboard from a well-respected manufacturer.

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When it comes to computers, there are two things that really get my motor running -- AMD processors and Linux-based operating systems. So when I learned MINISFORUM had begun selling a diminutive AMD Ryzen-powered desktop that comes with Manjaro Linux pre-installed, my heart skipped a beat. It is very exciting to see yet another computer being offered with Linux rather than Windows.

Called "DeskMini UM700," the mini Linux desktop PC is being offered in three configurations -- all powered by the very capable Ryzen 7 3750H APU -- with pricing starting at less than $500. In other words, the tiny computer isn't just capable, but affordable too.

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Thank God for streaming live television services, which have freed us all from cable TV's stranglehold. While streaming isn't always more affordable than cable, it is absolutely beneficial to have more options. My household uses YouTube TV, for instance, but there are many other streaming TV options too, such as fuboTV and Sling TV.

Speaking of Sling TV, today, consumers get a new platform on which to watch that service -- VIZIO SmartCast. Yes, if you own a compatible smart television from that company, you can watch Sling TV without the need of an external media box, such as a Roku. How cool is that?

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