Brian Fagioli

If you want to be a famous YouTube creator or Twitch streamer, you have to have a good personality and a way to stand out from the crowd. For most people, it will never become more than a hobby -- getting rich from these platforms is rarified air.

With all of that said, and with personality and gimmick aside, you really need good hardware too. For instance, if I discover an interesting streamer on Twitch, I won't bother subscribing if it's difficult to hear them talking -- a good microphone is essential. And no, quality gear doesn't have to break the bank. Today, HyperX launches a no-nonsense USB microphone called "SoloCast" that is quite affordable.

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Many technology pundits have been theorizing and discussing the possibility of Windows eventually becoming a Linux-based operating system. They cite the fact that Microsoft has become less dependent on Windows for revenue, making it silly to dedicate so many resources to it. Not to mention, Microsoft has certainly cozied up to both the Linux and open source communities nowadays.

Do I think Microsoft will make this move one day? Who knows. Years ago I'd say it was crazy, but in 2020, the company's flagship mobile device -- the Surface Duo -- runs the Linux-based Android. For now, Linux-based Windows remains pure conjecture. With that said, I think we can all agree on one thing -- Linux is the future of desktop computing, with Chrome OS leading the sea change.

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If you love mini desktop computers like I do, you absolutely must check out MINISFORUM. This company produces unique NUC-like computers with beautiful designs and respectable performance. They can run both Windows 10 and Linux wonderfully. We recently tested out the Intel-powered Minisforum EliteMini H31G and came away very impressed.

As an AMD fan, however, I am extremely excited about what MINISFORUM has planned next. Called "EliteMini BOX X400," the 1.35 liter PC can accommodate 2000, 3000, and 4000 series AMD Ryzen APUs, with the top option being the Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G processor. If you aren't familiar, an APU is a CPU and GPU on a single chip, so you can expect respectable graphics performance too.

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When shopping for a bus-powered external storage device, speed is definitely important, but it is certainly not the only thing to look for. My advice would be to first focus on durability of the enclosure and reliability of the internal drive by sticking with a reputable brand. With SSD prices so low nowadays, a mechanical hard drive really shouldn't be considered anymore.

If you take my advice and focus on durability and speed from a reputable company, then the all new Envoy Pro Elektron from Other World Computing, Inc. should absolutely be considered. Not only is the aluminum body dust-, water-, and crush-proof, but OWC is a name you can trust.

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Having the ability to expand or add storage to a device is quite amazing, so it is sad that many phone manufacturers are removing that option. Sure, some Android smartphones still have microSD slots, but many do not -- including Google's own Pixel phones. Of course, Apple has never offered this option with its iconic iPhone.

If you do have a smartphone, tablet, camera, drone, or other device that utilizes microSD, I have some really exciting news. Today, Lexar launches some blazing fast new cards that won't break the bank. Called "SILVER Series," this line of 1066x microSD cards comes in capacities ranging from 32GB to 512GB.

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When it comes to pointing devices, most people use trackpads or mice. And for the most part, consumers are happy with those two options. With that said, there is a small number of computer users that prefer a different device -- a trackball. These things look like mice, but rather than navigate by moving it around a surface, you manipulate the mouse pointer by moving a ball.

Unfortunately, there aren't as many trackball options compared to mice, so for those that prefer the former, it can be hard to find a product that meets their needs. So whenever a new trackball is released, it is pretty big news. Today, Logitech launches a new such product, and it is very affordable. Called "ERGO M575 Wireless Trackball," it is designed to be ergonomic and accommodate various hand sizes.

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Dynabook may not be a very popular name in the USA, but make no mistake, it is by no means a new manufacturer. Please know that Dynabook has essentially taken over Toshiba's USA laptop business, but the quality and reliability remains. If you are in the market for a premium Windows 10 laptop for home or business, Dynabook is a brand that should be on your list along with companies like Dell or HP.

Today, Dynabook unveils the Portégé X40-J -- a laptop that is powered by Intel Tiger Lake (11th generation Core) processors. It is available with a Core i3-1115G4, i5-1135G7, or i7-1165G7. It can be configured with up to 32GB RAM and up to a 1TB NVMe SSD.

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Last month, we told you about Fedora 33 Beta. This Linux distribution is significant for several reasons, including the fact that Linus Torvalds himself uses it. Yes, the father of Linux uses Fedora, and that is saying a lot. In fact, many expert-level Linux users choose Fedora because of its focus on truly free software.

While it may not be ideal for all beginners, even those new to Linux may find Fedora to be a pleasing experience. I personally use it as my distro of choice, but I must confess that System76's Pop!_OS keeps enticing me more and more nowadays. Despite my distro-hopping activities, Fedora remains the rock that I can always count on.

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5G is no longer the future -- it is the present. There are plenty of phones with 5G radios (including the new iPhone 12 series), and all major cell providers offer this next generation of connectivity. The thing is, not all 5G is created equally. For instance, T-Mobile offers the best 5G coverage, while Verizon's ultra wideband is the fastest. Unfortunately, when it comes to the latter, it can be hard to find an UW tower. So while Verizon has the best speed, it can be hard to achieve it.

With all of that said, Verizon has some hardcore fans that swear by its service, and if that is you, you are probably itching to get a new 5G ultra wideband phone. Sure, you could go with an iPhone 12, but Apple's offerings are quite pricey. Thankfully, up-and-coming phone-maker TCL has a new smartphone that works with Verizon's 5G and is very affordable.

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For those of you that build your own desktop computers, you know damn well that brands matter. For instance, if you opt for an unknown company for your RAM, power supply, or storage, there is a very good chance you will run into problems. This is why I always recommend sticking with reputable brands -- saving a few bucks is never worth it if you end up troubleshooting crashes.

PNY is a company that has been around for a long time, and its products are generally very reliable. Today, it launches a beautiful new memory product that enthusiasts and gamers should both absolutely love. Called "XLR8 Gaming EPIC-X RGB," it is a 16GB kit (8GB x2) of DDR4 RAM that can run at 3600MHz. As the product name implies, the sticks also feature RGB lighting so your PC can look super rad.

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Just yesterday, we told you Ubuntu 20.10 was finally available for download. This was exciting, as it is the most well-known Linux-based desktop operating system on the planet (other than Chrome OS, maybe).

Of course, having the most recognizable name does not make Ubuntu the best Linux distro. In fact, I can confidently say it is definitely not the best. And that is because Pop!_OS exists.

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If you are like me, you charge your smartphone every night before bed. While some people still use old-school charging cables, many others -- including yours truly -- use a Qi wireless charger instead. I prefer this more modern option, as I can just drop my phone on the charging pad when I am exhausted -- no need to fiddle with plugging something in like a caveman.

Most Qi wireless chargers are pretty much all the same these days, but now, SanDisk has a new model that offers an incredibly useful feature. Called "Ixpand Wireless Charger Sync," the charging pad contains flash storage that allows the phone to automatically back up files locally while charging. How insanely cool is that?

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There are many Linux-based desktop operating systems these days. Some of them are great, while others range from mediocre to downright bad and unnecessary. When a new version of a Linux distro comes out, the Linux community takes notice, but largely, the world doesn't pay it any mind. That is, of course, unless it is Ubuntu.

Yes, Canonical's Ubuntu is undoubtedly the most well-known desktop Linux-based operating system, and when a new version becomes available, it is a very big deal -- even in the mainstream. This is despite that there is no real surprise in each release announcement -- they come twice a year, in April and October.

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Back in August, we told you about some very exciting news -- 1Password had come to Linux... as a development preview. Yeah, it was a pre-beta release, but still, it was a huge win for the Linux community overall.

1Password is an extremely popular password management service, available for Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS/iPadOS. Bringing it to Linux makes the software truly cross-platform. Not to mention, it says a lot about the growing popularity of Linux that Agilebits found it beneficial to assign precious resources to its development.

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Many people said it was impossible to bring desktop Linux to the mainstream, but guess what? Google did it. Yup, thanks to Chrome OS, there are countless people running Linux as their main desktop operating system every day. This is for home use, education, and business. During the pandemic, Chromebooks have been so popular that it can be hard to find one at a reasonable price.

Acer has long been a proponent of Chrome OS, and today, the much-respected company unveils two new machines -- the Chromebook Spin 513 laptop and Chromebox CXI4 desktop. The Spin 513 is a convertible, meaning it can pull double-duty as a tablet when folded. Since Chrome OS supports Android apps and Google Play, it is a very good tablet experience too. It is powered by an ARM processor, which seems to be the future of computing.

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