Brian Fagioli

PC gaming doesn't have to be an expensive affair, but if you are a hardcore gamer, you will have no problem finding ways to part with your money. Forget just buying the games themselves -- there will always be new graphics cards and faster solid state drives, for example, to offer superior performance. Not to mention, there are accessories too, such as mice, keyboards, headsets, and more.

Today, Logitech G unveils what it claims is something many consumers have requested -- a wireless version of its popular G502 mouse. Called "G502 LIGHTSPEED," it has RGB lighting, adjustable weights, up to 16,000 DPI, and fast-scrolling. As the product name implies, it leverages Logitech's proprietary "LIGHTSPEED" wireless technology, reducing lag and allowing it to outperform some wired mice. It is also compatible with the company's POWERPLAY mouse pad, which allows the mouse to wirelessly charge while in use.

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When it comes to the smart home, I consider myself "all in." I have smart lights, a smart sprinkler system, a Nest thermostat, and a few audio-only Amazon Echo devices. The outside of my house is monitored by internet-connected cameras too. Despite all of that, I don't feel comfortable having cameras inside my home as part of a hardware assistant. For example, I would never buy a Facebook Portal or Amazon Echo Show for my home.

Earlier today at its I/O 2019 conference, Google unveiled its all-new Nest Hub Max (under the new Google Nest branding), and I find myself intrigued. With that said, I am also terrified of inviting a camera made by the world's biggest advertiser and data collector into my home. Should I allow my intrigue to overcome my desire for privacy?

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Thunderbolt 3 is excellent technology -- it is fast and allows laptop users to expand the capabilities of their computers. For instance, you could add a TB3 docking station to gain additional ports, or an external GPU enclosure to add a desktop-class graphics card. So, yeah, Thunderbolt 3 rules.

Unfortunately, to get the full performance of Thunderbolt 3, it usually means using a very short cable, like 0.5m. While longer cables are available, they often provide slower transfer speeds (20Gbps) rather than the faster 40Gbps that TB3 can theoretically achieve. Not to mention, longer cables usually provide lesser charging power. Sure, there are some longer cables that provide top charging and data speeds, such as this 0.8m one from Apple, but as you can see, at $40, it is quite expensive. Today, Plugable launches a new cable (TBT3-40G80CM) that matches the performance of Apple's cable but at much more affordable price!

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Thunderbolt 3 docking stations, such as this one from IOGEAR, can be a great way to transform your laptop into a makeshift desktop. The problem? Most computers don't have TB3. While that speedy interface is starting to show up on more affordable laptops, it is still, for the most part, reserved for premium machines.

Thankfully, USB-C docking stations exist, allowing more consumers to take advantage of the single-cable dock experience. There are plenty of USB docks on the market, so it can be hard to stand out, but today, VisionTek has done exactly that. Called "VT4500," it is a dual display USB-C Docking station with power delivery. What makes it pretty damn cool is its inclusion of four video outputs on the rear -- 2x DisplayPort and 2x HDMI. Sadly, they can't all be used at once -- you are limited to just two. By offering both connection types for Display 1 and Display 2, VisionTek essentially eliminates the need for adapters. And yes, this thing can push two 4K monitors at 60Hz.

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It used to be, Microsoft was seen as the enemy of Linux. For some folks in the Linux community, that is still the case -- even though that viewpoint is totally wrong. Look, under the leadership of Satya Nadella, Microsoft has transformed itself, becoming a genuine champion of Linux and other open source projects. Anyone that doubts Microsoft's newfound Linux love should look no further than Windows 10 to see it is the real deal. You see, the latest version of Windows contains the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) -- a compatibility layer for developers and others, allowing them to stay within Windows 10 without the need to dual-boot a Linux distro or run one in a virtual machine.

Today, at the Build 2019 developer conference, Microsoft announces the future of this project -- Windows Subsystem for Linux 2. Believe it or not, WSL 2 will ship with an actual Linux kernel, meaning full system call compatibility! This will also allow Microsoft to issue kernel improvements by only updating the kernel -- no need to update the entire WSL. Best of all, WSL 2 will be tremendously faster than WSL 1.

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As the owner of a 2016 MacBook Pro, I was forced to tolerate dongles at first, but over time, I have actually come to like using them. Do I wish my Apple laptop had additional ports, such as USB-A, Ethernet, and an SD Card reader? I suppose, but to be honest, I find myself needing those connection types less and less these days -- especially on the go. I'd rather a thin and minimalist approach.

When at home, however, I do like having those ports as an option, so I typically use a Thunderbolt 3 docking station -- it's a great way to turn a notebook into a makeshift desktop. Lately, I have been testing a TB3 dock from IOGEAR called "Quantum Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station Pro 85." As the name suggests, it is designed for professional use, but it can, of course, be used by home users too.

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Want to make your mommy as excited as the lady in the picture above? Well, if you do, you should get her a very special gift this Mother's Day. Many women like gold, but sadly, the precious metal is quite expensive at over $1,000 an ounce! Don't get discouraged though, as Satechi is launching a very special sale that should enable you to buy a golden present.

No, Satechi hasn't gotten into the jewelry business. Actually, the accessory maker is offering a huge discount on its gold and rose gold colored technology products. By using a special coupon code, you can save up to 50 percent off the MSRP!

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Dell has been manufacturing excellent value-focused computers for years. Back in the day I was a computer salesman at a now-defunct brick and mortar CompUSA. People would often walk into the store, look at what we charge, ask if we could match Dell's price for a similarly configured machine, we would say no, and they would leave. It was virtually impossible to compete with Dell's high-volume online business model from a cost perspective.

Back in those days, Dell was in a monogamous relationship with Microsoft, but in modern times, the computer-maker is no longer exclusive with Windows. Actually, with its "Developer Edition" computers (also known as "Project Sputnik"), Dell also offers Ubuntu -- a Linux-based operating system. That may not seem like a big deal today, but years ago, when it first happened, it was huge news.

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Need a TV? You should definitely buy a 4K model. Even if you don't have any UHD content now, it makes sense to "future-proof" at this point as pricing has gotten quite low.

If you are averse to spending money, I have good news -- Roku is giving away a 55-inch 4K Westinghouse TV. This smart TV has an integrated Roku, making it easy to stream content. The model of TV is "WR55UE4019," which I have been unable to find for sale online. That's not all, however -- the company is also including its Roku TV Wireless Speakers for a superior audio experience.

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Patriot is a company that makes many flash memory products, such as USB flash drives, solid state drives, and storage cards to name a few. System builders are probably most familiar with its RAM products, however. Along with companies like Corsair, Kingston, and G.SKILL, Patriot's sticks of RAM are very much respected. This includes Viper, which is Patriot's gaming brand.

Today, Patriot launches a new line of DDR4 RAM. Called "Signature Premium," you'd expect the memory to be expensive, but actually, it is surprisingly affordable. Capacities range from 4GB to 32GB, while there are two speeds from which to choose -- 2400Mhz and 2666MHz. And yes, they feature heat spreaders -- great for cooling and looking attractive too.

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Fedora may not be the prettiest Linux distribution (that honor belongs to deepin), but it is still the overall greatest such operating system. Why? Well, not only is it the best representation of what a Linux distro should be (thanks to its focus on truly free and open source packages), but it is fast, modern, and very stable. Not to mention, it showcases the best desktop environment, GNOME. It should come as no surprise that the controversial father of Linux, Linus Torvalds, chooses Fedora as his daily operating system.

Today, following a fairly short beta period, Fedora 30 is officially here! The most exciting aspect, for workstation/desktop users at least, is the update to GNOME 3.32. Of course, that is hardly the only notable update -- the DNF package manager is getting a performance boost, for instance. In other words, this is a significant operating system upgrade that should delight both existing Fedora users and beginners alike.

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So, let's have a quick geometry lesson, OK? A cube is a six-sided 3D object where all sides are exactly the same size. Think of the Rubik's cube, for instance, or a common six-sided die. This should be common knowledge to most folks, and even without measuring, people can typically look at a box and recognize if it is a cube.

That's why it is so puzzling that Plugable's latest USB-C docking station is called "Cube." The dimensions of the dock (model UD-Cube) are 6.4 x 5.8 x 3.5 cm. Not even close to having all sides be equal! Oh well. Misnomer aside, the diminutive device looks rather impressive -- it is quite remarkable to see all of these ports crammed into a tiny docking station. While Cube isn't necessarily designed for mobile use, the charger and the dock are both small enough to fit into a bag without issue -- you can take it on the go.

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Believe it or not, on May 1 of this year, Advanced Micro Devices (also known as AMD) will celebrate its 50th birthday. Wow. It is very impressive for any company to survive so long, but it is particularly hard to do so in the technology industry. It is remarkable that the processor-maker is still relevant all these years later.

To celebrate this monumental 50th birthday, AMD is launching some special "Gold Edition" variants of its products. There are two things, actually --  a Gold Edition Ryzen 7 2700X CPU and Radeon VII graphics card. Both of these products highlight AMD's biggest markets -- CPU and GPU.

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Windows 10 is a functional operating system, but goodness, it is not at all attractive. When I use Microsoft's OS, I don't get feelings of joy or happiness. Windows 10's design is very bland and seemingly uninspired. By comparison, Apple's macOS makes me very happy. And yes, appearance matters -- a good user interface and design can motivate the user and help them to be more creative.

As great as macOS is, there is a Linux distribution that rivals its beauty. Called deepin, this operating system is now based on Debian Stable (previously Debian Unstable), and provides an absolutely drop-dead gorgeous user interface. In fact, I am confident to say it is the most beautiful Linux distro. The newest version, deepin 15.10, is now available for download. It is chock full of bug fixes, and also, many new features. One of the most significant changes is dde-kwin is now the default window manager. Users should experience improved performance as a result.

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The whir of a fan. This is a sound many computer enthusiasts know all too well. Whether it is a single fan in a laptop, or 12 fans in a gaming desktop, the noise can be distracting. While some folks learn to tune out fan noise (and some even end up liking it!), let's be honest, a silent PC is preferable for most. Unfortunately, passively cooled computers are often under-powered, meaning you must decide between performance and silence.

But what if you didn't have to pick? What if I told you a company is selling a mini computer with a passively cooled Intel Core i9 9900K? Yeah, you would probably think I am telling lies, but actually, it is the truth! The Compulab "Airtop3," as it is called, features that high-end processor (plus others) and does not have a fan! In addition, the edge server can be configured with an NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000 (or GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) and is loaded to the gills with connectivity options. Not to mention, the diminutive computer looks very beautiful too. Best of all, it can be configured to ship with Linux Mint!

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