Brian Fagioli

Linux Mint is a brilliant operating system. Based on Ubuntu, it aims to make Linux accessible to everyone. You know what? It succeeds. The wonderful Cinnamon desktop environment is a no-nonsense approach to computing, making it easy for a home user to complete their tasks.

Today, the upcoming Linux Mint 18.1 (based on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS) gets an official code-name -- "Serena". What does this female name mean? According to Behind the Name, it is "from a Late Latin name which was derived from Latin serenus meaning 'clear, tranquil, serene'. This name was borne by an obscure early saint. Edmund Spenser also used it in his poem 'The Faerie Queene' (1590)".

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Today was Apple's big October event, and I came away impressed. The new MacBook Pro is both drop-dead gorgeous and super-powerful. The Touch Bar is revolutionary, bringing touch functionality to an operating system that isn't designed for a touch screen.

Unfortunately, the prices for the New MacBook Pro models are quite high, starting at $1,800 for one with the Touch Bar (a neutered non-Touch Bar model can be had for $1,500). If you are going to invest in such a pricey laptop, you will probably want it to double as a desktop too. Luckily, LG has two new Thunderbolt 3 monitors (one is 27-inch 5K, the other is 21.5-inch 4K) that will make it so. Dubbed "UltraFine", they double as single-cable docking stations. In other words, when paired with the MacBook Pro (or non-Pro MacBook), you will have a very rewarding macOS experience.

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Yesterday, some of the world was thrust into sadness by the delay of Apple's AirPods. The revolutionary wireless earbuds from the iPhone-maker look incredible, but they apparently need a bit more time to bake in the oven.

If you can't wait for AirPods, however, and you need some solid wireless earbuds now, the Jaybird X3 Wireless Sport Headphones (with integrated microphone) may meet your needs. While they will not pair as elegantly as Apple's offering, they should work wonderfully when listening to music while both relaxing at home or exercising. You see, the Jaybird X3 is actually "sweat-proof", meaning if you tend to get very wet when active, these could be the wireless headphones of your sweaty dreams.

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When Apple removed the 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone 7, some people were upset. Me? I was happy. Look, that analog audio jack was very outdated, and it was time to kill it. Digital audio is superior, and the Lightning port is a great alternative.

The other reason I didn't mind the death of the headphone jack was AirPods -- Apple's revolutionary wireless headphones. Even though I own an iPhone 6S Plus with 3.5mm jack, I was saving up money to buy my own AirPods this month. Like a punch in the gut, however, today, Apple breaks the hearts of many -- AirPods have officially been delayed. In other words, the much-anticipated product will not go on sale in October as previously promised.

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Today is finally the day -- Microsoft's annual Surface event. This year is quite different, however, as rather than new portable machines, the company is rumored to unveil a new Surface-branded all-in-one desktop.

I am here, live, at a secret location in NYC where I will be live-blogging all the news along with my thoughts -- just keep refreshing. Of course, you can also watch the live video here too.

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Businesses can never go wrong choosing Microsoft. Between Windows, SharePoint, and Office, a company should see much success in both productivity and collaboration. One place where Microsoft was pretty much unchallenged in the enterprise was with Surface Hub -- its big-screen collaboration device running the wonderful Windows 10. Today, however, this changes, as Google unveils something of a Surface Hub competitor.

Called "Jamboard", the search-giant's digital whiteboard features a beautiful 55-inch 4K display, HD camera, and integrated speakers. Yeah, it seems very impressive. With that said, Google services like G Suite are unproven in the enterprise; an IT decision-maker would be taking a huge risk by spending company funds on Jamboard. After all, it costs $6,000.

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We are currently in the golden age of television. Not only are shows like The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones excellent, but there are so many ways to consume it all. Of course, you can watch TV live on cable or satellite, but thanks to DVR and streaming, you can watch on your schedule too. It is all quite glorious.

For those serious about their television watching, an investment in a quality remote control can be very wise. Logitech's Harmony line is arguably the best, and today, it gets even better. Owners of hub-compatible models can now link their Amazon Echo to the Harmony app, enabling voice controls for their AV equipment. Yes, fellow couch potatoes, we can now be even lazier when watching TV!

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Linux-based desktop operating systems are better than Windows because they are free, right? Whoa there, folks. Neither are necessarily better or worse -- it really depends on your needs. Cost-free operating systems, such as Ubuntu and Fedora, are definitely great for home consumers looking to breathe new life into old machines. With that said, the benefits of Linux extend beyond money and cost-savings.

Linux being free is sort of misleading when it comes to business use too. While a small business with a few employees can sometimes get by without paying for support, larger companies would be crazy to go it entirely alone -- paid support is a necessity for success. Today, Canonical releases a well-designed infographic that explains the benefits of its paid support, called 'Ubuntu Advantage'.

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PC gaming is a big business nowadays, and that extends beyond GPUs and the actual video games themselves. People that enjoy gaming will invest in accessories too, such as mice, headsets, and keyboards.

Today, a beautiful gaming keyboard hits stores. Dubbed "ALLOY FPS", it is the first-ever gaming keyboard from famed gaming accessory-maker HyperX (a Kingston company). Featuring Cherry MX Blue switches and a beautiful design, it is sure to be very popular with hardcore gamers.

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Nike has long been a major player in all things sports. Its footwear and other apparel can often be found on the world's most popular athletes. True, the company pays those folks big bucks to wear the gear, but that does not detract from the fact that it is also quality stuff. Trust me, a comfortable pair of Nike sneakers is well worth the premium.

Nike and Apple have long been in business together -- even before the iPhone -- with Nike+iPod. The collaboration between these two strong brands makes a lot of sense. This Friday, the Apple Watch Nike+ will finally be available to consumers. Since Apple's wearable is so focused on fitness, this is likely the most cohesive and focused collaboration between the two companies.

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The tablet market has gotten a bit stale lately. While Apple keeps chugging along with its innovative "Pro" iPad devices, the Android community hasn't seen much in the way of quality offerings. Sadly, many tablets running Google's mobile operating system are low-quality with scant support -- OS updates are often non-existent.

If you do want a quality Android tablet, Samsung is still cranking them out, and today it announces a new such model for the US market. The 'Galaxy Tab A 10.1" with S Pen' -- yeah, that is actually the full name -- will be in stores later this week at a very affordable price.

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The gift and curse of desktop Linux-based operating systems is the ability to change the desktop environment. On one hand, having the choice to pick your favorite user interface, such as Unity, GNOME, or KDE Plasma, can be a huge positive. On the other, this also creates fragmented experiences between Linux users.

If you are a fan of KDE Plasma, there are plenty of quality distributions available. The overall best for home users, however, is the wonderful Netrunner. You'd be hard-pressed to find another KDE-focused distro with such care and focus on the user experience. Today, a specialized version of the Debian-based operating system, called Netrunner Core, becomes available for download. This pared-down OS is designed for lower-end systems, and there are images for both x86 and ARM.

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Next week, on October 27, Apple will hold a press event called "Hello Again". While the company has not officially announced the products to be unveiled, rumors suggest we will see new Mac computers. Apple has long neglected its desktops and laptops (it still sells a MacBook from 2012), and consumers have been eagerly anticipating refreshed machines with better specifications. It is quite likely that the wants of these folks will be met next week.

Unfortunately for some, Mac computers (and many Windows machines too) no longer have number pads (aka keypads). For those that work in the financial sector, or simply learned to type using a keyboard with a number pad, this can be problematic. Fortunately, there are many third-party options on the market. Today, Satechi releases the all-new Slim Aluminum Wireless Keypad and it looks like a winner. If you are planning to buy one of the rumored new Mac computers, this could be a godsend. Not only does it come in colors to match Apple devices, but it is slimmer than Satechi's prior offering.

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Linux 4.0 introduced a wonderful feature for those that need insane up-time -- the ability to patch the kernel without rebooting the machine. While this is vital for servers, it can be beneficial to workstation users too. Believe it or not, some home users covet long up-time simply for fun -- bragging rights, and such.

If you are an Ubuntu 16.04 LTS user (with generic Linux kernel 4.4) and you want to take advantage of this exciting feature, I have good news -- it is now conveniently available for free! Unfortunately, this all-new Canonical Livepatch Service does have a catch -- it is limited to three machines per user. Of course, home users can register as many email addresses as they want, so it is easy to get more if needed. Businesses can pay for additional machines through Ubuntu Advantage. Want to give it a go? Read on.

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As someone who was born in the 1980's, Nintendo was a huge part of my childhood. My first console from the company was the iconic NES. My family did not have much money, but my parents ended up surprising me with it one day. Hilariously, we hooked it up to a black-and-white TV at first -- I only saw color in my games when playing at a friend's house. Nintendo nostalgia is common with folks that grew up in the 80's and 90's.

Unfortunately, the company hit a rough patch with the Gamecube, but redeemed itself with the gimmicky Wii. Sadly, the next home console from the company, the Wii U, was a horrific flop, making some wonder if the game-maker should exit the hardware business entirely. Today, Nintendo looks to hush the haters with the all-new 'Switch' console. This tablet system (formerly known as NX) is a hybrid of sorts, as it has the ability to serve as both a portable or home console. Will millennials and other consumers care?

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