How to choose a computer store
I’ve never purchased a computer or components from a big box store like Best Buy. And I’ve never had one repaired there either.
The IBM PC — 44 years old today
On August 12, 1981, the IBM PC — the IBM 5150 — was announced to the world. I’d known about it for several months as I’d written the training course for the IBM Customer engineers who were slated to repair it.
Why I support the “Right to Repair”
I have a friend who wanted some help with her Dell laptop. I converted her to Linux several years ago but this system is now...
Make typing faster with the Keebio BDN9 macro pad
My brother recently gave me a Keebio BDN9 macro pad. It’s a configurable 9-key keyboard that supports all kinds of customizations, including little keycaps that...
The case of the Borked HDD
It all started this morning when I went to start my regular Saturday yoga session. I have a room at home that has all my...
The Linux Philosophy for SysAdmins, Tenet 15 — Strive For Elegance
Author’s note: This article is excerpted in part from chapter 17 of my book, The Linux Philosophy for SysAdmins, with some changes to update the...
Running FreeDOS on legacy hardware
How I installed FreeDOS on a 386-SX micro laptop called the Pocket386.
How I fixed Random Reboots on One of My Laptops
I have three laptops that I've purchased from System76 out of Denver Colorado. They design and build exceptional laptops and install Pop!_OS, their own mix...
Testing Linux hardware compatibility with USB sticks
Like everyone else, those of us who use Linux sometimes need to purchase a new computer. Although the days of poor hardware compatibility are long gone, it is still possible to run into issues. Try it out first with USB stick in the store.
Extend the life of your Linux SSD drive with fstrim
SSDs have benefits like silent and cooler operation and a faster interface spec, compared to their elder spinning ancestors. Of course, new technology brings with it new methods of maintenance and management. SSDs have a feature to reclaim unused blocks on the device.
Use lspci on Linux to see your hardware
Sometimes you need to identify the hardware in a system. One command used for this is lspci.
Linux monitoring tools to keep your hardware cool
Thermal stress can damage your computers. Learn how to monitor the internal temperatures of your computers tohelp you keep your hardware cool.
How I got RGB Lighting Working on my Corsair Keyboard
A good keyboard is important to your health and productivity. It can be fun, too.
Arming Open Source Software for the Future
Future to bring more ARM servers in the data center and cloud than X64 systems.
Converting to solid-state disks (SSDs) on the desktop
Image by David Both. CC-by-SA 4. If you have a need for speed, you need to consider the switch to SSDs. I know that many...