Laptop or desktop computers and any components within.
Hardware
Are cheap motherboards good?
Episode 1540
Richard fromCan you trust a motherboard for $59? Leo says that it depends. Gigabyte, Asus, Acer are all good brands, and they're also very affordable. PC Perspective likes MSI and they're around that price.
Is the MacBook Air worth upgrading?
Episode 1540
Rob fromRob has a process in his Mac called "User Event Agent" and he doesn't know what that is. Is it necessary? Leo says it is. It just monitors all of his activity. This includes mouse key presses, typing, etc. If he were to stop it, his computer would become unresponsive. He shouldn't really get caught up with what he finds in the Task Manager, especially when the processor and RAM are being used.
Should I buy the MacBook Pro or the MacBook Air?
Episode 1539
Ron fromRon wants to know whether he should buy a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro. Leo says it comes down to what he needs. If he has a need for speed, he should get the MacBook Pro. If he likes all day battery life, and doesn't mind lesser performance, then he can save money and get the MacBook Air.
Dick DeBartolo, The Giz Wiz
Episode 1539
A new technology, developed by Watergen, is an atmospheric water generator called Genny, which takes in ambient air through a filter, and cools at its dew point, extracting water through condensation. The water is then purified, mineralized, and is ready and safe to drink. The prototype unit was producing five gallons of clean drinking water per day, but the company expected the final production unit would produce eight gallons a day. It comes with a built-in reservoir and a water treatment system.
What's the best smart lock?
Episode 1539
JT fromJT wants to create a smart home. What gadgets should he add to his Ring Doorbell? Is there a smart lock? Leo likes the August smart lock the best, followed by Schlage. But Leo recommends visiting StaceyoniOT.com. She has her finger on everything pertaining to the internet of things.
Can my HD TV be fixed?
Episode 1539
Theresa fromTheresa's 7 year old LCD TV has gone black, and if she looks up close, she can still see an image. Can she fix it? Scott says that the backlit LED panel has gone out and it's really not worth fixing. For less money, she can just buy a better 4K TV. If she's on a budget, TCL and Vizio are the best options.
Why can't I charge my HP laptop via USB-C?
Episode 1539
Carmine fromCarmine has an HP Spectre laptop, but his USB-C connector won't power the laptop using his OtherWorld Computing adapter. Leo says that he's supposed to be able to with this new model. It's a data port as well as a power port, and so it may be an authorization issue. Leo says that he may want to try the HP power dongle. He'll also want to be sure he's getting enough power through the Type-C connector. There may not be enough through the OWC, and the laptop may think it's just a data connector.
How can I unjam a carousel CD player?
Episode 1538
Mike fromMike has a CD player with a tray that's jammed up. Leo says it's likely a titled CD that's blocked it and it's jammed. It may also be a torn table that has unglued itself and is gumming up the works. There may be a tiny hole that he can use a paperclip to free up the mechanism. Outside of that, he'll have to take it apart.
Image by Andrey Korzun [CC BY-SA 4.0 ], from Wikimedia Commons
How can I get data off a really old hard drive?
Episode 1538
Tyler fromTyler has a 20-year-old computer and he needs to get some data off the hard drive. He's having trouble finding a port to connect his video monitor to. He doesn't have VGA. Leo says he'll have to have a VGA port because that was the standard back then. If there's no VGA, then it could be a server. But he may be able to find an old video card to plug into it.
Leo recommends just getting a hard drive enclosure for it. He'll need an IDE model. Then he can connect it via USB to his current computer. That's far easier than trying to connect everything to it to see what's on it.
What can I do with an old MacBook Pro?
Episode 1538
Bob fromBob wants to know what he can do with an older MacBook Pro that can no longer be updated. Leo says he could possibly use Linux on it, but only a few installs will work with Mac hardware. Kubuntu and Xubuntu are examples. He could also continue to run it as is and just use it as something else, like a file server, or he could donate it.
