Laptop or desktop computers and any components within.
Hardware
The ISS Gets a Computer Upgrade
Episode 1654
Running on 386 computers for the last 20 years, the International Space Station received a computer upgrade this week.
RIP Chuck Peddle, Father of Personal Computing
Episode 1654
Chuck Peddle, the creator of the Apple 2 6502 microprocessor and father of personal computing, passed away this week. He was 85. Although the 6502 wasn't a very good processor, it blazed a trail for affordable processors that would eventually become the ARM processor and the Intel 8080.
What can I do with an old laptop?
Episode 1653
David fromDavid collects old laptops, refreshes them with Q4OS Linux, and donates them to teachers. Leo says that Linux is very robust and secure, and what David is essentially doing is turning those old laptops into Chromebooks, which is something most teachers want because it's all they need. Leo thinks that's awesome and a great way to repurpose computers that are still good, but are just old.
Check out the Laptop Elf Project on Facebook.
What baby monitor is the most secure?
Episode 1653
Darcy fromDarcy and his wife recently had a baby and he's looking for a good, and secure, baby monitor. Is there one that's really secure? Leo says that they are if the company keeps them up to date. Although RING took it on the chin with a hacker who hacked a Ring Camera in an 8-year-old's office, it turns out that this was due to a simple password that the mother had used with other devices. If you use a difficult password, then the RING Camera is a good option. Or, you can get a standard model that isn't internet-connected and is broadcast over a limited range.
Sam Abuelsamid ... dampened
Episode 1653
Sam joins Leo to talk about shock absorbers, also known as dampeners today. Cars use hydraulic pistons to absorb the shock and movement of driving down the car, and they work in concert with springs to smooth out your drive. GM invented a process called MagnaRide Dampers, which are very popular now, and use magnetic particles suspended in oil, which alters the viscosity when needed. This means you can computer control and adjust the amount of shock the damper absorbs, improving your control — very cool technology. Many dealers offer them as an option.
What is a Good Laptop for School?
Episode 1652
Rick fromRick's son is about to start school and wants a laptop. He wants a 15" screen, running Windows 10. Leo says that almost all laptops have a touchscreen. But Leo recommends the Lenovo Thinkpad T-series. They have no-touch screen options. He will want a mini 8GB RAM. Another option is the Dell XPS 15. Microsoft's Surface Pro Laptop 3 business model is also good.
How Do I Replace Storage in My Surface Pro 2?
Episode 1652
Jeff fromJeff has a Microsoft Windows Surface Pro 2 and he wants to know how he can change out the storage memory for a larger one. Leo says that he can clean out the hard drive to get rid of unwanted cruft. Look for a folder called Windows.Old and get rid of that. Run Windows Disk Cleanup. Windows Key, cleanup.
What's an Affordable Option for Noise-Canceling Headphones?
Episode 1652
Ronnie fromRonnie would like to buy active noise-canceling headphones, but the Bose headphones are way too expensive. Is there a more affordable option? Leo says that there are far better options now that don't cost an arm and a leg. The WireCutter says that the Bose 700s are the best, but they are costly. Anker's Soundcore Life Q20 is around $40 right now. Audio Technica makes a good pair!
The Giz Wiz ... Ripped for the Holidays
Episode 1652
Back in the days of disco, Dickie D used to mix his own cassette tapes. Now he wants to digitize them for his computer, tablet, phones, etc. That's where this Cassette Player, Cassette Tape to MP3 Converter, Via USB Portable Cassette Tape Converter comes in handy. Amazon adds: Captures MP3 Audio Music, with Headphones, Convert Walkman Tape Cassette Compatible with Mac / PC / Laptop. Here are some of the features via Amazon: Convert cassette tapes to MP3 Format.
How Can I Play Music To All My Rooms?
Episode 1652
David fromDavid wants to stream music to multiple rooms in his house. MultiRoom music is a challenge because it has to sync from room to room with no latency. But it is doable with Amazon Echo. He can get a dot in each room and add some speakers and it'll work. The Echo is smart enough that he can even command it to play in different rooms as well. The Amazon Echo Input connects to one's own speakers, and right now it's only $10.
