I've used PuTTY for years. It's a great program that has lasted this long because it does one thing really well. When I need to connect to another computer over SSH, PuTTY gets the job done without a lot of extra stuff getting in the way. I know how it works, I trust it, and I've never had much reason to replace it.

Like a lot of Windows users, I resisted Linux for years for two main reasons. I expected a steep learning curve, and I assumed I'd have to give up some of the Windows apps I rely on every day. Either one is enough to make switching feel like more trouble than it's worth.

Google has a reputation for shutting down some of its most useful and well-loved apps. Over the years, countless users have watched services that became part of their daily routines suddenly get pushed aside. It’s a running joke at this point: just when a Google app or service finally gets some momentum, Google is ready to pull the plug.

Paperwork used to be annoying, but at least there was an obvious place to put it. You bought a filing cabinet, labeled a few folders, and hoped you could remember where you filed something when you needed it. Today, most of that paperwork is digital. My wife and I have bills, receipts, records, manuals, and other documents scattered across our PCs, and finding a specific file isn't always as easy as it should be.

I've been in the Windows camp for decades, and for years I thought Linux was simply harder to use. That was a pretty common view among Windows and Mac users, and for a long time, it was fair.

I consider myself a Windows power user these days, but I wasn't always. I can remember when the command line seemed like something programmers used, and I stayed out of it unless I absolutely had to. Even now, opening Windows Terminal and seeing a blinking cursor can make what you're about to do feel more complicated than it really is.

Another year, another IFA conference. How-To Geek is scouring the halls of Messe Berlin to uncover all the new innovative tech at IFA 2026. Through our search, we've managed to go hands-on with the slimmest portable SSD of all time, super-long-lasting hybrid batteries, the first batch of RTX Spark laptops, and more.