Files, formats and backups
Codecs, image formats, backup strategy and moving large files around without losing them.
Cloud storage versus a NAS: the honest cost comparison
Verified July 2026 prices per TB per year for B2, Wasabi, iDrive e2, R2, iCloud and Microsoft 365, set against NAS power draw and real break-even in years.
Data recovery: what works, what makes it worse
Why stopping every write matters most, how TRIM makes SSD deletion permanent, when DIY recovery software is safe to run, and what a clean-room lab costs.
Encrypting drives and files: BitLocker, FileVault, LUKS and VeraCrypt
Disk encryption protects a laptop that is powered off, not one you are logged into. What BitLocker, FileVault, LUKS and VeraCrypt cost you in access risk.
JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF and HEIC: which format when
AVIF for web photos with a JPEG fallback, PNG for screenshots, WebP if you want one format, and HEIC only inside Apple, because no other browser reads it.
NTFS, exFAT, APFS and ext4: which file system for which drive
exFAT is the only format current Windows, macOS and Linux all mount read-write, which is why it wins for shared drives. NTFS, ext4 and APFS compared.
Password managers and two-factor authentication, practically
The July 2025 NIST rules changed what a password must be, SMS is the standard's one restricted authenticator, and how to get back in if you lose a key.
Photo metadata and organizing a library that survives
Exif, IPTC and XMP each hold different things. Why photo dates break when you copy or convert files, and how to build a library that outlives the app.
SSD vs HDD: speed, endurance, and how drives actually fail
SSD endurance ratings, hard drive failure rates, the SMART values worth watching, and why an SSD is the wrong place to park data you plan to power off.
Sending large files: the practical options compared
Real size ceilings and expiry windows for email, WeTransfer, Dropbox Transfer, cloud drives and self-hosted tools, plus which ones actually encrypt.
The 3-2-1 backup rule, applied to a normal household
Three copies, two media, one off-site, plus why sync and RAID are neither. Real retention windows, 2026 storage prices and a plan that costs $99 a year.
USB standards decoded: the speeds behind the marketing names
USB-IF now recommends just five consumer speed names, USB 5Gbps up to USB 80Gbps. Here is what USB4, Thunderbolt and a plain USB-C cable really guarantee.
Video formats and codecs: MP4, MKV, H.264, H.265 and AV1
MP4 and MKV are containers, H.264 and AV1 are codecs inside them, and hardware decode support rather than the file extension decides whether a video plays.