open source alternatives Archives - tektoc

How to Install Linux Mint on an External SSD — Without Touching Windows

Graeme — Wed, 13 May 2026 17:31:52 +0000

If you’ve been curious about Linux but weren’t ready to commit to replacing Windows, this tutorial is exactly what you’ve been waiting for. In this video, I walk you through how to install Linux Mint on an external SSD — giving you a fully working Linux system that lives on a portable drive you can plug in whenever you want, while your Windows installation stays completely untouched.

This method is a fantastic alternative to traditional dual-booting, and it’s one of the safest ways for beginners to explore Linux without the risk of losing files or accidentally overwriting Windows.

What You’ll Need

Before you get started, you’ll want to have three things on hand: an external SSD (much better than a standard USB flash drive for speed and reliability), a smaller USB thumb drive of at least 8GB to use as the Linux installer, and a Windows PC.

You’ll also need to take a couple of preparatory steps in your computer’s BIOS settings. Specifically, you’ll want to disable Fast Boot and Secure Boot before you begin. If you use BitLocker to encrypt your drive, make sure that’s decrypted first as well — the video covers this in plain, easy-to-follow language.

Creating the Linux Mint Installer

The tutorial covers downloading the Linux Mint ISO (the Cinnamon edition is recommended for its familiar, Windows-like look and feel) and using a free tool called BalenaEtcher to flash that ISO onto your small USB thumb drive. This turns the thumb drive into your installation media.

The Install Process — And the Critical Step

Once you boot from the USB installer using your computer’s Boot Options Menu, the installation process itself is straightforward — but there is one step where you need to pay close attention.

When the Linux Mint installer asks how you want to set up your storage, you must choose “Something Else” rather than the automatic option. This is what allows you to manually tell the installer to put everything — including the bootloader — on your external SSD rather than on your internal Windows drive. The video walks through this partitioning step carefully, including how to set up the required EFI, root, and home partitions.

The Result: A Truly Portable Linux System

After installation, the video demonstrates the best part: with the external SSD unplugged, the computer boots straight into Windows as normal. Plug the SSD back in, select it from the boot menu, and you’re in Linux Mint. Two operating systems, zero compromises.

Whether you’re exploring Linux for the first time or looking for a safe way to learn without risking your Windows setup, this approach is highly recommended.

Watch the full step-by-step tutorial in the video at the top of this page!

As always, make sure you have a backup of your data before taking on a project like this – just in case!

Linux vs Windows: What Beginners Must Know

Graeme — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 23:22:38 +0000

Understanding the Basics Before You Decide

If you’ve ever wondered whether you should switch from Windows to Linux, you’re not alone. The conversation around Linux vs Windows has become more common, especially as people look for alternatives that are secure, stable, and cost-effective.

But before you jump in, there are some important realities to understand:

First, Linux is not an app you install inside Windows — it’s a completely separate operating system. That means replacing Windows (unless you set up dual boot). Second, you don’t actually install “Linux.” You install a distribution, and there are hundreds to choose from. For most people exploring linux for beginners, Linux Mint is one of the easiest starting points.
It’s also important to understand that Linux can be more hands-on. While many users find it stable and refreshing, you should be prepared to troubleshoot occasionally and learn new workflows.
Software compatibility is another key difference in the linux vs windows discussion. Some Windows programs — like Adobe Creative Cloud or the full desktop version of Microsoft Office — don’t run natively on Linux. However, excellent alternatives like LibreOffice and OnlyOffice are available. And if you absolutely need certain Windows software, dual-booting may be your best option.
The good news? Anything you do in a web browser works the same. Online banking, email, Google Docs, and Office Online are unaffected by your operating system.
Gaming on Linux has improved dramatically, though competitive multiplayer titles may still present challenges.
Linux is also widely regarded as highly secure by design.

The bottom line? Linux isn’t a drop-in Windows replacement — it’s a different ecosystem. If you’re open to learning and adapting, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience.

Watch the video above for more information that will help you decide if Linux is right for you!

Open-Source vs Subscription Software: Who Really Wins?

Graeme — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 23:26:58 +0000

Which Is Better: Rent, or Own?

Over the last decade, the way we use software has fundamentally changed. What used to be a one-time purchase is now almost always a recurring subscription. From creative tools to office software, users increasingly rent access instead of owning a product outright.

This shift raises an important question: is subscription software actually better, or does open-source software offer advantages that many users overlook?

Subscription software appeals to companies because it provides predictable revenue and allows continuous updates. For users, subscriptions can offer convenience, cloud features, and seamless collaboration—especially for services that rely on online infrastructure. In many business environments, subscriptions genuinely make sense.

However, subscriptions come with trade-offs. Stop paying, and access disappears. Prices can increase without warning, features can be removed, and long-term access to your own files may depend on an active account. Over time, these costs and restrictions add up.

Open-source software works differently. Its source code is publicly available, meaning the software isn’t tied to the survival or decisions of a single company. Many open-source tools are free to use, don’t require ongoing payments, and allow users to retain full control over their data and workflows.

Contrary to common myths, modern open-source software is often powerful, polished, and widely used. Tools like Blender, Linux, OBS, and LibreOffice prove that open development can compete with—and sometimes outperform—paid alternatives.

Ultimately, the choice between open-source and subscription software isn’t about which is “better,” but about understanding incentives. Subscription software optimizes for convenience and recurring revenue, while open-source prioritizes resilience, transparency, and user control.

Knowing the difference helps you choose tools that truly serve your needs—today and in the long term.

Watch the video above for an in-depth look at both of these options, and the circumstances under which they offer the best value.

Actual Budget Review: Is It the Best Free Quicken Alternative for Everyday Users?

Graeme — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:15:45 +0000

If you have been using Quicken for years and are quietly wondering whether there is a better — or at least cheaper — way to manage your personal finances, you are not alone. Quicken has grown more complex, more expensive, and more subscription-dependent over the years, and a lot of long-time users are looking for a way out. Actual Budget might be exactly what you have been waiting for.

In this video, we take a close look at Actual Budget — free, open-source personal finance software available on Windows, Linux, and Mac — and explore whether it can genuinely serve as the best free Quicken alternative for everyday users.

What Is Actual Budget?

Actual Budget is a free, open-source finance application designed to help you track spending and manage a household budget without the bloat — or the monthly bill — that comes with Quicken. It runs locally on your computer, meaning your financial data stays on your machine and never lives on someone else’s server unless you specifically choose that option.

It is lightweight, fast, and straightforward to install — even on older hardware. If your current budgeting software feels like it is doing more than you need (and occasionally making mistakes because of it), Actual Budget is worth a serious look.

How Does It Compare to Quicken?

The honest answer is that Actual Budget is not trying to replicate everything Quicken does — and that is actually a strength. Where Quicken has become increasingly automated (sometimes to the point of introducing errors), Actual Budget keeps you in direct control of your data. You enter or import your transactions, you categorize them, and you see exactly what is happening with your money.

Some things Actual Budget does not do: it will not automatically download and price your investment portfolio. If that is critical to your workflow, it is worth knowing upfront. However, for the vast majority of day-to-day household budgeting — tracking income and expenses, monitoring account balances, reviewing spending by category — it handles everything you need cleanly and quickly.

You can import transactions from your bank using the standard QFX file format, which is the same format Quicken uses — so that part of your workflow does not change. And if you have existing Quicken data, there is an import option available, though some adjustment of categories and balances is typically needed to get things lined up correctly.

Getting Started: What to Expect

Setup involves adding your accounts (checking, savings, credit cards), choosing between envelope budgeting and tracking budgeting, and setting up your spending categories. The video walks through each of these steps in detail, so if you would rather see it in action before committing, that is a great place to start.

One feature worth highlighting is off-budget accounts — a way to handle savings earmarked for irregular large expenses (like annual insurance or property tax) so that those big payments do not distort your monthly spending picture. It is a thoughtful approach that maps naturally to how a lot of people already think about their money.

Reporting in Actual Budget is visual and dashboard-driven rather than print-oriented. It is not as deep as Quicken’s report library, but for most users it provides exactly the at-a-glance insight they need: total income, total expenses, month-over-month changes, and net worth trends.

If you have been searching for a free personal finance software option that is stable, private, and genuinely easy to use on a daily basis, Actual Budget is one of the most compelling options available right now. It is not perfect, but for the kind of straightforward household financial tracking that most of us actually need, it delivers — without the subscription fee.

The video linked above is a high-level overview. For deeper features and documentation, the Actual Budget website has excellent resources to explore further.

The Actual Budget website can be found here: Your Finances — made simple | Actual Budget

Old PCs are Useless, Right? My Late Father’s 1st Gen Core i3 Says Otherwise

Graeme — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 04:08:25 +0000

Make the Most of What You’ve Got

In today’s tech world, Microsoft and many others will tell you that if your PC can’t run Windows 11, it’s basically useless junk. But is that really true? We’re about to find out with my late father’s computer: a Dell Inspiron 580 with a first-generation Core i3 550 processor, built all the way back in 2010. This machine is almost 15 years old and has just 6GB of RAM and integrated graphics. It’s the kind of old PC you’ll find at a thrift store or recycling center, probably gathering dust.

While many of us hobbyists are chasing the latest CPUs and GPUs, some people have little to no money for technology. For them, a machine like this could be a total game-changer, providing access to essential tech for school, work, and connecting with others. Organizations like the Electronics Recycling Association are doing incredible work to bridge this gap, but the push to make older computers obsolete just makes their job harder.

To prove that this old PC is far from useless, we’re giving it a second chance. We’ve installed a small SSD and put Linux Mint on it, and now we’re going to put it through its paces. Can it handle everyday tasks like browsing the web, watching HD videos, using an office suite, editing photos, and even a Zoom call?

We’re going to test if this so-called “garbage computer” can actually be brilliant. Find out if this old PC is ready for the scrap heap or if it still has a lot to offer and can do some real good for a family in need. Stick around to see the results and learn why we should all think twice before tossing out perfectly good technology.

The post Old PCs are Useless, Right? My Late Father’s 1st Gen Core i3 Says Otherwise appeared first on tektoc.

open source alternatives Archives - tektoc

How to Install Linux Mint on an External SSD — Without Touching Windows

What You’ll Need

Creating the Linux Mint Installer

The Install Process — And the Critical Step

The Result: A Truly Portable Linux System

Other Linux install tutorials on tektoc:

Inexpensive drive enclosures and SSDs on Amazon

Recent Posts

Linux vs Windows: What Beginners Must Know

Understanding the Basics Before You Decide

Recent Posts

Open-Source vs Subscription Software: Who Really Wins?

Which Is Better: Rent, or Own?

Recent Posts

Actual Budget Review: Is It the Best Free Quicken Alternative for Everyday Users?

What Is Actual Budget?

How Does It Compare to Quicken?

Getting Started: What to Expect

Recent Posts

Old PCs are Useless, Right? My Late Father’s 1st Gen Core i3 Says Otherwise

Make the Most of What You’ve Got