A new RV, a rare Pokémon card, a long-awaited unboxing, and an ocean liner with a personal connection—this week’s TechtalkRadio takes Andy Taylor, Justin Lemme, and Shawn DeWeerd from the open road to the open sea.

Justin returns with the story behind his family’s RV purchase, including how he used AI to create an inspection checklist before taking the plunge. Finding the right motorhome was only the beginning: registration fees brought some sticker shock, low-hanging obstacles introduced a driving lesson, and a stop at the gas station demonstrated just how little $50 can move the fuel gauge. Shawn shares advice as the conversation turns to first-trip plans, boondocking, and the technology inside Justin’s new home on wheels.

Fortunately, Justin and his son Eric also had a shopping trip with a much smaller purchase—and a potentially exciting payoff. A Pokémon card bundle from Costco yielded a rare Pikachu card, prompting a visit to a local card shop and plans for professional grading. Justin explains how he used Grok to help identify the card, while the guys discuss using AI to learn more about collectibles hiding in plain sight. Could Pikachu cover a few fill-ups? That depends on the grade—and what a buyer is willing to pay!

Shawn finally gets to open his Zelda-themed Nintendo Switch 2, giving viewers a look at the packaging, dock, Joy-Cons, console, and matching Pro Controller. Along the way, he shares why The Legend of Zelda has been part of his life since childhood, including memories of his mom playing the original game and drawing her own maps. It’s an unboxing with plenty of nostalgia—and anticipation for getting back into Hyrule. See the Unboxing in our Video for this Week!

Then, KOLD News 13 and KMSB FOX 11 anchor Tyler Butler joins Andy to discuss his transportation podcast, Wheels, Wings, and Rails. Their conversation centers on the SS United States and plans to transform the historic ocean liner into an artificial reef. For Andy, the ship is part of his family’s story: they traveled aboard it to America in 1964.

Tyler shares his passion for the ship, reflects on efforts to preserve it, and discusses the artifacts being saved and his plans to cover its departure. The conversation also explores 3D-printed ocean liner models, his 20 years of DeLorean ownership, and memories of the Back to the Future filming location at Puente Hills Mall.

To wrap things up, a listener’s question about preparing for Grand Theft Auto VI gets the guys talking about PlayStation and Xbox storage expansion, large downloads, and the anticipation surrounding major game launches.

Watch or listen to Episode 494 of TechtalkRadio, “Pikachu Pays for the Gas… Almost!” And if you’ve ever found an unexpected treasure in a pack of cards—or discovered what it costs to fill an RV—we’d love to hear your story!

This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor is joined by Shawn DeWeerd and Justin Lemme for another discussion covering the latest in consumer technology, practical troubleshooting, online privacy, and the ever-changing world of artificial intelligence.

Andy takes a closer look at the new ASUS Googlebook 14, a lightweight laptop designed around Google’s Gemini AI experience. Featuring a 3K OLED display, Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a thin, portable design, the Googlebook offers some impressive features. Andy shares his hands-on experience, including Android phone integration, GoogleOS, AI-powered photo editing with Magic Pointer, battery performance, and connectivity options. However, its premium price sparks a debate about value, Google’s ecosystem, and whether consumers really need a AI-focused computer.

That discussion leads Shawn and Justin into the growing interest in de-Googling — moving away from relying on major technology companies for cloud storage, personal information, and everyday computing. They discuss privacy concerns, open-source alternatives, home servers, and the trade-offs between convenience and control over personal data.

Listener questions take center stage as Linda from Sahuarita asks about buying a new printer and whether HP’s restrictions on third-party ink should influence her decision. The team compares inkjet and laser printers, explains why occasional printing can be troublesome for inkjets, and discusses the advantages of toner-based printers. Andy also shares his experience with Epson EcoTank printers.

Another listener, Gary from Tucson, raises an interesting question about smart TVs requiring account registration. Andy shares his experience purchasing an inexpensive ONN television and discovering that an account was required during setup. The conversation explores smart TV privacy, data collection, and what consumers should consider before purchasing or disposing of a connected television. Justin also offers a clever Gmail tip for tracking which companies may be sharing your email address.

The team tackles an important Windows question: Should you shut down your computer every night, and is holding down the power button a bad idea? They explain the difference between a normal shutdown and a forced power-off, discuss sleep mode, and share tips for configuring Windows 11 power settings. Justin also talks about his experience with the Windows 11 26H2 update and improvements he’s noticed in system performance.

In creative technology news, Andy discusses changes involving Remove.bg and Canva, along with Topaz and Adobe, and what these developments could mean for photographers, video editors, and graphic designers. The conversation also explores AI-generated content labels and the challenges facing creators as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly common in creative software.

There’s also an update on Justin’s search for an RV, including advice on insulation, campground reservations, used RVs, and how YouTube has become a valuable resource for researching just about anything.

Finally, Justin shares the Website of the Week: SolitaireAloneTogether.com, a nostalgic browser experience that recreates classic Windows Solitaire while allowing users to see other people playing their own games simultaneously.

From new laptops and computer troubleshooting to privacy concerns and nostalgic online games, it’s covered in this week’s episode of TechtalkRadio with Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd, and Justin Lemme.

Listen to the show, catch the latest videos, and connect with the team at TechtalkRadio.com.

Andy shared a Video opening up the Asus GoogleBook 14 the Day after it arrived showing the Ports, Size and first look features

This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd welcome Justin Lemme back with a conversation that takes the show from the open road to online safety. Justin recounts his family trip to Devils Tower in Wyoming, including a quick Buc-ee’s shopping mission and a revelation that surprises the guys: he’s ready to buy an RV. That sends Shawn into familiar territory, sharing his experiences with campers, layouts, maintenance, and the debate over buying new or used. Naturally, technology finds its way into the discussion through solar panels, Starlink, and Shawn’s Raspberry Pi media server for entertainment while camping.

Back on the creator side, Andy shows off the Ulanzi TT23 tracking tripod and DJI Mic Mini 2 wireless microphone, discussing how the devices fit into smartphone video production, demonstrations, and event coverage. A question from Tucson listener Brian also prompts Shawn to explain his experience with yt-dlp, FFmpeg, and 4K Video Downloader as alternatives to recording videos from a screen.

Andy then welcomes Tom Kamber, executive director of Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP, for a discussion about artificial intelligence and online privacy. They explore how conversational AI can encourage users to lower their guard, concerns about sharing sensitive information, and privacy considerations when using genealogy services. Tom also highlights Senior Planet’s privacy resources and technology classes for older adults. The show wraps up with Shawn’s enthusiasm for Zelda, Nintendo, and finally securing a sought-after preorder after weeks of alerts.

Got a question for the show? Email techguys@techtalkradio.com, and catch more at techtalkradio.com.

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The crew is back together for Episode 486 of TechtalkRadio, with Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd and Justin Lemme catching up on a whirlwind few weeks of technology, travel, severe weather and some very interesting new gear.

Segment One – Severe Weather, Gen Con & Backup Power

Shawn has been on the move, including a vendor trip to Canada that had him flying private while severe storms were moving through Indiana. The guys talk about the powerful storms and tornado warnings back home and share some of the weather resources they use, including Weather.gov, Zoom.Earth and RadarOmega.

Shawn also recaps his trip to Gen Con in Indianapolis, where — fittingly — another tornado warning became part of the adventure. He shares some of what he experienced at the massive gaming convention, including playing Daggerheart, before talking about his trip to an ESPN conference and the technology work underway at Notre Dame.

The conversation then turns to emergency power. Shawn has added an Anker SOLIX home battery backup system along with portable solar panels. Unlike his existing inverter generator, the battery system can provide 240-volt power, allowing him to run essentials including his well pump. He shares his real-world experience using the system at home and while camping, including how much power he was able to generate from the portable solar panels.

Segment Two – ASUS Zenbook Duo, PC Prices & Getting Prepared

Andy shows Shawn and Justin the latest ASUS Zenbook Duo, a unique productivity laptop featuring two 14-inch 3K OLED displays. Remove the Bluetooth keyboard and a second full display is revealed underneath, creating a portable dual-monitor workstation. With an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, 32GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, stylus support and ASUS’ Ceraluminum finish, Andy explains why he sees the Duo as a powerful “grown-up back-to-school laptop.”

That leads to a discussion about the rising cost and availability of RAM, storage and other PC components. The crew talks about why building your own PC may not offer the savings it once did and why buying a prebuilt system can sometimes make more financial sense.

Justin then introduces another topic he’s been researching: basic emergency preparedness. Rather than taking an extreme approach to “prepping,” he’s slowly putting together practical supplies such as bottled water, shelf-stable food, solar lanterns, flashlights and first-aid supplies.

Segment Three – Bugging In, Listener Questions & Giving an Old PC New Life

Shawn continues the preparedness discussion with an important point: emergencies don’t always mean leaving home. In many situations, “bugging in” may be more practical than bugging out. The guys discuss maintaining emergency supplies, rotating food and water and keeping a go bag available for situations where evacuation really is necessary.

Then it’s time for listener questions. Diana in Sahuarita inherited an older Windows 10 laptop covered with desktop icons and programs. Should she simply clean it up? Shawn and Justin have another idea: wipe the machine and start fresh. And if the computer isn’t a good candidate for Windows 11, the guys suggest Linux Mint as a free and increasingly user-friendly alternative.

Andy also shares a recent troubleshooting job involving a laptop that couldn’t reliably open browsers or save files. The culprit? The 250GB SSD had only nine megabytes of free space remaining. After freeing roughly 100GB, the discussion turns to whether upgrading an older laptop’s SSD makes sense — or whether the money would be better spent toward a new computer.

Segment Four – A Mouse That Folds…and Dippin’ Dots?

Andy wraps up the tech with a look at the Logitech MobiFold, a portable Bluetooth mouse that actually folds flat for travel. It can switch between three Bluetooth devices, replaces the traditional scroll wheel with a touch-sensitive scrolling surface and offers impressive battery life — including up to 22 hours of use from a one-minute quick charge.

And because it’s TechtalkRadio, things don’t stay completely technical for long. Justin reveals what happens when the kids return to school at the water park where he works and the full-time staff have to step in. For the IT manager, that recently meant trading technology for hot dogs and Dippin’ Dots — leaving him very ready to get back behind a computer.

It’s another episode filled with technology, practical advice, new gadgets and plenty of laughs with Andy, Shawn and Justin on TechtalkRadio Episode 486.

Please give it a listen or view and Subscribe via YouTube, Spotify or Spreaker! Also Available in the iHeart App and PodBean!

In this week’s TechtalkRadio Show, Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd, and Justin Lemme caught up after a busy couple of weeks. Justin shared his recent experience of tearing his calf muscle while walking at Waterworld, while Shawn talked about hosting Notre Dame’s first home football game of the season, which unfortunately ended in a loss. Sitting out the show, Justin received his Pixel 9 Fold smartphone and provided an overall review, highlighting its AI capabilities through the Gemini platform. One feature lets users reimagine photos and map search results, and Justin also showcased the phone’s ability to recognize and respond to hand gestures. The team discussed the phone’s price, with Justin mentioning a significant discount he received through his Google Fi and Google One memberships. He also shared his excitement about the new Pixel Watch 3, which he had recently acquired.

During the discussion of AI in the Pixel 9, the guys noted Apple’s recent announcement at the “It’s Glowtime” event, which introduced Apple Intelligence for the upcoming iPhone 16. They compared the performance of different AI assistants, with Andy expressing disappointment in Siri’s results. Shawn suggested that Apple’s AI focuses narrowly on tasks within the Apple ecosystem, while Justin and Andy recounted their experiences with Google’s AI. Andy shared a frustrating story involving Waze’s directions, and the group agreed that Apple’s AI is still playing catch-up with other manufacturers.

Justin highlighted the Pixel 9’s unique ability to automatically stitch photos together for seamless family shots. The conversation also touched on how easy it is to transfer data between Android devices, with Justin praising the smooth process.

Shawn brought up the recent announcement from DJI about their new lightweight drone, the DJI Neo, priced at $199. Designed for beginners, vloggers, and casual users, it features a 12-megapixel half-inch sensor, 18 minutes of flight time, and a control range of up to 50 meters via Wi-Fi. Justin raised concerns about its limited control range, noting it might not be ideal for high-altitude or long-distance flights. Shawn also mentioned the recent passage of the Countering USA Threats Act by the House, aimed at restricting drones from foreign countries, particularly China, which could impact companies like DJI. The bill now heads to the Senate.

In response to a listener question from Gary, the team discussed antivirus options for personal use. Justin recommended Windows Defender, while Andy shared his experience with Symantec. They also considered alternatives like Malwarebytes and ESET, with Shawn mentioning a family protection plan he has with Malwarebytes. The team agreed that choosing the right antivirus depends on individual needs and preferences. See Below the Photo’s “Imagined” with the Gemini AI on the Pixel 9 of Justin’s CoWorker

Also featured was a discussion of former guest and writer Ed Bott’s article at ZNet about upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and ways to “Get Er Done!” Finally, the Website of the Week was the app “Spot the Station,” which alerts users when the International Space Station is flying over their community.