Virtualization
PROXMOX VS. VMWARE: WHY WE MADE THE SWITCH
Broadcom killed the SMB-friendly VMware tiers. We moved clients to Proxmox VE before the renewal hit. Here's the full breakdown — costs, migration reality, and where VMware still wins.
// SIGNAL.LOG — TECH INSIGHTS FROM THE TASKBAR TEAM
TECH BLOG
No fluff, no vendor-speak. Just honest takes on IT, open-source tools, and technology decisions that affect real businesses.
// LATEST POST
Virtualization • June 11, 2026 • 6 min read
PROXMOX VS. VMWARE: WHY WE MADE THE SWITCH
Broadcom's acquisition of VMware sent licensing costs through the roof and killed the SMB-friendly tiers most small businesses relied on. Here's why we migrated clients to Proxmox VE — and why it's been the right call every single time.
Read the Post [→]// ALL POSTS
Cloud
NEXTCLOUD VS. GOOGLE DRIVE: THE CASE FOR OWNING YOUR DATA
Your business files living on Google's servers is a risk most SMBs don't think about. Self-hosted Nextcloud puts your data back in your control — and costs a fraction of the price at scale.
Open Source
5 OPEN-SOURCE TOOLS THAT REPLACE EXPENSIVE BUSINESS SOFTWARE
LibreOffice, Nextcloud, KeePassXC, OPNsense, Thunderbird — five tools we actually deploy for clients that eliminate thousands in annual software licensing fees without sacrificing capability.
CURATED READS
Selected from HowToGeek.comArticles we think are worth your time — vetted by us, written by others. External links open in a new tab.
// OPEN SOURCE & TOOLS
Open Source
5 Free and Open-Source Apps That Are Better Than Their Paid Alternatives
HowToGeek ↗
Open Source
4 Open-Source Apps That Replace Microsoft's Expensive Software (and Do It Better)
HowToGeek ↗
Open Source
Replace Your Microsoft 365 Subscription With These 5 Free Open-Source Apps
HowToGeek ↗
Virtualization
5 Proxmox Services That Turn Your PC Into a Self-Hosted Powerhouse
HowToGeek ↗
Virtualization
4 Ways Proxmox Turned My Old PC Into the Ultimate Home Server
HowToGeek ↗
Self-Hosted Cloud
How to Self-Host a Collaborative Cloud With Nextcloud and Docker
HowToGeek ↗
Self-Hosted
This Self-Hosted Linux App Cut My Subscription Costs by $300
HowToGeek ↗
Self-Hosted
Here's Why Self-Hosting a Server Is Worth the Effort
HowToGeek ↗
Open Source
8 Open-Source Apps That Save Money and Beat Their Paid Alternatives
HowToGeek ↗
// HOMELAB & SELF-HOSTING
Homelab
Want a Private Homelab? Put These 12 Apps at the Top of Your List
HowToGeek ↗
Self-Hosted
3 Self-Hosted Services I'm Running in My Homelab and Use Every Day
HowToGeek ↗
Self-Hosted
3 Self-Hosted Projects That Turn Your Storage-Only Homelab Into a Useful Playground
HowToGeek ↗
Homelab
This Raspberry Pi Project Quickly Became the Cornerstone of My Homelab
HowToGeek ↗
Self-Hosted
5 Free Apps I Self-Host Instead of Paying $2,400 Per Year in Subscriptions
HowToGeek ↗
Self-Hosted
Self-Hosting Gave Me the Digital Freedom I Wish I'd Found Sooner
HowToGeek ↗
// REPLACE YOUR CLOUD STACK
Open Source
This New Open-Source Office Suite Wants to Replace Google Docs and Microsoft Office
HowToGeek ↗
Open Source
I Replaced Microsoft Word With a Self-Hosted, Open-Source Alternative
HowToGeek ↗
Linux
Switching to Linux: How to Replace Everyday Apps With Open-Source Alternatives
HowToGeek ↗
Security
How I Self-Host a Synced Password Manager
HowToGeek ↗
WANT TO TALK SHOP?
If something you read here sparked a question about your own setup, we're happy to have a real conversation — no sales pitch required.