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João Carrasqueira-Lead Windows Editor

João Carrasqueira

Lead Windows Editor

Contributor Since October, 2018
Expertise
Windows 11, Windows, Laptop
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XDA logo Profile

About João Carrasqueira

João has been covering the tech world for over 7 years, with a heavy focus on laptops and the Windows ecosystem. I also love all things tech and videogames, especially Nintendo, which he's always happy to talk about.

Prior to joining XDA in 2021, he worked at Neowin: https://www.neowin.net/news/poster/jo%C3%A3o-carrasqueira/

What was your first computer?

It's been a long time, but I remember having an old Compaq desktop PC running Windows XP, which was the family computer in my house. It had a 20GB hard drive and, if my memory serves, 512MB of RAM, yet it allowed me to play some of the games I remember most fondly, such as Rollcage and Lego Racers.

How long have you been interested in technology?

I've been interested in tech for as long as I can remember, whether it's computers or phones. I'd always look for ways to enhance the performance of my computer or try new versions of Windows, and I joined the Windows Insider Program the day the first build was released.

What tech products or categories are you most passionate about?

I love all things tech, and Windows has always been my home, so both software and hardware are things that interest me deeply. I'm also a huge fan of console gaming, with a big focus on Nintendo, whose games have a level of charm that most other companies don't replicate, despite their lesser technical prowess.

A laptop running Linux Mint and showing various customization options

I tried Linux Mint as a lifelong Windows user, and the customization blew me away

A Nintendo Switch 2 console, its dock, and the Joy-Con 2 grip, all standing next to each other on a wooden table. The console is running The Legend of Zelda tears of the Kingdom

Review: The Switch 2 is the best gaming handheld you can buy, and the ultimate form of Nintendo's vision

Latest

A TV displaying the home screen in Monet launcher, with a row of pinned apps at the top, followed by a row of recently watched content, and then a list of all apps
I ditched Google's bloated launcher for Monet, and my old Android TV box feels brand new
Entertainment

Who says an old horse can't learn new tricks?

By 
A Linux laptop running Steam and an Android appp through Waydroid
Valve's Lepton could do for Android games what Proton did for Windows, but it's starting smaller
Linux

The potential is big

By 
Close-up of a Logitech MX Master 4 mouse
I ditched Logitech's official app for OpenLogi, and my MX Master 4 finally feels like my own mouse
Software and Services

Plus it works on all platforms

14
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A Windows 11 laptop running WizTree, which is displaying a graph of the largest files on the disk
This tiny free app exposed 200GB of forgotten files Windows never told me about
Software and Services

Saving space is much easier now

By 
A laptop showing the library page in ES-DE, including a preview of a game for the SNES
I stopped manually organizing my ROM files, and my retro gaming setup finally feels frictionless
Entertainment

Retro gaming has never been this easy

4
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A Windows 11 laptop running Agent Ransack and Everything
I stopped giving my files useful names, but these free apps found them anyway
Software and Services

Who has the time for proper naming conventions?

By 
A TV displaying the Super Mario Bros. 3 game for the NES
Modern TVs are too good for old consoles, and they're ruining how your favorite games look
Entertainment

It is possible to have too much of a good thing

By 
A Windows 11 laptop running UniGetUI, which is showing a list of available updates for apps installed on the computer
I replaced Windows' app updater with one tool that actually lets me manage all my apps
Software and Services

UniGetUI changes the game

3
By 
A laptop displaying the main window and the image editing tool in ShareX on Windows 11
I replaced Windows' Snipping Tool with ShareX for screenshots, but the best part is everything else it can do
ShareX

I didn't think it could be so useful

By 
A laptop showing a slideshow presentation in OnlyOffice DocSpace inside a web browser
I found a free, browser-based Microsoft Office alternative and it made me forget about the original
Software and Services

Why would I need anything else?

4
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A Synology DS925+ NAS unit on a shelf
My NAS got simpler when I stopped overthinking whether to use SMB or NFS
Networking

If it ain't broke...

11
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Top-down view of the VectoTech V-Core dock with multiple peripherals connected
VectoTech's V-Core proves you don't need to spend $500 on a Thunderbolt 5 dock
Other Hardware

An affordable alternative with all the power I need

By 
GLiNet Flint 2 2A GL.iNet Flint 2 router next to some decoration
Your speed test looks fine, but bufferbloat is why your Zoom calls still lag
internet

A single setting can fix a lot

By 
Immich in background with mini pc being held up in front of it
My family stopped using Google Photos and OneDrive after installing this container
Software and Services

It's time to stop wasting money on cloud storage

22
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A laptop showing the Cinnamon desktop on Ubuntu, including the file manager and System Settings app
I switched Ubuntu's desktop to Cinnamon for speed, but the real upgrade was how I work
Ubuntu

You can make Ubuntu much better, but it's not all about performance

3
By 
A laptop showing search results for
I ditched Google for SearXNG, and going back feels like a downgrade
Software and Services

Finally, I own my searches

By 
A laptop showing the Snipboard settings window along with the clipboard panel at the top of the screen
I replaced the Windows clipboard with Snipboard, and it fixed every problem I had with it
Windows 11: Everything you need to know

The clipboard we deserved all along

8
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A Windows 11 laptop showing the Windows Update page in the settings app
Windows has been so buggy I paused monthly updates, and now I wait for reports before installing anything
Windows 11: Everything you need to know

You can't trust them

3
By 
A laptop running Fedora KDE, showing the System settings app and the Discover store
Ubuntu's snap obsession and GNOME pushed me to Fedora, and I'm not going back
Linux

It's just a better fit

10
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A Wiondows 11 laptop displaying Task Scheduler and a Windows Terminal window running a winget upgrade command
Your Windows PC has a built-in maintenance tool that outperforms every paid optimizer on the market
Windows 11: Everything you need to know

Save your money

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