boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Just saw an ad for a gizmo called Extra PC. The thing plugs into a USB port and is supposed to increase capacity of the computer. Any body hear of this thing. Is it worth the35 bucks price? oR is it worthless?

vbhargava Loc: San Diego

Worthless!

Sarco

Don't go anywhere near it. It is only a Linux OS, probably free, put on a cheap stick.
This has been around for years and Google has plenty of information.

Vince68 Loc: Wappingers Falls, NY

From what I understand, when it is plugged into your PC, it will overwrite the OS on your computer, and use the Linux OS via the USB flash drive. It may overwrite some files on your computer and erase some files as well. It may not allow you to access some or all of the files saved on your PC when it is plugged into the USB port of your PC.

One thing to keep in mind is that all your files may not transfer. As Xtra-PC overwrites the existing OS when plugged into your computer, it can also skip over some or all of your files. Photo software such as Lightroom, PS, ON1 Raw, Luminar, etc., that were made specifically for a PC or a MAC will not work with this Linux OS, as they were made to use with either a Windows or Apple OS. You won't be able to use versions of MS Word or Excel that you have on your PC or Mac either, you will have to use the free Libre Office software for Linux instead.

Where it may be useful to some users is on an older computer that is not upgradeable to a new OS like Windows 10 or current Mac OS, that you simply may want to keep and use to surf the web, send and receive email, watch netflix or youtube, and do video streaming. Linux also is generally a safer option when you are on the web.

The other important thing to note is that you can download most versions of Linux, such as Linux Mint for free and not pay the fee this company is charging. You can also install it on a PC as a dual boot system, where you can boot the PC either in Linux or Windows. I would avoid Xtra-PC if I were you at all costs. It is not going to simply "increase the capacity of your computer". I think you will be very disappointed if you waste your money on this "gizmo" as you called it.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Thanks all for the rapid advice. I kinda thought it sounded to good to be true.

KenwardV

What's being described is pretty malicious for a "company" to do (Xtra-PC).

Trying another OS using what is commonly called a "live" version (on a stick or CD/DVD) is quite common and harmless to your system. Just be sure you are working with a known, reputable OS distribution.

Those live versions don't touch your hard drive or change anything else abut your computer while in use.

donrosshill Loc: Delaware & Florida

All of this is good info and advise to follow. BUT, if you have an old Laptop that went funky on you and is no longer being used it may be a good way to re-open it and get some additional use out of it perhaps as a backup.
Good Luck.
Don

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I wonder how much of Linux is involved. I have two computers - the Desktop I am typing on now, and a Laptop. Both are running the Ubuntu version of Linux, but this computer runs their standard distribution plus some things, and the laptop runs a version distributed by Dell. Linux itself is quite small - so it can definitely run on a small Laptop but you can add and add to it. One of the small programs included with both Distributions allows you to make a bootable USB 'flash drive' as backup in case the system goes 'belly up' but I'm not sure if it is a complete backup of the system that made it.

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

Completely worthless!!!!