Plugged In: Linus Tech Tips Has Mastered the Cereal-Milk Ratio
What does an Internet-famous techie with over 9 million YouTube subscribers actually rely on when it comes to his own arsenal of equipment and products? A gaming console you and even an 8-year-old would love, too, of course.
Linus Sebastian, CEO of Linus Media Group and face of Linus Tech Tips shares his current obsessions, along with a few other personal gems. In fact, the same guy who knows how to double laptop battery life and all the ins and outs of an all-ROG Gaming PC is also a fan of The Princess Bride and the Broadway hit The Book of Mormon. Not to mention, Linus has some pretty stellar advice on the perfect cereal-to-milk ratio.
All this good intel, in this edition of Plugged In, below.
Milk + Honey: What products are you loving right now and why?
Linus Tech Tips:
Samsung Galaxy Note9: It’s just zero compromises. Absolutely love this thing. Who else can have\waterproof, headphone jack, expandable storage, epic battery life, wireless charging, no notch. [Ed. note: This interview took place before the July 2019 launch of the Galaxy Note10.]
My $1,000 Ruckus wireless access point: Bought it over three years ago and haven’t worried about WiFi issues at my house ever since. Best money I ever spent.
Nintendo Switch: I bought it on an impulse when I had my wisdom teeth and I’ve hardly put it down since then, logging ~140 hours on Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The underpowered hardware offends my PCMR desire for 60+FPS, but the portability makes it possible to squeeze gaming into my schedule when it would otherwise be impossible.
What’s the last thing that made you smile?
Got a message from Taran (one of my team members) asking if I can have a meeting right now. I’m in Seoul, Korea. He didn’t even notice I was gone.
What’s your theme song?
Gotta be "You and Me (But Mostly Me)" from The Book of Mormon right now. It’s not really me. I’m a team player and I’m acutely aware that I’m not capable of running this ship without the help of my wife and my world-class team. But it fits right in with the egomaniac character that I really enjoy playing on camera.
What’s the last thing you splurged on?
I bought a used Power Wheels car on Craigslist for $100 a little while ago, which I wouldn’t consider a massive splurge. But then I blew $350 on upgrades to make it faster and add a bunch of features including running lights and electronic speed control. I want to get more into electronics and right now. I’m at the “just enough to be dangerous” level of knowledge. So this has been a lot of fun.
What’s absolutely something you refuse to pay a premium for?
Clothing, food, housewares, cars, gasoline, toys. I’m actually kind of a cheapskate. I have no problem spending more for quality or for a net savings over time, but I rarely spend more than I need to achieve my goal — athletic pants are a perfect recent example. Some of my staff think I’m dumb for buying crappy $27 pairs from Walmart when Lululemon is so amazing. I think they’re dump for spending as much for a single pair of pants as I spend on several. Might as well wear out cheap junk. I’m at the gym to play the game, not look good.
What’s the best and worst comment you ever received on social?
Oh, who knows? I’ve gotten that I’m destroying the entire tech community to that I personally inspired someone to complete their degree in Comp-Sci and everything in between. I’ve kind of lost track at this point.
What’s your favorite line from a movie, book, or song?
It’s not really my favorite line, but it’s the first thing that sprang to mind when I read the question, so I’m going with it:
"My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." [The Princess Bride]
Best seemingly random advice?
Never pour the milk first. Cereal is food, so you need to FIRST decide how much you want to eat, and THEN apply udder juice accordingly.
How do you get a good night’s sleep?
I put in my earphones and listen to re-runs of shows that I’ve already seen. It’s just interesting enough that it doesn’t let my mind get hyperactive and wander, but just boring enough that it doesn't keep me awake.
What makes you happiest?
Family. 100%. My kids (and wife) are the center of my universe. My LMG family is a close second.
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