Preface
The weather is finally starting to warm up little by little — how have you all been doing? When I was living in Manhattan, I mainly played tennis indoors. However, since moving to New Jersey, I’ve had more opportunities to play tennis outdoors, so I’m always happy when the weather stays nice.
Now, let’s dive into this month’s noteworthy topic!
News
Trump Gold Card
At a press conference on February 25, former President Donald Trump announced the launch of the Trump Gold Card, aimed at foreign nationals who wish to immigrate to and invest in the United States.
It is said that those who purchase the Trump Gold Card will be granted rights similar to those of a Green Card, which provides permanent residency status in the U.S.
Interestingly, not only individuals but also companies can purchase the card. However, it remains to be seen how this will differ from the existing employment-based Green Card sponsorship system.
The price is reportedly $5 million, so for wealthy individuals seeking permanent residency — and eventually U.S. citizenship — this may be something worth considering.
End of Skype Service
It has been announced that Skype, a service that has been loved for many years, will be discontinued in May 2025.
As someone living overseas, I often used Skype credits to make calls to landlines and mobile phones in Japan whenever I visited home, so now I’ll need to consider an alternative service.
Microsoft has recommended switching to Microsoft Teams for phone calls, but since it operates on a monthly subscription plan, it seems less convenient compared to Skype’s pay-as-you-go model.
After doing some quick research, Google Voice appears to offer a similar user experience to Skype, so I may consider switching to Google Voice if the need arises.
Replacing My Non-Windows 11 Compatible PC
The support for Windows 10 is set to end on October 14, 2025.
After the support ends, security updates, technical support, and both free and paid support services will no longer be provided.
I purchased a Dell laptop back in 2015 and have continued using it since then. However, as it has now been 10 years, my current laptop is not compatible with Windows 11, making it necessary for me to purchase a new one.
Although the average lifespan of a laptop is said to be around 3 to 5 years, I was able to use my previous device for over 10 years thanks to choosing an SSD (Solid State Drive) instead of an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).
Unlike HDDs, SSDs generate less heat, are more resistant to shock, and have a longer lifespan, which contributed greatly to the longevity of my laptop. Although SSDs were more expensive at the time of purchase, it turned out to be a great investment considering the number of years I used it.
For my new laptop, I’m also hoping it will last another 10 years, so I specifically chose one with SSD storage again.
When deciding on a new laptop, aside from memory size and the presence of a graphics card, the key factors I focused on were:
- AI-ready specifications to meet future processing demands.
- Compatibility with a docking station for seamless switching between work and personal use.
Since I had a positive experience with my previous Dell laptop, I decided once again to go with Dell.
For AI-ready specifications, I opted for a laptop with an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, as it can handle high-level processing tasks that may become necessary in the future.
Additionally, Thunderbolt 4 support was essential since I plan to connect the laptop to a docking station.
Given my hybrid work style — alternating between remote work and office work — I set up my docking station so that I can easily switch between my work PC and personal PC with one button.
This setup has greatly improved my efficiency, and I’m hoping this new laptop will serve me well for another decade.
Microsoft Releases Ad-Supported Office for Testing
Microsoft has introduced a test version of its ad-supported, free Office suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, exclusively for Windows users.
Although there are some limitations, such as the inability to save files locally, this could still be great news for those who do not own Office licenses!
Pick-up
I will be taking a break this month.
Gadget/Lifehacks
I will be taking a break this month.
Personal Finance
Over the past month, the market has generally declined, which has affected my individual stock holdings as well, forcing me to make a sudden decision to cut my losses.
- FUNC: (15.87)%
- SE: (8.32)%
Unless there are exceptionally promising individual stocks, my current strategy is to increase my cash position until the market stabilizes.
Below are the stocks I currently hold:
Shop/Restaurant
I will be taking a break this month.
Postscript
This update turned out to be a bit short, but I hope you all enjoyed it!
I’m glad that I’ve managed to keep up with my monthly updates without giving up after just a few days.
Personally, I’m really looking forward to warmer weather so I can enjoy cherry blossom viewing and playing tennis — I can’t wait for April to arrive!
Until then, let’s all stay healthy and be careful to avoid any injuries.
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