Jesse Mueller There are plenty of reasons to pay for Microsoft Office, but if you don’t have any, don’t immediately buy it. Try LibreOffice first– it’s legitimately free and can do almost everything that Word, Excel and PowerPoint can. You might just save $150 (for Microsoft Office 2019) or $70/yr (for Microsoft 365). LibreOffice has been around … Read more
“How Much Internet Do I Really Need?” I help people with this question every day. Most Internet Service Providers have different prices & speeds of broadband to sell you. When it’s time to choose the right speed for your household, your ISP is the last person you should ask for advice. Why? Almost every internet … Read more
Adobe Photoshop is the well-known, professional-grade photo-editing software, but it costs $23/mo to use. Adobe Photoshop Elements is a simpler version, for person use, and usually costs $100 to buy it outright. But if you’re like me and love a $0 pricetag, check out these free photo-editing software offerings: Best Freebies GIMP is very similar … Read more
An ISP in Wales recently solved their town-wide DSL problem by locating and disconnecting a resident’s old TV. It’s an extreme example of a common problem with DSL service: DSL signal is very touchy and vulnerable to interference. And that interference can be caused by so many different things along your phonelines. If you have … Read more
For help in solving a Rubik’s Cube, there are countless YouTube videos and tutorials out there that will teach you how to solve this fiendish device. Or you can use this simple website to tell you exactly how to solve your Cube, in 25 moves or less. I’ve tried it, and it works astonishingly well. … Read more
ABCMouse was recently punished by the FTC, to the tune of $10 million. They were fined for a variety of deceptive practices, including recurring charges to customer credit cards for membership renewals that were either not disclosed or difficult to terminate. Auto-renewal traps are nothing new. ABCMouse is certainly a big name, but many other … Read more
If you are color blind or have any other vision sensitivities, check out the color filters in your computer. Most operating systems offer these built-in tools, to make your screen easier to see and use. In Windows 10, go to Start -> Settings -> Ease of Access -> Color Filters. On MacOSX, go to Apple … Read more
1TB or 2TB flash drives are not cheap! If you’ve seen an ad or an offer for a Terabyte Flash Drive for a low price ($20-30), it is a scam. While terabyte-sized flash drives are finally coming to market, they are still expensive (~$150-200). “Fake” flash drives are for sale, though, on Amazon and similar … Read more
For many years, I’ve recovered data from defunct computers for my customers. But having changed to a remote support role, this service is one of the few things I can no longer offer. So, I think it’s time I describe this process in detail, in case some of you are comfortable doing it yourself. Update … Read more
Once or twice a year*, your computer needs dusting! Their grills and cooling elements attract dust, and too many years of particulate build-up can lead to overheating and shorter lifespans. An inexpensive can of compressed air is all you need to knock loose any accumulated dirt. Here’s an example of what to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Falcon-Compressed-Disposable-Cleaning-DPSJB/dp/B0000AE67M Shoot … Read more