“A friend of mine lost thousands of dollars because of an identity theft scammer. That person was arrested, but undoing the damage has been difficult, time-consuming and expensive. Can you give me some practical tips to help defend against identity theft?”
Bob Rankin: 10 Identity Theft Protection Tips Read More »
If I had to guess the most-often used piece of software on most computers, I would have to go with the Web browser. The Internet is an integral part of most people’s computing experience these days, and the browser is the primary app for interacting with the online world. So it’s surprising to me how lax some people are about keeping their Web browsers up to date. Here’s why that’s so important, and how to get it done…
Bob Rankin: Time To Upgrade Your Browser? Read More »
I’m happy to talk about freeware. There are thousands of free programs available online. But there are only a handful that I consider essential, and I download them to every new computer. From security to web browsing, to graphics, productivity, and troubleshooting, here are seven of the most popular and useful free downloads.
Bob Rankin: Bob’s Favorite Free Software Read More »
There are many reasons you might want to locate a cell phone and track its movements. Perhaps you lost your phone and would like it back. You might be an anxious parent, a government agent, or you could be part of a group of friends who want to keep tabs during a night on the town. Whatever your reason for tracking a cell phone, there are several ways to go about doing it. Here’s the scoop on cell phone tracking…
Bob Rankin: How To Track or Locate a Cell Phone Read More »
“I’m thinking of switching to the Google Chrome browser. I like Firefox, but lately it has been unstable on my computer, and seems to get bogged down. Yesterday I had to shut it down because it was consuming 825MB of memory! My friend says Chrome is the best – what is your opinion?”
Bob Rankin: Is Chrome the Best Browser? Read More »
“I have a landline and a cell phone, so I’m thinking of dropping the landline phone in favor of VoIP phone service, to save some money. What is your opinion of VoIP, and what are the pros and cons of using it to replace a traditional landline?”
Bob Rankin: Can VoIP Replace Your Landline? Read More »
An all-in-one printer performs four classic office functions: printing, scanning, copying, and faxing. There are pros and cons to all-in-one printers, and some factors to look at when shopping for one. Here’s what you should know before buying, and a few of my top picks for your home or office…
Bob Rankin: All-In-One Printer Buying Guide Read More »
If you’re thinking about dropping your cable TV in favor of online TV and movie streaming, you should know about the Roku box, which makes it simple to bring online video to your big screen TV. Here’s a review of the latest Roku 2 models, and my take on whether it can replace your cable TV subscription…
Bob Rankin: Can Roku Replace Cable TV? Read More »
“Should I upgrade my CPU? I work with photos and videos a lot, and often wish my computer was faster. Will a CPU upgrade really help me, or are there other more important factors I should consider?
Bob Rankin: Should You Upgrade Your CPU? Read More »
“Is Magic Jack phone service for real? I’ve seen commercials for Magic Jack, a device you can plug into your computer for really cheap phone service. It sounds too good to be true… is MagicJack a scam, or does it really work?”
Bob Rankin: Is Magic Jack phone service for real? Read More »