Recent Comments
Comment by Russ Baldwin on 9 Good Reasons to Try Dual Monitors (July 9, 2025 05:15 AM)
At work, I have 2 w-i-d-e screen monitors and for what I use andhave opened, it works great! At home, I used to use a 27” Asus, and my 17 laptop. W...
Comment by Doug Richards on 9 Good Reasons to Try Dual Monitors (July 9, 2025 12:36 AM)
I use a 6'8" x 2' door as my desktop so in 2023 I was able to move from 2 26" monitors to 2 32" ViewSonic VX3276-2K-MHD that I bought from ViewSonic a...
Comment by RandiO on 9 Good Reasons to Try Dual Monitors (July 8, 2025 09:40 PM)
Dual 27" monitors is what I find to be my happy place. For video performance, I was even willing go spendy and add a large-memory graphics card. The ...
Comment by bb on 9 Good Reasons to Try Dual Monitors (July 8, 2025 08:49 PM)
For me, two wasn't enough - I have three (3!) side-by-side-by side 24" HD monitors. As Bob says above, it did require a video card in my desktop; buil...
Comment by Dan on 9 Good Reasons to Try Dual Monitors (July 8, 2025 08:14 PM)
I write, read Kindle books, research the interwebs, and do IT work on my home tower setup. With degraded vision, I rely on my dual monitors: a 32" Rok...
Comment by chris on How to Choose a Desktop Computer Monitor (June 30, 2025 02:46 AM)
Hello Bob. Interesting about the various options. I'm a retiree with not much cash to splash. I just bought an as new Panasonic 32" TV for $50 from my...
Comment by Wilfred Comeau on How to Choose a Desktop Computer Monitor (June 27, 2025 04:24 AM)
Thank you Bob. You have put together very importent Information that I was not aware of, and I'm sure others as well. Thank You. Wilf...
Comment by RandiO on How to Choose a Desktop Computer Monitor (June 20, 2025 11:43 PM)
I had two matching (same model) 27" monitors for the last 4 years, and thought I was due for a replacement, single 40" big monitor (LCD). What a big...
Comment by Pat on Here's How Creepy Marketers Capture Your Email Address (June 20, 2025 01:12 AM)
I have this happening all the time if I commence to fill out a form even though I don't submit. I do use a duckduckgo email which blocks trackers to ...
Comment by Charles Kirk on How to Choose a Desktop Computer Monitor (June 18, 2025 05:51 PM)
A monitor is valueless without a keyboard and a computer of some sort. Some advice on these would be welcome, particularly an advice on a complete pa...
9 Good Reasons to Try Dual Monitors
An AskBob reader says: “I am considering upgrading to dual monitors because my 17-inch monitor seems to be shrinking. Sometimes it seems like I spend more time scrolling and tabbing between programs than on actual work. But still not sure... should I upgrade to a big 30-inch monitor, or go with a dual monitor setup?” Here's my advice on dual monitor upgrades...
Posted by Bob Rankin on July 08, 2025 | Category: Video
How to Choose a Desktop Computer Monitor
When it comes to buying the best desktop computer monitor, it's important to consider your specific needs and preferences. With so many options available in the market, finding the perfect monitor can be overwhelming. However, by understanding your requirements and doing some research, you can make an informed decision. Read on for my tips and advice...
Posted by Bob Rankin on June 17, 2025 | Category: Hardware
Turbocharge Your Browser (Chrome and Edge tips)
Google's Chrome browser is the most popular, with a dominant worldwide market share. Perhaps you've been using it for years, but there's always a new trick to discover. And now that Microsoft Edge is built on the same Chromium codebase, they look and work much the same. Read on to learn about some awesome, advanced, and semi-secret features of Chrome, Edge (and other Chromium-based browsers) that can make them even more useful...
Posted by Bob Rankin on June 04, 2025 | Category: Browsers
Geekly Update - 29 May 2025
Have robots figured out how to reproduce themselves? Do AI chatbots respond to threats of violence against them? And will high-tech contact lenses enable you to see with your eyes closed? Get answers in today's Geekly Update... it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and comment!
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 29, 2025 | Category: Tech-News
Your Next Printer: Laser, Inkjet or All-In-One?
Are you looking for a new printer? You might be wondering if you should you look for an inkjet printer or a laser printer. Or how about a basic printer versus an all-in-one (AIO) printer, scanner, copier, fax, and toaster? The choice -- inkjet vs. laser, and dedicated printer vs. all-in-one -- depends on what you print and how often you print it. I'll also touch on wired versus wireless printers. Here's a look at the tradeoffs, and factors to consider when buying a printer...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 27, 2025 | Category: Printing
Low Battery? Extend Your Laptop's Battery Life
Laptop users dread seeing "Your battery is running low. You might want to plug in." We take electrical outlets for granted; they're everywhere -- until they're not. If you forget your laptop's charger at home, or get stuck far from a power outlet (quite common if you use your laptop in a coffee shop, airport, plane, train or car) follow these tips to maximize battery life of your PC or Mac laptop. Read on...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 22, 2025 | Category: Laptops
Build Your Own PC? (my advice)
Personal computers may seem like complex machines. But under the hood, they basically consist of modules that plug together. You CAN build your own computer without a soldering iron or a degree in electrical engineering. But SHOULD YOU build your own PC? Read on for my tips and advice...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 19, 2025 | Category: Hardware
Will a Memory Optimizer Speed Up Your Computer?
An AskBob reader says “My computer is getting bogged down lately, especially when I have more than one program open. And the other day I got a 'low memory' warning. I've been looking into memory optimizers for Windows, but there are widely varying views as to how effective they really are. What is your opinion?” Read on for my take on memory boosters and memory optimizers, and why a shortage of available RAM memory might be a GOOD thing...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 13, 2025 | Category: Memory
Update Your Drivers? Here's my advice...
One common question from AskBob readers is “Do I need to update my device drivers?” They mention popups appearing on their screen, with warnings like 'Your drivers are out of date.' Some are getting emails or even phone calls to that effect. Some users upgrading to Windows 11 have experienced driver issues. Here's the scoop on device drivers, what they are, what they do, when (and when not) to update them...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 12, 2025 | Category: Software
Does a Firewall Give Extra Security?
A curious and perceptive AskBob reader says: “I understand why I need a firewall to protect my computer from inbound threats. But a friend is telling me I need another type of firewall, which blocks outbound traffic as well. If I have good anti-virus software, do I really need this outbound firewall?” Good question, here’s my take on outbound firewalls...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 05, 2025 | Category: Security
Does Your Computer Need an Oil Change?
A savvy AskBob reader says: “I know I need to clean and optimize my hard drive every once in a while. But are there any other regular PC maintenance tasks you recommend doing on a regular basis?” Well, yes! Here are more than ten free programs you can use to clean up and tune up your Windows computer...
Posted by Bob Rankin on April 28, 2025 | Category: Software
ZAP Your WiFi Intruders!
Is your wireless Internet (WiFi) connection being borrowed or hijacked by a stranger? If your home WiFi connection is sometimes mysteriously slow, it might be that a neighbor, stranger (or a malicious hacker) has tapped into your wifi. It happened to me! Read on to learn how to bust bandwidth bandits, and give digital leeches the boot...
Posted by Bob Rankin on April 23, 2025 | Category: Wireless
Forgot Your Windows Password? Do This Now...
So, you forgot your login password for Windows 10 or Windows 11? Or maybe you 'inherited' a Windows computer and you can't log in. There's hope, but resetting a forgotten password for a Windows 10 or 11 PC can be complicated by several factors. In this article, I’ll show you how to create a Password Reset disk as a preventive measure, and also how to reset your password if you don’t have the disk. Let's dig in...
Posted by Bob Rankin on April 08, 2025 | Category: Windows
Erase Your Hard Drive - The Nuclear Option?
How important is it to completely delete ALL data from a hard drive before disposing of it? Savvy users understand that deleting a file doesn't really make it go away. And even formatting a hard drive doesn't guarantee that your files are unreadable. So how can you be certain that every bit of your data is gone before selling, donating or disposing of your hard drive? Here's some good news on that front...
Posted by Bob Rankin on April 04, 2025 | Category: Hard-Drives
Geekly Update - 03 April 2025
Are creepy marketers salivating at the chance to buy your DNA? Has Microsoft finally killed off the Blue Screen of Death? Is that text about your unpaid tolls legit? And what should you do if an AI chatbot falsely accuses you of murder? Get answers in today's Geekly Update... it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and comment!
Posted by Bob Rankin on April 03, 2025 | Category: Tech-News