Ask Bob Rankin tag:askbobrankin.com,2012://2 2012-05-16T17:14:22Z Need tech support? Go ahead... Ask Bob Rankin about computers, viruses, spyware, search engines or almost anything about the Internet. Movable Type 3.21 Save Money on Printing Costs tag:askbobrankin.com,2012://2.3710 2012-05-16T17:12:50Z 2012-05-16T17:14:22Z Everyone complains about the high cost of home and small office printing. Paper prices are rising, and the cost of brand-name printer ink cartridges has always been outrageous. Here are some tips for slimming down your printing budget...... Bob Rankin Everyone complains about the high cost of home and small office printing. Paper prices are rising, and the cost of brand-name printer ink cartridges has always been outrageous. Here are some tips for slimming down your printing budget...

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]]> Do I Need an OUTbound Firewall? tag:askbobrankin.com,2012://2.3709 2012-05-15T15:44:01Z 2012-05-15T15:45:40Z I think I understand why I need a firewall to protect my computer from inbound threats. But a friend is telling me that I need another type of firewall software, which blocks outbound traffic as well. If I have anti-virus... Bob Rankin I think I understand why I need a firewall to protect my computer from inbound threats. But a friend is telling me that I need another type of firewall software, which blocks outbound traffic as well. If I have anti-virus software, do I really need this outbound firewall?

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]]> Do Those 'Speed Up Your PC' Programs Really Work? tag:askbobrankin.com,2012://2.3708 2012-05-14T17:27:28Z 2012-05-14T21:13:13Z I see commercials everywhere for products that promise to speed up my computer. Are they legit? If so, can you recommend any specific product?... Bob Rankin I see commercials everywhere for products that promise to speed up my computer. Are they legit? If so, can you recommend any specific product?

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]]> Hard Drive Partition Managers tag:askbobrankin.com,2012://2.3707 2012-05-11T15:10:05Z 2012-05-11T15:18:07Z Partitioning your hard drive is like putting up a digital fence, splitting your hard drive into distinct sections, each for a specific purpose. It allows you to install multiple operating systems, or just keep different types of data in their... Bob Rankin Partitioning your hard drive is like putting up a digital fence, splitting your hard drive into distinct sections, each for a specific purpose. It allows you to install multiple operating systems, or just keep different types of data in their own little containers. Here's the scoop on partition managers...

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]]> Are Prepaid Wireless Phones a Good Deal? tag:askbobrankin.com,2012://2.3706 2012-05-10T17:05:36Z 2012-05-14T17:39:17Z Verizon, AT&T and other mobile phone providers are offering pre-paid cell phone service with pay-as-you-go billing. If you like the idea of not having a long-term contract, and you don't use a cell phone all that much, a pre-paid cell... Bob Rankin Verizon, AT&T and other mobile phone providers are offering pre-paid cell phone service with pay-as-you-go billing. If you like the idea of not having a long-term contract, and you don't use a cell phone all that much, a pre-paid cell phone could be a good option. But first you'll have to sort through all the intentionally confusing plans and offers...

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]]> How to Test and Fix Your Computer Hardware tag:askbobrankin.com,2012://2.3705 2012-05-09T19:22:02Z 2012-05-09T20:01:23Z If your computer is acting strangely, and you've already ruled out a virus, it might be gremlins. But more likely, a software error is being caused by a hardware component that's flaky, damaged, or overheated. Here are some tips and... Bob Rankin If your computer is acting strangely, and you've already ruled out a virus, it might be gremlins. But more likely, a software error is being caused by a hardware component that's flaky, damaged, or overheated. Here are some tips and tools to help you diagnose and fix those annoying or intermittent computer problems that just seem to pop up for no apparent reason...

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]]> Geekly Update - 08 May 2012 tag:askbobrankin.com,2012://2.3704 2012-05-08T13:32:07Z 2012-05-09T14:09:17Z As if knowing every detail of your personal life wasn't enough, is Facebook now setting its sights on the INSIDE of your body? What happens when you mix sugar, caffeine, taco sauce and computers? And will you be curling up... Bob Rankin As if knowing every detail of your personal life wasn't enough, is Facebook now setting its sights on the INSIDE of your body? What happens when you mix sugar, caffeine, taco sauce and computers? And will you be curling up with a Wook any time soon? Get answers to these burning questions, and the scoop on the latest tech news, in this edition of the Geekly Update. It's guaranteed to make you 146% smarter, read on...

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]]> Is MBAM Enough Security? tag:askbobrankin.com,2012://2.3703 2012-05-04T20:43:18Z 2012-05-07T13:29:18Z On the advice of a friend, I've installed MalwareBytes Anti-Malware. It claims to detect and remove viruses, spyware, rootkits and other nasties. Do I still need a separate anti-virus program, or will MBAM provide all the protection I need?... Bob Rankin On the advice of a friend, I've installed MalwareBytes Anti-Malware. It claims to detect and remove viruses, spyware, rootkits and other nasties. Do I still need a separate anti-virus program, or will MBAM provide all the protection I need?

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]]> Will Microsoft Security Essentials Take Over the World? tag:askbobrankin.com,2012://2.3702 2012-05-04T16:03:33Z 2012-05-04T16:13:45Z Microsoft recently released Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) 4.0, their free antivirus software. And according to a recent market analysis, MSE is on the verge of becoming the number one antivirus product. Find out what's new in the most recent MSE... Bob Rankin Microsoft recently released Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) 4.0, their free antivirus software. And according to a recent market analysis, MSE is on the verge of becoming the number one antivirus product. Find out what's new in the most recent MSE 4.0 release, and if it's the right internet security solution for you...

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]]> Geekly Update - 03 May 2012 tag:askbobrankin.com,2012://2.3701 2012-05-03T19:09:50Z 2012-05-03T19:16:02Z Are serial killers practicing their "craft" by playing video games? Can you get a better wifi connection by standing in the middle of a busy street? And will you need a home equity loan to afford the latest innovation in... Bob Rankin Are serial killers practicing their "craft" by playing video games? Can you get a better wifi connection by standing in the middle of a busy street? And will you need a home equity loan to afford the latest innovation in light bulbs? Get answers to these burning questions, and the scoop on the latest tech news, in this edition of the Geekly Update. It's guaranteed to make you 146% smarter, read on...

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]]> Is This the Future of Laptops? tag:askbobrankin.com,2012://2.3700 2012-05-01T14:26:58Z 2012-05-01T14:28:17Z The folks at Asus seem to be onto something with their Transformer Prime tablet. When attached to its docking keyboard, the Android-based Transformer Prime looks remarkably like a slimmed-down laptop. That resemblance has some wondering if the Transformer Prime can... Bob Rankin The folks at Asus seem to be onto something with their Transformer Prime tablet. When attached to its docking keyboard, the Android-based Transformer Prime looks remarkably like a slimmed-down laptop. That resemblance has some wondering if the Transformer Prime can replace their bulky laptops. Let's take a look...

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]]> Convert VHS Tapes to DVD tag:askbobrankin.com,2012://2.3698 2012-04-30T19:17:39Z 2012-05-01T02:15:54Z Let's face it... your old VHS tapes with treasured family memories won't last forever. Even if the VCR doesn't eventually jam and eat the tape, a VHS recording uses fragile magnetic tape that degrades over time, whether you watch it... Bob Rankin Let's face it... your old VHS tapes with treasured family memories won't last forever. Even if the VCR doesn't eventually jam and eat the tape, a VHS recording uses fragile magnetic tape that degrades over time, whether you watch it or not. Don't count on those VHS tapes (or your VCR player) lasting forever -- convert your VHS tapes to DVD format today, and save those memories for posterity...

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]]> OnLive Desktop - Windows on Your Tablet? tag:askbobrankin.com,2012://2.3697 2012-04-27T17:08:30Z 2012-04-27T17:24:04Z For a service that is only four months old as of this writing, OnLive Desktop has been through a lot of changes. First, it was Windows 7 on the iPad. Next, it was a "gigabit-accelerated" Web browser. Then it was... Bob Rankin For a service that is only four months old as of this writing, OnLive Desktop has been through a lot of changes. First, it was Windows 7 on the iPad. Next, it was a "gigabit-accelerated" Web browser. Then it was a flagrant violation of Microsoft's licensing terms. Now it's an app that offers iPad and Android tablet users a PC desktop in the cloud. But how well does it really work? Let's take a look...

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]]> Geekly Update - 26 April 2012 tag:askbobrankin.com,2012://2.3696 2012-04-26T17:10:06Z 2012-04-26T17:13:43Z If your boss sends an email saying "You're Fired!", how can you tell if it's real or fake? Which job is best: software hack or lumber jack? And has IKEA finally solved the cable clutter problem? Get answers to these... Bob Rankin If your boss sends an email saying "You're Fired!", how can you tell if it's real or fake? Which job is best: software hack or lumber jack? And has IKEA finally solved the cable clutter problem? Get answers to these burning questions, and the scoop on the latest tech news, in this edition of the Geekly Update. It's guaranteed to make you 146% smarter, read on...

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]]> Google Drive: Stash Your Stuff in the Cloud? tag:askbobrankin.com,2012://2.3695 2012-04-25T17:40:31Z 2012-04-26T14:58:02Z Google launched its long-awaited cloud storage service on April 24, 2012. Dubbed Google Drive, it competes with the likes of Dropbox, Microsoft SkyDrive, and Apple's iDrive. It's also going to change the way users interact with Google Docs, Google Apps,... Bob Rankin Google launched its long-awaited cloud storage service on April 24, 2012. Dubbed Google Drive, it competes with the likes of Dropbox, Microsoft SkyDrive, and Apple's iDrive. It's also going to change the way users interact with Google Docs, Google Apps, and other Google products. Here's what you need to know about Google Drive...

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