Recent Comments
Comment by KD on How Does Your Internet Speed Measure Up? (April 30, 2026 03:49 AM)
Re: speed test Have you tried Orb.net?...
Comment by Greg Brown on TurboCharge Your Internet (here's how...) (April 29, 2026 08:02 PM)
One other issue I am having is Hard drive/SSD speed. Now that we are running Gb speeds over the internet, I am running into a bottleneck. My SSD/Disk ...
Comment by Ken H on TurboCharge Your Internet (here's how...) (April 29, 2026 08:02 PM)
All fine and dandy, but I recently found out I can get Starlink for $50/month instead of the $120 I had been paying simple by going to 100GB instead o...
Comment by Jerry Friedland on Sluggish, Cluttered Computer? Here's Your Cleanup Cheat Sheet (April 28, 2026 07:35 PM)
RE: PC update programs winget upgrade --all vs. available free programs ...
Comment by Lynn on How to Trace (and Report) a Spammy Email (April 23, 2026 11:03 PM)
I often send the bad stuff to phishing@paypal.com and they respond....
Comment by John Blatt on How to Trace (and Report) a Spammy Email (April 23, 2026 06:35 PM)
I have recently started getting a LOT of emails with "ibernoticias.com" or some variation of that as part of the return address. Many, if not all, ar...
Comment by howard on How to Trace (and Report) a Spammy Email (April 23, 2026 06:19 PM)
the problem I find is that in order to report scam or a phishing email, is that one has to open it to forward it to the business involved, so they can...
Comment by Lee McIntyre on Read This Before You Call The Geek Squad (April 12, 2026 12:09 AM)
Sorry, Bob. I wrote an extensive comment praising both Best Buy's Geek Squad and ChatGPT, but I made the mistake of forgetting to enter my name and em...
Comment by Jonathan on Where Does Your Digital Footprint Lead? (April 8, 2026 12:31 PM)
I believe that Google has a similar service that is free. I don't know how in depth their search goes. Have you heard of it or used it yourself, Bob?...
Comment by chuck on Selling on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace? Watch Out for These Scams (April 2, 2026 03:40 AM)
A number of years ago when my mother-in-law was still alive she received a check from a company in Canada. She had won the Canada lottery. However she...
Personal Articles
Your Electrons Needed (and a favor...)
I love my job. Every day, I help people use computers and the Internet, answering their questions and pointing them to resources that will save them time, trouble, or money. I especially love it when readers become friends and people tell me that they're using what they've learned here to help others. It's very satisfying, but there is one favor I'd like to ask of you. Please read on...
...Doctor, My Eyes!
Hi All! Today I’m taking a break from my usual job as Translator for the Technology Impaired, to share an “eye opening” story with my AskBob readers. If you’ve noticed I haven’t been publishing as regularly as usual lately, read on to see the reason for that. I think you’ll be glad you did...
...Can You Spare a Few Electrons?
I love my job. Every day, I help people use computers and the Internet, answering their questions and pointing them to resources that will save them time, trouble, or money. I especially love it when readers become friends and people tell me that they're using what they've learned here to help others. It's very satisfying, but there is one favor I'd like to ask of you. Please read on...
...Hey, It's My (digital) Birthday!
Today I'm celebrating a birthday. It was 24 years ago, in July 1995, that The Internet Tourbus first rolled out into cyberspace. And ten years later, AskBobRankin.com was born. With thanks to awesome readers like you, I'll keep on keeping on, with my continuing guaranteed to make you better looking and 146% smarter. Read on!
...A Big Milestone + Geekly Update
Today I'm celebrating an anniversary -- 20 years of online publishing! The Internet Tourbus first rolled out into cyberspace in July 1995, and ten years later, AskBobRankin.com was born. With thanks to awesome readers like you, I'll keep on keeping on. Today's Geekly Update is an expanded version, with twenty items that are guaranteed to make you 146% smarter. Read, think and comment!
...Announcing... The Rankin File!
I've started a new website, and what better day to officially announce it than on my birthday? The Rankin File offers 'small business tech and tips' for those who run their own business. If you have a home-based business, a small business with employees, or you're even thinking about starting your own business, The Rankin File is for you! And as the name suggests, it's not just for business owners. If you're a secretary, office manager, or wannabe techie, my tips will help you score points with the boss. Read on to learn more about what you'll find in the Rankin File...
...Tourbus - The Final Bus Stop
In case you haven't heard, The Internet Tourbus is rolling up to its final stop. After 16 years of online publishing, Tourbus is one of the longest-running email newsletters. But two things have happened this year, prompting me to hit the brakes. Here's the full story...
...Who is Bob Rankin?
Every so often, people ask about my background, and how I got started with computers and the Internet. I've published bits and pieces of my bio before, but never a detailed account of my professional life. So here it is, with a few interesting personal asides...
...My Cholesterol Level is Too High!
After a routine physical, I got the news from my doctor that my cholesterol is too high. My diet is pretty healthy, and I'm not in bad shape for a 48-year-old guy. But this LDL and HDL stuff is a wakeup call for me. Clearly I need to exercise more and be aware of foods to avoid high cholesterol. So here's my 4-month plan to knock 40 or 50 points off that cholesterol number, without using any prescription drugs...
...Bonzai - It's a New Puppy!
I know I'm supposed to write about computers, the Internet and nifty gadgets, but life is more than all that electronic stuff. I'm so happy with my new puppy that I've just got to show him off...
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