Articles Archives | First Coast Computer Services

Perplexity.AI: My new way to search

When it comes to searching for information online, the choice of search engine can significantly impact the quality and relevance of the results you receive. My decision to switch from Google to Perplexity AI was driven by several key factors that highlight the strengths of Perplexity in providing well-rounded, accurate, and comprehensive answers.

A Short Story ~ The benefits of Upgrading your Mac

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, there lived a Mac enthusiast named Max. Max had a recent model with the M1 chip, which he bought with great excitement when it was first released.

But as time passed, Max started to notice that his trusty MacBook Pro was starting to show its age. It was still a great machine, but Max couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy whenever he saw his friends and colleagues with the latest and greatest MacBooks.

Embracing Windows 11: The Benefits of Upgrading from Windows 10

Windows 10 has been a dominant operating system for years, serving as the backbone for millions of computers worldwide. However, with the advent of Windows 11, users are presented with a new opportunity to enhance their computing experience.

The Power of Voice Access

Windows 11 continues to break new ground in accessibility and user experience with its latest updates, particularly in the realm of voice access. This article delves into the new voice access features introduced in recent Windows 11 updates, highlighting how these improvements empower users with disabilities to navigate and interact with their computers more effectively.

No Thanks, I’m Just Browsing

We have all experienced a pushy salesperson. Maybe at a department store or an auto sales floor. It’s not always easy to tell them to leave you be, but you can do it. You just have to be firm. This is not necessarily so when browsing the internet. Most of us have...

Photos – From cell phone to computer

Lately I have been getting a lot of questions about the “best” way to get photos from a cell phone to a computer. There are two basic approaches; Direct Wired connection and Over the Air transfer. With the Direct Wired connection, we connect the cell phone using the...

What Do You See in the Clouds?

Many of my clients are unaware that they are storing files on the cloud. In fact, many don’t really know what the cloud is, or if they should care. Let’s start with what it is. The Cloud is a general term referring to online storage of files. These might be business...

What’s the Point of Restore Points?

Windows has for many years had a facility called Restore Points. These are a snapshot of your system, and typically created just before you make a change. Big changes like updating Windows will often create a Restore Point before it does the update. Some applications...

Should I Buy a Mac?

Many of my clients are switching over to Macintosh laptops and desktops. I often get questions about how hard it is to switch over from Windows to a Mac. The truth is that if you made the change from Windows 7 to Windows 10, you will find the change to a Mac less...

I have Anti-Virus, how did I get hacked?

Many home users and businesses have the feeling that they don’t need to worry about Cyber-Security. They don’t do things on their computer that are questionable, and they have anti-virus running on their computers. So, they feel that there is not much to worry about....

Do I Need a VPN

There are many advertisements telling us that we need a VPN to protect our data. So, what is a VPN, and why would someone need one? VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. When the first VPNs were commercialized, they allowed access to the corporate internal network...

Fool me Once…

It is a well known fact that there are “sucker lists” which contain the contact info of folks who have fallen for an online scam. These lists are sold and re-sold to wanna-be-scammers. If you have fallen victim to a scam, the chances of more scammers contacting you...

New technology this season?

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are behind us, and the holiday giving season is directly ahead. For many this means new computers, tablets, or cell phones. Now we need to address getting our important documents and files moved from an old device to the new one. It also...

Got Backups?

1 out of 10 folks I work with has a backup of any kind. That’s taking a big risk with important files. If a hard drive fails, and there are no backups, everything is lost. Last month I had the unpleasant task of telling a client that their hard drive had failed. They...

Scams, more Scams, and #$&! Scams

Just when I thought I had a handle on the fake Microsoft or Apple Phone scams… My mother who is in her 80’s told me about a phone call she had received from the “Dish Network”. The call started off with a person telling her that they were with the Dish Network, and...

Using the Snipping Tool in Windows

Did you ever wish you could capture part of a webpage or show someone something that is happening on your computer? Lots of my clients take a picture with their phone and send to me. But there is a tool built right into Windows for taking pictures of what is on your...

Office365 Subscription… Is there an alternative?

I remember when software was a lot less expensive, and if you bought it you owned it… forever. It seems like that model is being pushed aside, in favor of subscription-based software licensing. Most of the software I use on a daily basis, I do not technically “own”. I...

Do you need a color printer?

Ink cartridges are expensive, often more expensive than the printer they go into. I ask many of my clients this question: “Do you need Color?”. Most hesitate before answering, but eventually tell me that they really do not “need” color. In my home office I have two...

Remote Support ~ Who is on the other end?

With the advent of Coronavirus, many services are no longer immediately available to us. Getting help with your computer, while essential to you, does not seem to be listed on the US Government’s “Essential Services” List. This could leave you wondering what to do if...

What does it cost to update from Windows 7 to Windows 10?

Contrary to popular belief, you need not purchase a new windows 10 license, if you are updating from windows 7. So, the answer to the question is “It typically costs nothing to update to Windows 10.” All you need to do is download the Microsoft Windows 10 Update...