The Real Price of Cheap Printers Revealed – 4/5/2024
We’ve all been there – rushing to print an important document only to discover your inkjet printer is on the fritz yet again. Whether it’s refusing to print because the cartridges aren’t full enough or leaving streaks and lines across your documents, inkjet printers are notorious for acting up precisely when you need them most. Beyond the frustration, these constant issues could be costing you more than you realize.
The Hidden and Ongoing Costs of Inkjet Printing
On the surface, inkjet printers may seem like the more affordable printer option. However, printer manufacturers make their real profits through expensive replacement ink cartridges rather than the printers themselves. The cost of a set of new cartridges is often much higher than the actual printer.
What’s more, ink dries out quickly, which means cartridges need frequent replacement, even if you aren’t a heavy printer. All those replacement cartridges add up over time. Research shows the total lifetime cost of owning an inkjet can be double or even triple the initial purchase price once you factor in ink.
Constant Clogging and Drying Issues
One of the biggest frustrations of inkjet printing is the tendency for those tiny nozzles to clog if the printer sits idle too long. This is because inkjets deposit liquid ink onto the page through micro nozzles. If not used regularly, the ink inside can dry up and cause blockages.
Even printing just a few pages weekly may not be enough use to keep ink flowing freely. The result is streaks, lines, light prints or failures to print at all – right when you need it most. How much time have you wasted troubleshooting a clogged inkjet instead of working on important projects?
Laser Printers – A Low Maintenance Alternative
Laser printers work differently by using dry toner powder and an electrostatic printing process rather than liquid ink. This eliminates the clogging issues that plague inkjets.
Additionally, lasers are designed to sit idle for extended periods without issue. You can print confidently when that looming deadline arrives, knowing your laser printer will perform flawlessly—no more delays or frustrations caused by an unreliable inkjet.
What About Color Printing?
While inkjet printers provide the benefit of color printing, the need for color for most typical home use is quite low. Most common printing tasks like documents, homework assignments, bills, and other everyday papers rarely require color.
For the occasional photo or graphic needing color, it’s often more affordable to outsource those prints to a retail store rather than pay for expensive color inkjet cartridges.
Invest in Hassle-Free Printing
If your inkjet has become more trouble than it’s worth, it may be time to make the switch to a laser printer.
Contact us today at (651) 456-8655, or visit our Contact page, and I’ll help you choose a printer designed for reliability rather than constant repairs and cartridge replacements. Say goodbye to dried-out nozzles and streaky prints with a laser that’s always ready when you need it most. The total cost of ownership will be much less over the long run.
If your trusty home PC has started showing its age, with more issues cropping up lately, you may be wondering if it’s finally time to say goodbye to your old friend. Or could some TLC in the form of repairs get it back in the game?
We are often asked to help clients make this decision. Several important factors must be considered when determining the best path forward.
How Old Is It Really?
While it may seem like you just bought it yesterday, some computers have relatively short lifespans in technological terms. If your machine is more than 10 years old, it’s likely well past its prime. Parts can become difficult to source, and repair costs may exceed the original value.
What Issues Are Cropping Up?
Minor glitches that cause annoyance but don’t hamper use, such as a stubborn virus or faulty keyboard, can often be fixed for $50 – $150. On the other hand, multiple hardware failures, a dying motherboard, or other major component replacements indicate deeper underlying issues. For problems of that magnitude, repairs may cost 50% – 75% the price of a new comparable model.
Will Parts Be Readily Available?
Specific key components may go out of production after a few years, especially with aging laptops. If it’s determined that your motherboard, screen, or other vital piece needs swapping out, there’s a good chance we won’t be able to get a replacement. This significantly increases repair costs and turnaround time, due to custom orders or used-part sourcing.
How’s the Performance Over Time?
Modern computing demands continue to grow exponentially with each passing year. If your PC has been steadily slowing down over the last 6–12 months and is struggling to run even basic tasks, it may be time for an upgrade.
What’s Your Budget Situation?
For clients on a tight budget, we’re always willing to thoroughly diagnose issues and provide affordable repair options to squeeze out a little more usability from an older machine. However, if an attractive new model is realistically within your means, an upgrade may give you several more years of smooth sailing.
Let’s Diagnose Your Situation
Rather than taking guesses, we always recommend bringing your computer for a thorough diagnosis. We can carefully assess its overall condition, identify any underlying problems, provide repair estimates, and help you weigh up the costs and benefits of fixing versus upgrading based on your unique needs and budget.
With the right solution, you’ll be back to enjoying your computer for many more years to come! Call us today at (651) 456-8655 or visit my Contact page to send me a message.
Protecting Kids in the Evolving Digital Landscape, Patrick Jensen, 3/15/2024
From online bullying to inappropriate content, the internet poses unique risks to children that didn’t exist just a decade ago. While basic safety measures such as avoiding suspicious links and keeping personal details private are still necessary, today’s kids face a more complex threat landscape that demands continuous vigilance from parents.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the top concerns and what proactive steps you can take to shield your family.
In-Game Purchases and Loot Boxes
Many popular games and apps entice kids with in-game currencies and randomized “loot boxes” that can function similarly to gambling. Children can unwittingly spend real money with just a few intuitive taps without understanding its value. While some platforms have added parental controls, enforcement remains inconsistent.
The safest approach to avoiding unexpected in-game spending is to avoid entering payment details altogether and use only gift cards with set balances for your kids’ accounts.
Filtering Across All Devices
With smartphones and tablets in the hands of even the youngest children, they now have constant internet access well beyond the home computer. It’s critical to employ consistent, comprehensive content filters across all devices your family uses, from desktops to mobiles.
Depending on your child’s age and maturity, options range from white-listing only approved websites to selectively blocking categories such as adult content, violence, or social media. While some devices have built-in parental controls, third-party solutions often provide more customization and coverage for multiple connected products in one place.
Monitoring Screen Time, Activity and Mental Well-Being
Both mobile and desktop operating systems offer parental controls to view activity reports and limit when and for how long children can use technology.
You can restrict specific apps, games, and websites, helping guide them toward age-appropriate content and healthy screen habits. Regularly reviewing activity logs ensures tools are properly configured to reflect your family’s needs and values. It also allows the prompt addressing of any concerning online behavior before it negatively impacts their well-being or development.
Educating Children About Internet Safety
Alongside tools, open communication helps kids navigate the online world safely and responsibly. Discuss appropriate ways to interact with others online and how to handle seeing upsetting content or bullying. Explain the potential dangers of oversharing personal details.
Prioritizing Safety Shouldn’t Mean Sacrificing Learning
While online threats have grown more complex, so too have the educational benefits of technology for curious young minds. With the right balance of education and protection, families can experience all the internet has to offer while ensuring their children’s well-being remains the top priority.
Contact us at (651) 456-8655 today or visit our Contact page to discuss a digital solution tailored to your household.
If you’ve noticed your home internet experience declining recently, with Netflix frequently buffering, lag in online games, or spotty Wi-Fi coverage throughout the house, it may be time for an upgrade.
Before you get frustrated with the slowdowns and dropouts, let’s evaluate if a new router could resolve these issues. A modern model designed to handle today’s bandwidth-heavy demands may be just what you need to restore fast, seamless Wi-Fi where you need it most.
Slowing Performance as the Network Grows
In the last 5–10 years, home networks have seen exponential growth in connected devices. Where households once had only a computer or two, it’s now common to have 10 or more devices simultaneously using the router for streaming media, Web browsing, online gaming, and more.
This increased bandwidth demand stresses older routers that are not designed for high-traffic networks. They have less powerful processors, less memory, and less advanced chipsets than newer models. Over time, an aging router may struggle to keep up, resulting in lagging or buffering issues.
Frequent Disconnections and Requiring Reboots
If you’ve noticed your Wi-Fi signal cutting out regularly, forcing you to reboot the router to get reconnected, this is a telltale sign that the router may be on the way out.
Outdated Wireless Standards
The Wi-Fi standards supported by routers have advanced rapidly in the last five years alone. Older models may be capable of only slower legacy standards such as 802.11b/g or 802.11n, while newer devices take full advantage of the increased speeds that standards such as 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) and 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) provide.
It also leaves you vulnerable, as older standards have known security flaws that newer protocols have addressed.
Missing Security Updates
Wireless router manufacturers typically support a device with firmware security updates for around five years after its release. But after that point, if new exploits are discovered, your older router model may no longer receive patches, leaving it open to hacks and malware.
By upgrading to a currently supported model, you can ensure the latest bug and vulnerability fixes for years to come, keeping your home network protected as threats evolve.
Feeling left behind by your ISP router?
If your current router was supplied by your internet service provider (ISP) as part of the connection package, it was likely a very basic and low-cost model selected to meet the minimum functionality requirements.
While “free” at the time, these OEM routers are often underpowered for today’s needs. An independently purchased router gives you complete control to choose a model tailored to your specific usage scenarios, such as whole-home coverage, fast speeds, or robust parental controls, ensuring you get the most out of your broadband home network.
Is it time for an upgrade?
If any of the issues above seem familiar or you want a faster, more reliable network throughout your home, an upgrade to a new, higher-performance router is well worth the investment.
Give us a call today at (651) 456-8655 or visit our Contact page, and one of our experts can recommend the right model for your needs while also handling hassle-free installation.
“What’s that password again? Wait, I changed it… Harrumph. I don’t remember!” We’ve all been there, sometimes many times a day. Password autofill on our Web browsers felt like the sun was shining on our online activity again. Sorry to tell you, but this convenience may not be entirely safe.
Most browsers will ask after you’ve entered a new password into a site or changed a password if you want it stored for you. That way, when you revisit that site, the browser can autofill the access credentials for you. It saves you the struggle of trying to keep all your passwords straight.
The problem is that some sites, including legitimate sites, can be compromised with a hidden form. You’ll never see it, but your browser will. So, it will autofill that form, and in clear, unencrypted text. This allows bad actors to capture your username and password without your knowledge.
Another risk? Irresponsible digital marketers may use hidden autofill forms to track your online activity. That’s done without your consent.
Using browser autofill with a password manager can also cause confusion, especially if your browser autofills, whereas the manager asks before filling in forms. Using both at the same time you also run the risk of duplicating passwords, which could make it difficult to track your passwords and increase the risk of security breach.
How to disable autofill
You can protect your passwords by disabling autofill on any browser you use:
On Microsoft Edge, go to Settings, then Profiles, then Passwords, and disable “Offer to save passwords.”
On Google Chrome, go to Settings, then Passwords, and disable “Offer to save passwords.”
On Firefox, open Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Logins and Passwords, and “Autofill logins and passwords.”
On Safari, from the Preferences window, select and turn off Auto-fill.
Can I keep using password managers?
A password manager, such as LastPass or 1Password, typically provides more security than browser autofill. Password managers have strong encryption algorithms to protect your login credentials, which means that even if your device is compromised, your passwords are safe.
Still, if the manager autofills your credentials, you face the same risks. Most password managers have autofill disabled by default. That’s good. Leave preemptive autofill off. You might see it called “Autofill on page load.” Keep that turned off, too.
Our advice? Use a password manager that requires you to click a box before it fills in your credentials. This action avoids your information from automatically populating a hidden form.
Securing your online activity is an ongoing challenge. Our experts can help identify ways you can protect your privacy and data online. Contact us today at (651) 456-8655 or visit our contact page.
Mobile apps let us play, teach us, give us social media or music, and more. No wonder there were more than 142 billion downloads in 2022! Going to Google or Apple’s mobile stores to find the app you want feels safe, but even these heavy hitters can’t guarantee you’re downloading something secure.
Google and Apple do their best, but they are vetting many thousands of new apps submitted monthly. The vast majority of their offerings aren’t a threat, but some malicious apps can make it through.
What do malicious app downloads do?
Apps downloaded from mobile stores are typically more secure than your Web activity. On an app, you’re within a contained system, whereas on the Web, you click through various links and visit websites which could have viruses or malware.
Still, a malicious app can infect your smartphone and cause several issues:
Ad fraud. The app runs in the background and sends ad clicks to different websites. This runs down your battery and slows your phone activity.
Data theft. If you give a malicious app permission to cross the app/data divide, it could lead to information being stolen.
Browser hacking. The app may open website browsers that put you at risk of sharing sensitive data.
Apps access all your information (SMS, camera, contacts) and take control of your device.
Keep your mobile phone safe
When looking to download a mobile app, do your research. Look at the ratings and how many downloads it has had. Application reviews can also help you verify the credibility of the app. Check the logo and the name of the creator, too. You don’t want to install something from Microsaft instead of Microsoft.
Keep your mobile device’s operating system current. Installing the manufacturer’s updates can help cut your vulnerabilities.
Also, take a moment to review the permissions for that new app. There’s no reason a calculator app needs access to your entire address book and camera. If the app asks for too much access, it can be a good idea to delete it and look for another option.
Be wary if you decide to download an app directly from a website other than the app store. This is a greater risk. Plus, know that illegally pirating software or media is a real risk for viruses.
Also, keep an eye out for common signs of a virus on your phone such as:
other apps taking longer than usual to open or install;
phone battery running down faster than normal;
your monthly data usage increasing;
your contacts receiving odd messages from you via email, text, or social media.
Worried you may have a virus on your device? We can check and see. We can also help backup your data and, if necessary, wipe a compromised phone. Call us today at (651) 456-8655 or visit our Contact page.
Deepfake Voice Scams: Don’t Fall for Them, 5/8/2023
Deepfake has gone mainstream. You’ve probably seen a movie or TV show with a character complaining about images or videos that look real. You should also be wary of deepfake voice scams.
Deepfake is a mashup of the words deep learning and fake. The technology uses artificial intelligence and machine-deep-learning algorithms. This can create convincing representations of people for special effects or silly videos, but these fake videos or images can also be more dangerous.
Malicious deepfakes spread false information or can defame or scam people. That’s what we want to talk about in more detail here: fake voice scams.
What is a “deepfake voice” scam?
This type of scam manipulates synthesized speech to convince you that someone is saying something they didn’t actually say. This increasingly common scam tricks you into providing sensitive information or sending money.
Criminals first record a voice sample from their victim. They might use speeches, TikTok or YouTube videos, podcasts, or phone conversations. Then, they turn to a tool such as ElevenLabs, Resemble, Overdub, ReadSpeaker, or Voice.ai. These platforms analyze speech patterns and create a voice mimicking the original. The bad actors can then generate a new speech that sounds like the original speaker said it. They script it, and the Ai voice says it.
Examples of deepfake scams include creating a voice that mimics a family member. They’ll script a request for help in an emergency situation. Or you might get a call from a lawyer claiming to need payment to help defend a family member.
You might also hear from a celebrity who wants you to donate to their charity. The fake voice might also ask for sensitive information, such as banking details. After all, who wouldn’t trust Liam Neeson if he called personally?
A tech support scam is another common one. The scammer creates a voice for a customer support representative from a prominent company. They request remote access to your computer to “fix” a non-existent problem. Instead, they’ll steal sensitive information, such as login credentials, or install malware.
How do I defend against deepfake scams?
This technology does a good job, and the scam can be very convincing. Be cautious of unexpected requests for personal information or money made by phone. Be especially suspicious if the request makes an emotional appeal to you to act now.
Confirm before you share sensitive data or transfer money. For example, if you’re asked to pay a lawyer to help your grandson in an accident, check in with him first. Or, if someone calls from your internet service provider, use a trusted phone number to confirm their authenticity.
We can help you combat deep-fake scams. We can install email and Web filtering, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and endpoint protection. Our IT experts can also watch networks for signs of attack and respond to minimize potential damage. Call us today at (651) 456-8655 or visit our Contact page.
Tech Tips Everyone Should Know – 4/16/2023. There are billions of computers in the world today. In fact, 286 million computers shipped globally in 2022, and that was a 16% drop! Those figures make it obvious how many of us have access to computers, yet that doesn’t mean we all know the simple shortcuts available to us. This article rounds up top tech tips that can benefit every user.
Tech Tips #1: Search Google smarter
Google is the market leader with over 85% of Web search traffic. But did you know you can search this popular online engine even easier? When you know you are looking for something on a particular site, you can narrow your search. Go to the Google search bar as normal, then, in the search box, type “site: www.website.com” (without quotes) with your search term. This refines your search.
So, if you wanted to find an article on coaching on the Forbes website, you would search “site: forbes.com and coaching.” You’ll see that all the responses you get back come from the Forbes domain.
Tech Tips #2: Undo your mistakes
We all make mistakes while working on our computers. Here are some ways to undo the common ones.
“Unsending” an email is possible in Gmail. Go to Settings and set up the Undo Send section to give yourself 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds. Then, save your changes, and you’ll have this option enabled in the future. It doesn’t technically “unsend” the email but delays sending it for a few seconds so you can stop it if need be.
You can also reopen a closed browser tab by using Ctrl+Shift+T on your PC or Command+Shift+T on your Mac. This reopens the last tab you closed. If you closed a bunch at once, you can also reopen them from your browser’s History dropdown menu.
Then, there’s Ctrl + Z for just about everything else. Pressing the control button and Z key together undoes your action in many Web browsers and operating systems. It will depend on your application and how far you can go back with this shortcut.
Tech Tips #3: Capture your screen
Some modern PC keyboards come with a “print screen” key, which you can use to get a screenshot of the desktop windows. If you want to crop that screenshot, on Windows 10, go to Start and type Snipping Tool in the Search bar. You’ll get a box you can drag to any shape over your screen.
You can also take a screenshot on a Mac by pressing Command + Shift + 4. To crop the screenshot size and shape, you’ll press Command + Shift + 5.
One more little secret
How many times do you find yourself picking up your USB cable and trying to put it in the wrong way? You can stop doing so by looking for a symbol on the cable near where you’ll plug it in. It’s only found on one side, and it’s not for decoration. The symbol should be facing you when you plug in the USB. This will get it in the first time, whether you’re plugging in a vertical or horizontal cable.
These tech tips can help you be more efficient and effective with your technology, but you may still want help in other areas. Reach out to our IT experts today. We’re here to help. Call us at (651) 456-8655 or visit our Contact page.
You drop your computer in the bathtub, or your basement home office floods and the desktop is under water. Or you spill your tea across the keyboard. If any of this happens, you can guess right away that you’ll be dealing with liquid damage. Only it’s not always that obvious. Knowing the common signs to look for can help you diagnose liquid damage in your devices.
If you are right there when your computer is exposed to liquids, unplug it immediately. Wet components can short-circuit and cause issues for your motherboard, hard drives, and more.
Still, you might not know immediately that liquid damage is to blame. You might live in an area with high humidity. Or maybe someone in the family watches Netflix while in a steamy bathroom. That’s when you look for signs that there’s moisture inside your computer.
Signs you can see yourself
Liquid spilled inside your keyboard can make keys or the trackpad stop working. Even a few liquid droplets can cause the keyboard or trackpad to start responding to your touch erratically.
You might also experience screen issues. This depends on where the liquid penetrates your laptop. Look out for:
images not displaying properly;
pixel discoloration;
a display that won’t turn on.
These are pretty obvious signs that you need to get help. You might also see some discoloration on the outside of the computer. The white or green residue is not a good sign.
Another scary indicator? The computer won’t turn on at all. That suggests that internal components are damaged, and you’ll need to take action.
Signs that repair shops can see
Most people should not be opening up computers on their own. Even if you think there might have been liquid damage, it’s safer to take the computer to a trained expert. That way, you won’t do more damage trying to see what’s wrong in the first place.
At a computer shop, the person doing the repairs will look inside for corrosion around connectors and your motherboard. They’ll be looking for that white or green residue you were hoping not to see on the exterior.
Another sign? The liquid damage indicator shows exposure to water or liquids. The indicator is a small device inside the computer that’s used by manufacturers to deny warranty coverage (despite the consumer’s protests, the laptop never got wet).
What to do with a wet computer
Unplug it. Get help. The sooner you take a liquid-damaged computer in for repair, the more likely it is to recover. Work with a professional IT repair shop to diagnose and repair your device issues. We’re here to help. Call us at (651) 456-8655 or visit our Contact page. Check out our additional laptop services HERE.
Patrick, owner of Twin Cities PC Repair, has decided to do his Flash Labor Sale yet again!!
With the cost of goods & services ever increasing, Patrick has decided it’s time he gives his customers a little break on the pocketbook… You’ll receive the same great responsive service at a discount of 25% off his normal $85/hr carry-in labor rate. This brings our labor rate down to $63.75/hr, that’s $21.25 off per hour!
Just book your device drop off anytime between 3/2/2023 – 3/23/2023 and we will automatically apply the discount to your estimate & invoice.
To book your device drop-off, simply click the button below or click HERE. For more information on our services or Flash Labor Sale, call (651) 456-8655, or visit our Contact page.
Better than the Big Box Boys – Certified Techs, Fast Turnaround: PC Computer Repair, Virus Removal – Bloomington Location – Remote Services Available
You’ve found the best place in town for responsive, reliable, friendly, and effective residential computer repair. Our expert technicians are trained on the latest techniques to solve your technology problems.
Too often, computer users get lured into the marketing of big box stores and franchise chains that care only about their bottom line! We strive to create real lasting relationships with our customers so you know you can count on us as your go-to computer shop.
Aspects of our business that set it apart from the rest:
Accurate & honest labor billing Guaranteed satisfaction or you don’t pay us Friendly, honest communication, no “geek-speak” Professional, experienced, and certified technicians Locally owned and operated
Microsoft Windows PC Computer Repair
Apple iMac and MacBook Computer Repair
Data Recovery
Viruses, Malware, Adware and Ransom-ware Removal
Cracked and Broken Laptop Screen Replacements
Open Monday through Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM & Afterhours by Appointment
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