Computer Tips Archives - Rick's Daily Tips

5 tips for keeping your web browser running fast and secure

Posted on March 5, 2025

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These days most home computers are used primarily to visit websites and perform other Internet-related tasks such as checking email and shopping online.

Truth be told, a web browser is the only program that many users ever open in the Internet age.

If you depend on your favorite browser as much as I do, here are a few things you can do to keep it working fast and protect your online accounts from hackers: [Read more…]

How to send postal mail right from your computer or mobile device

Posted on March 3, 2025

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The other day I read an interesting story about a local charity that uses an Internet service called LetterStream to produce and send fund-raising letters and postcards to their mailing list via postal mail.

They also use the same website to mail physical “Thank You” postcards to everyone who makes a donation.

In my opinion that’s a lot more personal (and effective) than thanking the donors via email. [Read more…]

Why the ‘Nifty Fifty’ is my favorite camera lens

Posted on March 2, 2025

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

If you buy a DSLR camera kit (camera + lens) these days, chances are the lens will be some type of inexpensive zoom lens.

Most “kit lenses” tend to be 18-55mm zooms, but the focal length ranges can vary a bit.

There was a time when most SLR cameras came bundled with a Nifty Fifty lens instead of a zoom lens, but that changed about the time that digital SLRs began to take over the market.

[Read more…]

How to quickly select everything in a document at once

Posted on February 26, 2025

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Have you ever needed to select all the text and images on a web page or other document at the same time?

How about all the cells in spreadsheet or all the data contained in an input box?

Well, there are several ways to select everything at once, but the fastest and simplest way on a Windows PC is to use the handy keyboard shortcut Ctrl+A.

If you have a Mac just press Command+A.

[Read more…]

How to use a wired Ethernet connection with a newer MacBook

Posted on February 24, 2025

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These days wireless Wi-Fi connections are the norm, but there are still situations in which we need to connect our computers to a router with a wired Ethernet connection.

In fact, just last month three different people asked me how they can connect a recent MacBook Pro or MacBook Air that doesn’t have an RJ-45 Ethernet connector to their router via an Ethernet cable.

It can be certainly be done, and it’s actually quite easy to do… [Read more…]