Hello, and welcome…
Rick’s Daily Tech Tips Update for Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Topics covered in this issue…
• Beware ‘S mode’ when shopping for a new Windows laptop
• How (and why) to prevent Chrome from storing your card info
• How to protect a deceased loved one’s Facebook account from hackers
• Video: Watch this amazing world record Wingsuit flight
• May’s Tech Tips Giveaway: TP-Link Deco AXE4900 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Mesh WiFi System
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Monthly Tech Giveaway….
We have a winner for April…
Congratulations to Gary M. from Warren City, Michigan for winning the Anker 521 300W Portable Power Station in April’s Tech Tips Giveaway.
May’s winner will receive a TP-Link Deco AXE4900 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Mesh WiFi System (click for details).
The prizes featured in my Monthly Tech Giveaways include a combination of the best items I have received for testing and review and brand new items provided directly by partner companies.
All winners are selected at random. All Standard subscribers have an equal chance to win. All Premium subscribers have double the chance to win (their email addresses are added to the pot twice).
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Today’s featured tech tip….
Beware ‘S mode’ when shopping for a new Windows laptop
If you’ve been shopping for a Windows laptop you’ve probably noticed all the low-cost entry-level machines that are on the market today.
What you might not know is most of the lowest priced models are running Windows 10 or Windows 11 in S mode, and while that’s fine if such a laptop meets your needs, you could end up being greatly disappointed if you buy one thinking you’ll be getting the full-blown Windows Home.
The primary advantage of running Wind0ws in S mode is it enhances the security of the system, making it less likely that a malicious app and/or malware will cause problems in the future.
The thing is, that enhanced security comes at the cost of a severely limited version of Windows.
For example, when a PC is running Windows in S mode you cannot install just any third-party programs or apps on the machine. If you can’t install it from the official Microsoft Store, you’re out of luck because Windows will simply refuse to let you install it.
There are also several serious limitations on which system settings you’ll be allowed to change as well as which options you’ll be allowed to choose.
Well, those are the most important limitations of Windows 10 or Windows 11 running in S mode.
While you do have the option to switch a Windows 10/11 S machine out of S mode and basically convert the Windows installation to Windows 10/11 Home, that switch is a one-way street.
You won’t be able to switch it back into S mode if you find that the system performs poorly while running Windows 10/11 Home (and since these tend to be low-power machines you probably will).
All of the above being said, if you just need a basic computer that will allow you to access the Internet and run a few apps you’ll install from the Microsoft Store, then Window 10/11 S should work fine for you.
It’s good to think of machines running Windows in S mode as Microsoft’s alternative to Google’s Chromebooks, with the same types of advantages and disadvantages.
Just make sure you understand what you’ll need for your new computer to do and then make your decision based upon that information.
The latest from Rick’s Daily Tips Tech Blog…
• How (and why) to prevent Chrome from storing your card info
This is an easy way to eliminate one of the Internet’s most serious security risks.
• How to protect a deceased loved one’s Facebook account from hackers
Don’t let hackers and scammers take over your deceased loved one’s account and use it for nefarious purposes.
• Click here to see today’s ‘Picture of the Day’.
Every morning I post a new photo that I find inspiring, intriguing, or just plain beautiful to look at. Jumpstart your day by checking it out.
Rick’s Daily Pick…
The incredible step-by-step visual guides at iFixit can successfully guide most anyone in the repair of their own electronics gadgets, but you’ll need a really good tech toolkit to make those repairs. And one of the best kits you can get is from…you guessed it – iFixit!
Today’s post from ‘My Daily Smile’…
Video: Watch this amazing world record Wingsuit flight
Simply breathtaking.
Tech news that caught my eye…
• Massive COMB data breach reveals info on over a billion people
• Google will monitor phone calls in real time for scam alerts
• Android is getting an AI-powered scam call detection feature
• Apple releases iOS 17.5, macOS 14.5, and other updates as new iPads launch
• Nuclear fusion edges closer to reality thanks to new tungsten reactor
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Thanks so much, and have an amazing day.
Your tech buddy,
Rick Rouse
https://www.RicksDailyTips.com