Rick's Daily Tips

Q&A: What exactly is Windows 11 S?

Posted on December 15, 2025

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Question from Sheila: I’m currently shopping for a Windows laptop and most of the cheaper ones say they come with Windows 11 S or Windows 11 in S mode.

The ads don’t really give any details about this version of Windows 11. What exactly does the “S”? I’ve never seen that before.

I really need to buy a new laptop because the one I have is getting pretty long in the tooth, but I’m confused about whether I should buy one with Windows 11 S on it or not.

What’s your opinion about this? I really like the low prices of the “S” machines but I want to know what I’ll be getting before I order one. [Read more…]

Where to find legit coupons for gadgets and electronics

Posted on December 13, 2025

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Finding legit coupons for gadgets and electronics can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. With so many websites and platforms claiming to offer discounts, it’s tough to know which ones are trustworthy.

Regular readers of my blogs and newsletters know that I prefer shopping at Amazon, and sure enough they offer coupons for many of the items sold there. A great place to start is the Amazon coupon page.

Luckily, there are reliable sources out there that can help you save money on your next tech purchase. This guide will walk you through the best places to find those legit coupons, ensuring you get the best deals without the hassle. [Read more…]

Should you optimize the Windows Registry?

Posted on December 13, 2025

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Countless articles have been written over the years on the topic of optimizing PCs that run Microsoft Windows in order to make them run faster.

Many of those articles offer a number of good tips, but they almost always include one that I don’t recommend: Optimizing the Windows Registry.

[Read more…]

Q&A: What does it mean to ‘jailbreak’ an iPhone? (and should I do it?)

Posted on December 12, 2025

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Question from Barbara: Can you explain what it means to “jailbreak” an iPhone in terms a six year old can understand?

I read something about that the other day and it went right over my head.

Is this something that I should do? [Read more…]

Don’t want to pay big bucks for Photoshop? Try this awesome free virtual clone

Posted on December 12, 2025

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I used either Photoshop or Photoshop Elements as my go-to image editing app for many years, and I’ll admit they are amazingly powerful. But I eventually realized there are two major drawbacks to using them:

1 – As you can see right here, they are expensive.

2 – You can only install one licensed copy on two computers at one time.

There really isn’t anything you can do about #1. Neither edition of Photoshop is cheap, and that’s just the way it is. [Read more…]