Rick's Daily Tips

Rick’s Daily Pick: GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 (Slate AX) Portable Travel Router

Posted on July 4, 2026

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

My “Pick” for today is this fantastic GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 (Slate AX) Portable Travel Router.

Do you worry about the dangers of using public WiFi networks while you’re traveling?

Well, those dangers are very real but this small, easy to carry travel router will provide a safe and secure WiFi connection while you are on the road.

Click here to check out the GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 (Slate AX) Portable Travel Router at Amazon.

Did you miss (or want to revisit) one of my earlier picks? You might find it right here.

Picture of the Day: “Happy Independence Day, America!”

Posted on July 4, 2026

Today’s POTD features the greatest symbol of American freedom and the sacrifices it took to win it as well as the ongoing sacrifices it takes to maintain it.

To my fellow Americans I say Happy Independence Day! To our wonderful friends in other great parts of the world, I say thank you for your friendship and for your partnership in striving to make the world a better place.

Have lots of treasured photos of your own that you’d love to display in your home but you have limited wall space? A digital picture frame (#ad) is an excellent solution. Check them out!

Enjoy these Pictures of the Day? Sign up for my free Rick’s Tech Tips Newsletter and you’ll never miss one (or any of my tech tips either)!

Monthly Tech Giveaway – July 2026

Posted on June 30, 2026

Note: The links on this page are affiliate links.

July’s winner will receive a fantastic Euhomy 59QT 12 Volt Refrigerator/Cooler/Freezer.

This portable refrigerator/cooler/freezer will run off your vehicle’s cigarette lighter port. No more buying ice that’s just going to melt overnight!

All subscribers to the Standard edition of my Rick’s Tech Tips Newsletter have an equal chance to win.

Premium subscribers have two chances to win (their email addresses are added to the “pot” twice).

Not a subscriber? Just enter your email address in the sign-up form on this page.

Once subscribed you’ll be eligible to win each month’s drawing – starting with this month. Better yet, opt for a Premium subscription for double the chance to win!

The drawing for this month’s prize will be held on July 31 and the winner will be notified by email. The winner will be selected at random.

Good luck!

Q&A: Can you use two motherboards to make a computer that’s twice as fast?

Posted on July 4, 2026

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Question from Kyle: I won a storage auction and there were four identical desktop computers in there.

I hooked them up and found they all work.

I know these are old, slow machines. That got me to thinking.

Would it be possible to install the motherboards from two of these computers in a custom case and have them work together as a single computer that runs twice as fast as one of them runs? [Read more…]

Q&A: Is this email from PayPal real or am I being scammed?

Posted on July 3, 2026

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Question from Rita: I hope you can help me Rick, and I really could use a quick answer.

I received an email that appears to be from PayPal. It says a buyer has sent me $122.56 for an item that was purchased from my Etsy store.

I really need to find out whether this email is real or a fake. [Read more…]

Q&A: Does using two drives in RAID 1 eliminate the need to make backups?

Posted on July 2, 2026

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Question from Bill: I recently read an article about using hard drives or SSDs in a RAID configuration.

The article said RAID 1 copies all data to every drive in the array at the same time, essentially creating a clone of the primary drive in real time.

In the comments on the article someone suggested that using two drives in RAID 1 will automatically create a backup, eliminating the need to back up the hard drive in the usual way.

That made sense to me but then someone else commented and said that’s a really bad idea. But he didn’t explain why.

What’s your opinion on using RAID 1 to create automatic backups? Is it a good idea or not? [Read more…]