Rick's Daily Tips

Rick’s Daily Pick: Leviton Decora Smart Switch

Posted on June 24, 2025

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

My “Pick” for today is this super-handy Leviton Decora Smart Switch.

This little gem will let you control any light fixture in your home from anywhere in the world via the included app. That means you’ll never have to come home to a dark house even if all the lights were off when you left. You can also use the app to schedule the light to come on or go off at your pre-determined times.

Important: You might need to hire an electrician (or enlist the help of a handy neighbor) in order to get this installed if you don’t have experience working with home electrical wiring.

Click here to check out the Leviton Decora Smart Switch at Amazon.

Picture of the Day: “London Eye at Night”

Posted on June 24, 2025

Today’s POTD features a nighttime view of the London Eye, the world’s most well-known (and probably the world’s most photogenic) Ferris Wheel. I hope you like it.

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Monthly Tech Giveaway – June 2025

Posted on May 31, 2025

Note: The links on this page are affiliate links.

June’s winner will receive this fantastic Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15IAU7 15.6″ Laptop.

This machine is quite inexpensive, but it’s perfect for anyone who needs a dependable laptop for Internet use.

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 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 June 30 and the winner will be notified by email. The winner will be selected at random.

Good luck!

Q&A: Will a regular 2-button mouse work with a Mac?

Posted on June 24, 2025

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Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Question from Tammy: I’ve used nothing but Windows laptops all my life but I decided to try a MacBook Air this time around.

I think I’m going to like the laptop ok but I hate the Apple Magic Mouse that I bought to go with it. I just can’t seem to get used to it. I guess I’m weird but it just doesn’t feel right in my hand.

My question is can I use a regular 2-button mouse like the ones you use with a Windows computer with it?

[Read more…]

Q&A: Is it safe (and wise) to span two hard drives to make one larger drive?

Posted on June 22, 2025

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Question from Carl: I read here that you can “span” (i.e. combine) multiple hard drives and use them as one large drive and access them all with a single drive letter.

I have a used, but working 1TB hard drive at home that I could install in my Windows 11 desktop computer to span with the 1TB drive that’s already in it to effectively give me a 2TB drive. (There is an open drive bay to install the second drive.)

Would you mind answering a question about drive spanning for me? [Read more…]