Rick's Daily Tips

Sprint to phase out 2 year contracts and subsidized phones

Posted on August 19, 2015

Sprint has just announced that like T-Mobile and Verizon, they will stop offering two year contracts and subsidized phones by the end of this year.

After the dust has settled that will leave AT&T as the only major carrier to offer those traditional types of deals, but I expect them to follow suit and drop long-term plans and subsidized phones as well before too long.

In place of the two year contracts Sprint will be offering shorter-term “pay as you go” plans. As far as acquiring new phones is concerned, customers will have at least two options: [Read more…]

Q&A: How can I use a photo that is already on Facebook as my profile pic without losing its Likes and Comments?

Posted on August 16, 2015

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Question from Mary Jo: I have a photo in one of my Facebook photo albums that I’d like to use as my profile picture. How can I make that picture my profile pic without losing the Likes and Comments that people have left on it?

The photo in question is of my mom (who has passed on) and there are over 200 Likes and tons of wonderful Comments on it. I’d really like to make it my profile picture but ONLY if I can keep it as-is in the album. Thanks for your help.

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Review: ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 2/USB 3.1 Motherboard

Posted on August 15, 2015

As as general rule I don’t recommend replacing a perfectly good motherboard with a newer, faster model, but every now and then I run across a motherboard that offers something so great that I think an upgrade would be worthwhile.

The Sabertooth Z97 Mark 2/USB 3.1 Motherboard from ASUS meets that standard quite nicely in my opinion.

And best of all, it’s affordable – even for those of us who happen to be on a strict budget. [Read more…]

Unhappy with your Windows 10 upgrade? Here’s how to go back to Windows 7 or 8.1.

Posted on August 13, 2015

Microsoft released Windows 10 on July 29, and millions of users have taken the plunge and installed the free Windows 10 upgrade onto their Windows 7 or 8.1 PCs.

As one might expect, some folks love Windows 10 while others would prefer to go back to their old Windows version.

If you happen to be among those who wish you could ditch Windows 10 and go back to Windows 7 or 8.1, I have good news: You can! But you’ll have to act fast because you’ll only have the option to go back to your previous version of Windows for 30 days! After that you’ll be stuck with Window 10.

Follow the steps below to roll back your Windows 10 upgrade and restore your previous version of Windows: [Read more…]

Verizon customers: Be prepared to pay full price for a new phone after August 13

Posted on August 10, 2015

Many of are used to upgrading to a new mobile phone every couple of years and receiving the new phone either for free or at a greatly reduced price. But if you are a Verizon customer, that perk is about to come to an end.

The major cell carriers have traditionally offered their customers a selection of subsidized phones in exchange for having them sign on to two year contracts. If a customer subsequently canceled their contract before the two years was up, they would have to pay for the phone by coughing up a huge Early Termination Fee. [Read more…]