James's Blog
James Flynn writes monthly articles for the Sherborne Times.
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How we receive the internet and the changes to come.
Lets look at the mechanics first! More ...
Added: 15th March 2024
Email Scams Part 2
Following on from Part 1, and without trying to scare you too much, I want to talk about what actually happens when emails get hacked and what the scammers/hackers actually do when they gain access to your email address. More ...
Added: 15th February 2024
Email Scams Part 1
In today's digital age, email has become an integral part of our daily communication. However, with the convenience of email comes the risk of falling victim to various online scams. More ...
Added: 15th January 2024
Windows 10 still on top
Have you upgraded to Windows 11 or have you stayed with Windows 10? Have you bought a new computer with Windows 11 on it and downgraded it to Windows 10? Or have you upgraded and then downgraded? More ...
Added: 20th November 2023
The Hard Drive Progression
We always bang on about the option of upgrading your PC or laptop rather than buying a new one and the most productive upgrade is for the hard drive to be upgraded to an SSD (Solid State Drive). More ...
Added: 3rd October 2023
AMD Ryzen vs Intel
When I started working with Dad (Jimmy) it was all about the CPU being Intel. More ...
Added: 7th September 2023
Remote Connections
In our increasingly connected world, remote connection software has become an integral part of both our personal and professional lives. More ...
Added: 14th August 2023
Photo Stream…. End of the line.
Apple, known for its innovative products and services, has recently made a significant decision that has left many users puzzled and disappointed. More ...
Added: 6th July 2023
Screen Resolution
In the world of computing, screen resolution plays a crucial role in determining the visual quality and clarity of digital content. Whether you're using a laptop or a desktop computer, understanding screen resolutions is essential for optimizing your viewing experience. More ...
Added: 15th June 2023
Staying Protected!
I had a client pop in and asked for some advice to ensure they could protect their computer against hardware failure, cyber-attack and theft. Hence giving me the idea for this article. More ...
Added: 5th May 2023
Apple Silicon: The Future of Mac Computing
Apple's transition from Intel processors to their own custom-designed Apple Silicon has been one of the most significant developments in the tech industry. More ...
Added: 5th April 2023
Windows 8 & 8.1 end of life
As the age old saying goes, all good things must come to an end, unless it’s Windows 8 which was never very good to begin with. More ...
Added: 7th March 2023
Wi-Fi – How to make it better!
Most people describe the internet in their house as Wi-Fi. For example, the Wi-Fi has gone down or you haven’t got any Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is however more of a facility that gives wireless internet access to smartphones, computers, or other devices when they’re in range of your router. More ...
Added: 13th February 2023
Repair, Upgrade or New?
A very important topic currently is the cost of living and quite honestly this problem isn’t going to go away for the foreseeable future. As you may know I am all for reusing, recycling and repairing, but I also believe sometimes we have to accept that the time has come to upgrade or buy new. More ...
Added: 10th January 2023
CD Drives - Where have they gone?
Since I joined my father at Milborne Port Computers I have been fixing laptops and PC’s with optical drives, or as most people know them, the CD Drive. The retraction of the drive has been around for a while but suddenly it is one of the questions we are asked a lot – Where have they gone? More ...
Added: 6th January 2023
FYI – What computer equipment do I use?
I thought it was time that I explained what type of computers we use, and the reasons behind this. I often get asked “Would you use that type?”, so here goes! More ...
Added: 7th December 2022
Windows Versions - What is S mode?
Since Windows XP, Microsoft have always released a Home version and a Professional version of their operating system software. More ...
Added: 8th November 2022
Passwords, Email & Telephone Scams
Are you paying attention? There are a lot of baddies out there after your hard-earned money and it’s up to YOU to be safe and secure … nobody’s going to do it for you! More ...
Added: 14th September 2022
What to look for when buying a new computer?
In my opinion there are 3 key parts of hardware inside a computer. Processor, memory (RAM) and hard drive. More ...
Added: 4th August 2022
Dealing with tough times ahead
I certainly don’t claim to be the “Money Saving Expert” and this isn’t official advice, but more a helping hand. More ...
Added: 7th July 2022
How Old is too Old?
A question we are regularly asked is “My computer/laptop is so slow, is it too old?”, to which the answer is invariably the same … It's too old when you wake up one morning and say to yourself, “It’s time for a change!”. More ...
Added: 15th June 2022
Emails
We have been inundated with phone calls over the last month about Email Passwords, Email outage and Email Hacking. More ...
Added: 3rd May 2022
Windows 11
We were all told back in 2015 that Windows 10 would be the last version in terms of Windows updates and the future would be “Windows as a service" whatever that means? More ...
Added: 8th April 2022
MAC or PC? PC or MAC?
This is a question we are often asked… “should I get a Mac to replace my PC? My children tell me it’ll better”. Hopefully I can help you to make this momentous decision. More ...
Added: 7th March 2022
Working from home
Fully cemented into 2022 I thought I would give you some thoughts on the working from home situation. More ...
Added: 1st February 2022
Navigating the January Sales on-line.
In the good old days, the January Sales were a way for retailers to shift unsold Christmas stock: Today, retailers have discovered that they can have a ‘sale’ whenever they want, and they buy stock deliberately to be able to sell it in a ‘sale’. More ...
Added: 1st February 2022
Back Up!
I will start off from where I left you in last month’s article, “your computer is only as good as your last backup”. We last wrote about back up in October 2018 Jimmy said then “the message seems to fall on deaf ears” and not much has changed! Most people still don’t back up! More ...
Added: 6th October 2020
Ransomware…. Again!
Definition
‘A type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid. Although ransomware is usually aimed at individuals, it's only a matter of time before business is targeted as well.’ More ...
Added: 16th September 2020
New beginnings!
Hello, I’m James Flynn Jnr. James Flynn Snr. (or Jimmy as most people know him) is my father and founder of Milborne Port Computers. As you may have read in the June edition, he has now fully retired and past the reins onto me. More ...
Added: 16th September 2020
Retirement and other complications.
Well here I am, Sunday evening, early May, enjoying a G&T … BoJo has just told me I’ve got to stay in for at least the next 2 months, probably 3, and by the time you read this, it’ll probably all have changed again! More ...
Added: 16th September 2020
Housekeeping - Looking after your PC
As experts in computer software and hardware,we know how important it is to keep your PC clean and secure – and how frustrating it can be when something goes wrong! More ...
Added: 3rd March 2020
Email addresses....Free one or paid one?
Your email is just as important as any of your other IT services, so you will want to make sure you’re getting the best value for money, as well as the best possible service More ...
Added: 3rd March 2020
Usernames & Passwords: That old chestnut!
Happy New Year, and welcome to a new decade! I’m still here, and I hope you are too! More ...
Added: 2nd January 2020
Disaster Planning, recovery & business continuity
I think we’ve been here before in one guise or another, but it’s a perennial issue that I like to keep in the minds of all my clients; read on … More ...
Added: 17th December 2019
Printers.....Again!
As you’ll know from previous blogs, I hate printers! They are the bane of my life. I have wasted more hours, days and years failing to fix them than I care to think about. More ...
Added: 17th November 2019
5G Network....You'll be lucky!
So what is 5G? And will I be able to get it? More ...
Added: 2nd October 2019
Laptops for children; Laptops for students
I get asked this all the time when the screaming child demands a laptop from the non-tech savvy parent. More ...
Added: 5th September 2019
Windows 7 & iTunes End-of-Life
You may have heard recently that Microsoft have announced that support for Windows 7 will cease in January 2020, so what does this mean for you, and why? More ...
Added: 2nd August 2019
Cloud Storage and Cloud Backup
They may sound similar, and they are, but they have very different purposes. More ...
Added: 12th July 2019
The Price Comparison Game
Everyone loves a bargain and we Brits have become fanatical about getting the best possible price when shopping for holidays or insurance, TVs or washing machines. More ...
Added: 7th June 2019
Bloatware and other clutter
Bloatware has two specific meanings: Firstly, it is software that has unnecessary features that use large amounts of your computers resources and has become so unwieldy that its functionality is drowned out by its useless features. Secondly, it is a slang term for the numerous programs that are pre-installed on new PCs, many of which are limited trial versions designed to entice new users to buy or subscribe. That’s what we are going to talk about. More ...
Added: 2nd April 2019
Fake or Real Emails and how to tell the difference!
Email fraud is the intentional deception made for personal gain, or to damage another individual through sending fraudulent and misleading emails. More ...
Added: 12th February 2019
Navigating the January Sales on-line.
In the good old days, the January Sales were a way for retailers to shift unsold Christmas stock: Today, retailers have discovered that they can have a ‘sale’ whenever they want, and they buy stock deliberately to be able to sell it in a ‘sale’. More ...
Added: 4th January 2019
Cookies, T&C, Privacy Policies etc.
I’m sure that many of you think that a cookie is an American type of flour-based baked food product, and if you’re British it would be called a biscuit, and you’d be dunking it in your tea! More ...
Added: 5th December 2018
IDE, SATA & SSD disk types and what's so important.
Shall we start with a quick explanation and definition of what a hard disk is … More ...
Added: 7th November 2018
Back Up, Back Up & Back Up
I know I keep harping on about this, but the message seems to fall on deaf ears. More ...
Added: 22nd October 2018
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
We seem to have been hearing a lot about this in the news recently, but I do question if there is really “intelligence” at all, or just logical decision making based on more and more data. More ...
Added: 22nd October 2018
BYOD and the Consumerisation of IT
What! Another acronym to upset my cornflakes in the morning; what are you talking about? More ...
Added: 22nd August 2018
Phone line, broadband & internet
So this is how it works! If you live in a big city then you can have separate phone and ultra-fast broadband (FTTP) service delivered to your house (like Virgin Fibre) … as we live in the rural West Country, we can’t so I wont say any more about it! More ...
Added: 5th July 2018
R.I.P CD & DVDs, USB & SD
A long time ago, in a land far,far away...... More ...
Added: 5th June 2018
PC and Laptop screens - Size Matters
In the beginning there was the teleprinter; the results of your computing were simply displayed in printed form on a roll of paper. More ...
Added: 2nd May 2018
Operating System Updates
Since the beginning of computer time there have always been new versions, program updates and system updates. More ...
Added: 12th April 2018
Broadband Speeds
I think that we’ve been here before, but there is no harm in an update to what is one of the biggest technology complaints. More ...
Added: 20th March 2018
Phishing, Spear Phishing and related scams
There are a lot of fish in the sea despite what we’re told, and there are new ones born every day More ...
Added: 6th February 2018
Anti Virus Revisited!
Last month I was asked for some advice…“I keep getting stuff about AVG and security etc. etc. and I find it very confusing. Should I be using them and pressing their buttons?
Added: 12th January 2018
New Year, New Broom
“I’ve got the best broom I’ve ever had; its lasted years and had 4 new heads and 2 new handles! I only ever use it for a bit of light sweeping and I don’t see the point of getting a new one”. More ...
Added: 12th January 2018
The Internet of Things (IoT)
I thought it was about time we had a look at this to help you, humble reader, to better understand how it affects you in today’s world. More ...
Added: 20th November 2017
GDPR (General Data Protection Procedure)
The old Data Protection Act (1998) was designed to protect personal data stored on computers or in paper filing systems by companies or organisations. You had the right to see what information was held, request that it be corrected if wrong, require it NOT to be used for direct marketing and require that it not be used in any way that may cause distress. However, things have moved on since then and the recent data breaches by the NHS, TalkTalk, Yahoo etc. have pointed to a tightening of the regulations. More ...
Added: 12th October 2017
Wires, cables and the paperless office
Those of you of a similar age to me will remember Tomorrow’s World from the 70’s and 80’s when we were promised everything from personal robo-servants to the paperless office … That went well then! More ...
Added: 5th September 2017
Garbage In: Garbage Out!
My thanks to Wikipedia for the following … “Garbage in, garbage out (GIGO) in the field of computer science or information and communications technology refers to the fact that computers, since they operate by logical processes, will unquestioningly process flawed, even nonsensical, input data ("garbage in") and produce undesired, often nonsensical, output ("garbage out")”. More ...
Added: 2nd August 2017
Limited Storage Netbooks
Welcome to summer! Strawberries & cream, Wimbledon, country shows and holidays. Ooh, and whilst I’m away I’ll want to be able to check the weather, get my emails and generally carry on my lifestyle. More ...
Added: 5th July 2017
NHS Encryption Virus Drama
I'm sure that you've all heard by now about the NHS being attracted by an encryption virus. Well, I am not so sure that it is a targeted attack ... much more likely that an employee has opened an email supposedly from a well known supplier, bank or courier company ... this has infected the PC and that has gone on to infect the network and all other computers linked to it both inside, and outside the organisation. Unlucky ... I hope that they have a backup!! More ...
Added: 15th May 2017
Post Brexit price creep and other issues.
Back in June last year the great British public decided that we should leave the EU and it would be easy to blame everything on that; but I’m going to do just that! More ...
Added: 11th May 2017
Microsoft Office, Open Office, LibreOffice … … and there are many more!
A look at the different Office Packages that are available, that many have not heard of. The pros and the cons, and which is best for your day to day use? More ...
Added: 6th April 2017
Today's Biggest Threats...and there are many!
Here are a few, in no particular order but we are sure will affect someone everyday! More ...
Added: 20th March 2017
Banking, Shopping and Paying Online
The options for banking & shopping online have never been so vast and the payment methods ever-more complex. But while you might feel safe among the growing hordes of internet shoppers and bankers, there are still some simple steps you need to follow to protect your details and avoid ID fraud. More ...
Added: 22nd February 2017
Public Wifi and how to stay Safe
The convenience of Wi-Fi for most people is invaluable. Whether it is at home or out & about we long to get connected wirelessly as mobile data is limited in speed and an added expense. More ...
Added: 9th January 2017
Be of good cheer, it's Christmas!
I'm not going to talk about computers at all this time, I’ll just ramble on about a few things that have caught my eye recently and what is hot this Christmas. More ...
Added: 16th December 2016
Myths, Truths and Legends
A few myths, truths and legends of the computer uncovered for you. More ...
Added: 2nd November 2016
How Old is Old?
I’m not talking about you, my ageing reader, I’m talking about your computer, printer, screen or laptop! More ...
Added: 10th October 2016
But what do we actually do all day?
I've been doing this job for some years now and I am still asked what I do all day and if it is a ‘real job’! So I thought that this month I’d relate just a few of the things we have done in the last month. More ...
Added: 22nd September 2016
What's new in the world of Tech?
Where do I start? So much stuff, but not always practical or relevant to life in-and-around Sherborne...find out more More ...
Added: 4th August 2016
Repair, Upgrade or Renew?
When I first started in this business it was all about repairs and upgrades: A new screen, a new hard disk, a new fan or a new power supply. Computers then cost the earth – my first home PC with its 500mb disk, 32mb RAM and a processor from a pocket calculator cost over £1,000 – so renew was never an option. Today, computers have almost become a disposable item when they go wrong, but it's always worth considering your options. More ...
Added: 1st July 2016
Beware the Ransom-ware!
Over the past month a new scam, fraud, virus (whatever you want to call it) has cropped up. Ransom-ware is when your computer becomes infected by a piece of software that encrypts all your data (documents, pictures & music etc) and demands payment of a substantial fee to unlock your stuff. More ...
Added: 1st July 2016
It's all about the Disk!
What is a Hard Disk? What is a Solid State Drive? Read on for all you need to know about disks! More ...
Added: 15th June 2016
The Wonders of Wireless
Wireless is simply wonderful....when it works! More ...
Added: 3rd March 2016
Windows 10 or not Windows 10?
How many of you have upgraded to Windows 10? … and why? More ...
Added: 1st February 2016
Security (Part 3): Backup, Restore & Recovery
So what’s this all about? Backup is creating a copy of your important data, Restore is getting your data back if you’ve lost it and Recovery is another thing altogether; getting your system back up-and-running after a disaster. More ...
Added: 1st February 2016
Security (Part 2): Anti Virus and Internet Security
How to avoid getting your computer infected with viruses and other undesirable stuff. More ...
Added: 1st February 2016
Security (Part 1): Passwords, Email & Telephone Scams
There are a lot of baddies out there trying to get their hands on your hard earned money, and it's up to you to be safe and secure. More ...
Added: 16th November 2015
Tablets: Life without a PC or Laptop
2 years ago we moved offices from a home workshop in my converted garage to the new shop in downtown Milborne Port, my computer going with the move. More ...
Added: 1st October 2015
Email: Setup and Synchronisation (with Mobiles and Tablets)
We get asked a lot to resolve email issues, especially where the user wants to use multiple devices like a PC as well as a laptop, smartphone and tablet. More ...
Added: 1st July 2015
ISPs: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!
Well, that's probably a bit unfair! So let's have a look at what Internet Service Providers (ISPs) actually do ... More ...
Added: 1st June 2015
Printers: Love 'em and hate 'em!
Woe is me! Every time I pick up the phone and the client at the other end says "my printer's stopped working", my heart sinks. I even despise my own printer. More ...
Added: 1st May 2015
MAC or PC? PC or MAC?
A question I am often asked is "should I get a Mac to replace my PC? My children tell me it'll better". Hopefully I can help you to make this momentous decision. More ...
Added: 1st April 2015