Bob's Computer Service

10/16/2026

This Week in Tech History

The First Commercial Cell Phone Call: October 13, 1983

On this day in 1983, history was made when the very first commercial cell phone call was placed on a Motorola DynaTAC 8000X. Weighing nearly 2 pounds, costing almost $4,000 (that’s over $11,000 today), and offering just 30 minutes of talk time before needing a recharge—it was hardly convenient. However, it marked the beginning of something revolutionary.

The road to this moment wasn’t easy. Motorola engineer Martin Cooper had placed the world’s first mobile call a decade earlier in 1973 as a proof of concept. It took another ten years of development, FCC approval, and network building before the public could actually use mobile phones.

That first commercial call marked the beginning of a new era. What started as a bulky status symbol for the wealthy has since evolved into pocket-sized supercomputers we now rely on for everything, calls, texts, email, banking, navigation, and even running businesses.
Think about it: without that first step, we wouldn’t have smartphones, mobile apps, or the ability to work from anywhere. It’s a perfect example of how tech innovations start clunky and expensive but pave the way for everyday essentials.

Do you remember your first cell phone? Was it a brick, a flip, or something in between?

10/15/2026

It's Troubleshooting Thursday! Your WiFi shows connected, but pages won't load, video keeps buffering, or the connection drops every few minutes. Sound familiar?

This is one of the most common complaints we hear, and the fix is often simpler than you'd expect. Start by restarting your router and modem, unplug both for 30 seconds, then plug the modem in first and wait before powering the router back on. Also check how far you are from the router, since walls and distance can quietly kill a signal.

If the drops keep happening after a restart, your router may be overloaded, using a congested channel, or simply getting old. A professional can take a closer look and get things running reliably again.

10/14/2026

Enfield, CT: Sometimes the Smallest Tech Problems Have the Biggest Impact.

Over the years, I've had the pleasure of helping homeowners and small businesses throughout Enfield, Connecticut. And if there's one thing I've learned, it's that computer problems rarely happen at a convenient time.

Recently, I helped an Enfield resident near Elm Street whose printer suddenly stopped working over the network. The printer wasn't broken. Their internet provider had updated their router, leaving the computer and printer connected to different networks. Once everything was properly connected again, printing and scanning were back to normal.

On another visit, this time to a business along Route 5, I helped secure an email account that had been compromised after someone clicked a link to a document. That required a much different approach, including reviewing account activity, checking for hidden email rules, and making sure the computer and account were secure.

Two very different problems, but both remind me that technology issues aren't always what they seem.

I've put together a page highlighting these experiences, along with some information about the computer repair and IT support I provide throughout Enfield.

And for those wondering, yes, I travel to Enfield regularly, and there's no additional travel charge!

If you live or work in Enfield, I hope you'll find this worth a read

https://www.bobscomputerrepairs.com/computer-repair-enfield-ct/

10/14/2026

Word Wednesday! If you share documents with a coworker, a client, or a family member, Track Changes in Microsoft Word is a feature worth knowing. Turn it on under the Review tab, and Word will automatically highlight every addition, deletion, and edit so nothing gets lost or overwritten without anyone noticing.

Each person's edits show up in a different color, and you can accept or reject changes one at a time or all at once. It takes the guesswork out of collaborative editing and keeps everyone on the same page.

Give it a try! It's a lot easier than emailing back and forth and hoping you're both working from the right version!

10/12/2026

Your Computer Still Works. But what is it really costing your business?
I hear it all the time from business owners.

"We've been using that computer for years. It still works fine."
And sometimes, they're absolutely right.

But what about the employee who loses ten minutes every morning waiting for a slow computer? The printer that needs to be restarted three times a week? Or the backup system everyone assumes is protecting their business?

Those little frustrations become so familiar that nobody even thinks to mention them anymore.

Until one day, something stops working.

Suddenly, what seemed like a small inconvenience becomes an expensive emergency, and everyone is scrambling to get back to work.

At Bob's Computer Service, I don't believe in replacing technology just because something newer comes along. I believe in making sure what you already have is working for you, not against you.

Sometimes the best recommendation I can make is to leave something exactly as it is.

The goal isn't to spend more money. It's to avoid unnecessary spending when something goes wrong.

I wrote this week's article for business owners who haven't taken a close look at their technology in a while.

Because "if it isn't broken, don't fix it" is good advice.
Just make sure you know it isn't broken.

If it still works, why change it? How aging business technology quietly costs small businesses time, security, and money, and when to leave it alone.

10/11/2026

You stop at a coffee shop, connect to the free Wi-Fi, and check your email or log into a work account while you wait for your order. It feels completely harmless, but public Wi-Fi networks are one of the easiest places for criminals to intercept your information.

On an open network, attackers can position themselves between your device and the router and quietly capture login credentials, passwords, and financial data all without you ever knowing. Some even set up fake hotspots with names that look identical to the real café or hotel network, tricking you into connecting.

If you are on public Wi-Fi, avoid logging into email, banking, or any work accounts. Use your phone's hotspot instead when possible, and always make sure two-factor authentication is turned on for your important accounts. A few small habits go a long way toward keeping your information safe.

10/10/2026

You click into a login box or a checkout form, and your browser fills everything in automatically: username, password, credit card, address. It feels like a great convenience, and most of the time it is.

But many people don't realize how much their browser quietly stores, or that anyone who sits down at an unlocked computer can access those saved passwords with a few clicks. Autofill data is also a prime target if your device is ever lost, stolen, or infected with malware.

The practical steps are simple: review what your browser has saved by going into Settings and looking for Passwords or Autofill. Remove anything sensitive you don't need stored, and make sure your computer requires a password to log in. A password manager is a much safer place to store login credentials than your browser.

If you have questions about securing your accounts or devices, Bob is happy to help.

10/09/2026

This Week in Tech History

Google Acquires YouTube: October 9, 2006

In 2006, Google made a bold move that would change the way we experience video forever: it acquired YouTube for $1.65 billion. At the time, many thought the price was crazy—after all, YouTube was just a year old and still struggling with copyright issues and server costs. But Google saw the future.

What led up to it? YouTube had quickly become the go-to platform for watching and sharing short, user-generated videos. From funny clips and music mashups to early viral hits like “Charlie Bit My Finger,” YouTube proved people didn’t just want to consume media—they tried to create it too.
The impact? Massive. Today, YouTube is the world’s second-largest search engine, home to everything from tutorials and tech reviews to livestreams and documentaries. It gave rise to a whole new career—the YouTuber—and changed entertainment, advertising, education, and even politics. Whether you’re fixing a computer, learning a new skill, or simply looking for a laugh, YouTube is an integral part of daily life.

Google’s gamble turned out to be one of the most innovative acquisitions in tech history, reshaping the digital world into the video-first landscape we know today.

Did you know? The first video ever uploaded to YouTube was “Me at the zoo” in April 2005, and it remains online today.

10/08/2026

It's Troubleshooting Thursday! You press the power button and... nothing. No lights, no fan, no sound. Before you assume the worst, there are a few simple things worth checking first.

Start with the basics: make sure the power cable is firmly seated at both ends, and test the outlet with another device to confirm it's actually working. If it's a laptop, plug in the charger and look for a charging indicator light. You'd be surprised how often the fix is that straightforward.

If none of that helps, a connected USB device or peripheral can sometimes block a computer from starting up entirely. Try unplugging everything except the power cord and attempt a restart. Still nothing? That's when it's time to call in some help.

10/07/2026

Word Wednesday! Here's a tip that can save you a surprising amount of time in Microsoft Word: Find and Replace. If you've ever needed to swap out a word, name, or phrase that appears a dozen times throughout a document, you don't have to hunt for each one manually.

Just press Ctrl + H to open the Find and Replace dialog, type what you want to change and what you want to replace it with, and let Word do the work in seconds. It works for single words, full phrases, and even formatting in some cases.

Give it a try next time you catch a repeated typo or need to update a name across a long document it's one of those features you'll wonder how you lived without. If you have questions about Word or any other Microsoft 365 tool, we're always happy to help!