I use to be a Firefox user. I felt it’s more secure then Edge of Chrome and less spying that Chrome (Google) is doing. It started to have issues with certain websites so I switched to Brave
Things that I feel make Brave a better browser then any other I have used:
- Blocks ads be default.
- More secure then the other browsers.
- Brave search does not spy on you like Google. Google’s search engine is a money making machine for Google selling your search history. Brave search does not sell and their AI search is really good along with the search results. Good as Google and better than Bing. Again MS makes money on Bing
- Bookmark sync between PCs/Laptops is secure with changing key and is not tide in with a Google or MS account.
- Extensions are compatible with Chrome Extensions
- Chromium engine is compatible with anything Chrome is
I really suggest anyone who wants to browse securely and is not tracked to switch to Brave
Here is a comparison between Brave and Chrome
Currently there is a Intel i5 CPU shortage as well memory. Both DDR4 and DDR5. DDR4 they are not producing any more and DDR5 are in shortage and likely will increase in price.
Intel is starting to push the new Ultra CPU (15th gen). Issue is they are more expensive along with the new motherboards that change to the LGA1851 socket.
Microsoft latest update for Windows 11 KB5063878 is causing some SSDs to crash and fail if writing 50+ GB of data to it. Here is one of many articles regarding this.
If you don’t have the work load of transferring lots of data to the SSD then likely you are fine but if you do transfer a lot of data to the SSD at one time and your drive is getting low in space then I suggest you uninstall the update and pause for 5 weeks for updates till MS fixes this issue.
To uninstall the update click Start-Settings-Windows Update. Select Update history. Check you have it listed its installed. If so then scroll down to the bottom and select Ununstall updates. Select KB5063878 and select Uninstall. Once uninstalled need to restart. After restart go back to Windows Updates and select Pause updates and change it to 5 weeks so that it does not get reinstalled.
Since DDR5 memory is becoming the normal DDR4 is more expensive since they are not producing as much. DDR5 memory supply seems low as well.
MICROSOFT 365
Replacing Skype
By Peter Deegan • Comment about this article
In late February, Microsoft announced that Skype would be retired on May 5, 2025. What can you use instead? It’s a lot more complicated than Microsoft makes out.
Originally developed by Skype Technologies and released in 2003, Skype went through several owners before being acquired in 2011 by Microsoft. Among other things, Redmond replaced Windows Live Messenger (aka MSN Messenger) with Skype and created a new tier, Skype for Business.
The seemingly firm date is only partially true. If you’re using Skype as a stand-alone, you’ve got just over a month left. Microsoft 365 users have a bit more time for making phone calls — until March 2026.
Let’s talk about replacements for this two-decades-old product.
There’s no direct replacement for all Skype’s features for computer-to-computer connections and calls to regular phones (POTS, or Plain Old Telephone Service). There are several alternatives to the main computer-to-computer call feature of Skype, plus other options that can replace the computer-to-POTS service for cheaper overseas calls.
First, let’s look at some of the options for device-to-device communications, audio or video calls, text messaging, photo/file transfer, and possibly screen sharing.
Teams (free)
Microsoft’s recommendation to replace Skype is — wait for it — Microsoft Teams (please try to contain your surprise). But Teams free can’t call phone numbers, so it’s not a complete replacement. This is a fact that Microsoft skips over.
Teams (free) comes with Windows and is also available for Mac, Apple devices, and Android. There’s also a Web browser version, which is enough for occasional use. A Microsoft account is required for login.
Free Teams allows unlimited chat with individuals (Microsoft says “friends and family”) and group calls for up to 100 people — with a one-hour limit. Those with Microsoft 365 plans (Personal and Family) can handle groups of up to 300 participants and 30 hours.
To get started, launch Teams and look under the Chat button. Contacts are displayed, and at the bottom is the Invite to Teams option (see Figure 1) that creates a unique Web link to send to the people with whom you want to communicate.
Have 14th gen i5’s now in stock. i7’s 14th gen on BO till April
Now that Nvidia has introduced the 5000 series there seems to be a shortage of high end video cards. It may take a month or more before my suppliers have stock. 14th gen CPUs are also on a shortage
Halnor Computers will be closed between Christmas and New Years December 25th to January 1st. Store will be open January 3rd. Will be available for calls January 2nd.
I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
There are many times I receive calls or people coming in with scams. There are many types of scams used. A common one is a browser hijack that when you are going online and all of a sudden you get this large POPUP similar to this one stating its from Microsoft and they found an issue and call this number. NEVER CALL THE NUMBER! There is no standard number to call Microsoft or their support.
If you get one of these POPUPS and can’t get past it there are 2 things you can do. An easy solution but will prevent you from saving any data you are working on is to press and hold your power button on either Desktop or Laptop for at least 15 seconds till the PC powers off. This is a forced power off. After this then turn on your PC/Laptop and when you open the browser that you were using (Edge/Chrome/Firefox etc) it will ask if you want to restore previous page. Select X and don’t click yes. Then avoid that site again.
The second option is to press CTRL-ALT-DEL and select Task Manager. Depending on the OS it will look different. You want to click on the browser you are using (Microsoft Edge/Chrome/Firefox etc). Usually its at the top and then select END TASK. This will close the browser and the fake popup. Again when you open the browser again and asks if you want to restore. Don’t
Other scams are by phone. They will call you and say they are from Microsoft or they say they are from a Bank and need to remote into your PC. NEVER LET ANYONE REMOTE INTO YOUR PC unless you know the person (Such as myself). If you get these phone calls just hang up
