Refresh Computers Tech Talk

David Leavitt
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Technology
  • Updated Weekly

Audio files of our weekly radio show on WDBO where we talk about your electronic life. Help and advice are given on a range of technical issues from computers to everything internet-related.

  1. 6h ago

    Stop Overpaying For Your Next Laptop

    Send us Fan Mail The fastest way to waste money on a laptop is to shop like you’re buying a status symbol instead of a tool. We walk through a simple, real-world method for choosing the right laptop without overpaying, starting with the one question that actually matters: what are you going to do with it day to day? From there, we translate the jargon into practical guidance, including why an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 class system is the best fit for most people, and why 16GB of RAM has become the true Windows 11 sweet spot for smooth browsing, office work, school tasks, and multitasking. We also get specific about storage and upgrades, because the best deal is sometimes the computer you already own. We explain when 256GB vs 512GB SSD capacity makes sense, where old-school hard drives still shine for backups, and how “refreshing” a Windows 11 capable laptop from 2019 or newer can save you hundreds while adding years of usable life. Then we shift to one of the most underrated upgrades: monitors. We cover the connections to look for (HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C with video), why IPS screens are worth it for clarity and brightness, and how a second monitor can instantly improve productivity. Finally, we tackle practical cybersecurity: what a VPN really does, when it’s a must-have on public Wi-Fi, and what it absolutely does not protect you from. We connect the dots to common threats like phishing emails, fake antivirus notifications, and the growing wave of fake QR codes on parking signs, mailers, and menus, plus quick ways to verify URLs before you click or pay. If you find this helpful, subscribe, share the show with a friend who’s laptop shopping, and leave a review with the security question you want us to answer next. Support the show Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RefreshComputers/ Track us on X at https://x.com/RefreshStores

  2. 1d ago

    Stop Feeding The Data Center Monster

    Send us Fan Mail You can feel it happening: AI is becoming the default helper for everything from writing to repair work, and that’s exactly why we wanted to separate what’s genuinely useful from what’s just noise. Greg Rhodes sits down with Senior Technician Mike from the Refresh Computer Superstore to explain how AI actually fits into day-to-day tech troubleshooting, especially when a new device shows up with unfamiliar quirks or when a Windows 11 update quietly breaks something that worked yesterday. We talk about using AI as a faster research partner, not a magic wand, and why your experience and process still matter. Then we zoom out to the bigger questions people are asking right now. What happens when AI growth depends on massive data centers that need huge amounts of power and water for cooling? Why are some companies already talking about excess compute and shaky ROI? We dig into the economic competition angle, the infrastructure reality, and the practical impacts communities can feel, including noise and energy constraints. If you’ve been wondering why the “AI race” feels both exciting and messy, you’ll hear the clearest version of it here. From there, we bring it back to the gear and habits that help you today. We explain why a so-called gaming PC can be a strong value choice for creators and power users, what a dedicated GPU changes for performance, and how newer NPUs may matter for AI workloads. And because storms, outages, and voltage dips are real life problems in Florida, we lay out a simple backup strategy using external drives plus cloud backup (OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud), along with the surge protector and UPS setup that can save your system and your data. We finish with quick keyboard shortcuts you’ll use immediately, and a fast warning about digital ownership as physical media fades away. If this helped you think differently about AI, PCs, and protecting your files, subscribe for more, share the episode with a friend who needs a better backup plan, and leave us a review so more listeners can find Tech Talk. Support the show Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RefreshComputers/ Track us on X at https://x.com/RefreshStores

  3. Aug 23

    Reduce Robocalls By Cleaning Up Your Online Footprint

    Send us Fan Mail Your name is not just a name online anymore. A quick search can surface your home address, phone number, relatives, and other personal details on data broker and people-search sites you never agreed to join and that’s exactly the kind of information that powers robocalls, spam texts, and more targeted scams. Greg Rhodes and Refresh Computers technician Adam Littlefield break down how this data gets collected, why it gets sold in endless loops, and what you can do right now to reduce your digital footprint. We walk through practical steps for removing personal information from the internet: searching your name, email, and phone number, checking major data broker sites like Spokeo, Whitepages, and BeenVerified, and submitting opt-out and removal requests. We also share two free tools worth turning on: the national DoNotCall.gov registry to cut down legitimate telemarketing, and Google’s “Results about you” to spot when your contact info shows up in search results and request removals. From there, we shift into upgrade decisions with real-world value: Refresh Computers’ trade-in program aimed at moving people to Windows 11, plus why secure data wiping matters before you recycle or hand off a device. Then we zoom out to Apple season with iPhone 18 rumors, talk of a folding iPhone, price pressure from hardware constraints, and the big unanswered question: what’s happening with Siri and an AI overhaul. We wrap with a clear checklist for what to do before you sell, trade in, or recycle a phone so your data doesn’t go with it. Subscribe for weekly practical tech help, share this with a friend who keeps getting spam calls, and leave a review if you want more privacy and security segments like this. Support the show Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RefreshComputers/ Track us on X at https://x.com/RefreshStores

  4. Aug 22

    You Can Watch The NFL Without Paying For Cable

    Send us Fan Mail Cable is expensive, streaming prices keep creeping up, and somehow the one thing you actually want to watch live is still sports. We walk through a realistic plan for watching NFL games without a traditional cable bill, including how to combine streaming services with a simple over-the-air antenna for local channels. Along the way, we talk about what exclusivity deals mean for fans, why you do not need every subscription all season, and how short-term sign-ups can keep your sports streaming budget under control. Then we shift to the part that makes or breaks all of it: Wi-Fi. We share what we see on real homes and small businesses in Central Florida, from routers hidden in cabinets to outdated cables that silently cap your speeds. We explain why your internet provider can claim everything looks fine while your streaming still buffers, and how upgrading to the right router or a mesh Wi-Fi system can improve coverage, stability, and throughput for modern households packed with smart devices. We wrap with a simple tech tip you will use constantly: how to share your Wi-Fi password without crawling under a desk to read the tiny router sticker. iPhone users can reveal and copy the saved password, and Android users can generate a QR code that guests scan to connect instantly. Subscribe for more practical tech help, share this with a friend who complains about Wi-Fi, and leave a review with the one topic you want us to tackle next. Support the show Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RefreshComputers/ Track us on X at https://x.com/RefreshStores

  5. Aug 16

    Protection Plans That Actually Pay Off

    Send us Fan Mail A cracked screen, a fried TV after a lightning strike, a laptop that takes one hard bump in a backpack and suddenly won’t boot, these are the moments when tech becomes expensive fast. We walk through how to think about extended warranties and protection plans like a real risk calculation, not an impulse add-on at checkout. We also explain the practical difference between a manufacturer’s warranty (defects and failures) and protection that covers real life accidents like drops, spills, and everyday damage. From there, we shift into storm readiness for electronics during Florida hurricane season. We break down surge protection basics, when a whole-house surge protector makes sense, and why a UPS battery backup can save your desktop and internet gear from abrupt shutdowns and data corruption. We also hit the most important habit of all: backing up what you cannot replace, including family photos, tax files, and critical documents. Then we have some fun with smartphone power features that many people already own but don’t use. We share simple camera upgrades like portrait mode, night mode, grid lines for better framing, and burst mode for action shots. We also dig into AI photo editing, searching your gallery by people and objects, and using your phone as a scanner to create crisp PDFs. Finally, we close with a must-do safety tip: downloading offline maps in Google Maps or Apple Maps so you can still navigate when cell service drops. Subscribe for more practical tech advice, share this with a friend who always gets stuck with repairs, and leave a review with the one phone feature you want to try next. Support the show Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RefreshComputers/ Track us on X at https://x.com/RefreshStores

  6. Aug 15

    Be The Family Tech Fixer

    Send us Fan Mail One wrong click can turn you into the “family IT department” for the rest of your life, and we’ve both lived it. Greg Rhodes and Adam Littlefield lay out a calmer way to handle those panicked calls about printers, missing emails, new phones, and scary pop-ups. We focus on a simple shift: teach the person in front of you instead of just fixing the problem, so they build confidence and you get fewer repeat emergencies. We get tactical with what actually works at the keyboard: slow down your directions, ditch the jargon, use visual landmarks, and write a short step list in their own words. We also talk about reducing tech anxiety by simplifying a cluttered desktop, keeping automatic updates turned on, and knowing when it’s time to stop troubleshooting and bring in a pro. If you need quick help, we explain how our free tech support hotline works and what kinds of questions you can solve in minutes without hauling a heavy computer into the store. Then we go deep on everyday cybersecurity and scam prevention: why password reuse leads to credential stuffing, how a password manager and a strong master passphrase protect your accounts, and why two-factor authentication matters most for your email, bank, and shopping logins. We also cover the shift toward passkeys and hardware security keys, plus a practical checkup tool, Have I Been Pwned, to see whether your email appears in known data breaches. Wrap it up by adding recovery options so you don’t get locked out when you finally secure everything. Subscribe for more plain-English tech help, share this with the “family tech person,” and leave a review so more people can stay safer online. What’s the most frustrating tech support call you’ve ever gotten? Support the show Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RefreshComputers/ Track us on X at https://x.com/RefreshStores

  7. Aug 9

    How To Keep Kids From Losing Homework And Laptops

    Send us Fan Mail That back-to-school rush creates the same two kinds of problems every year: broken devices and missing files. We kick things off with a simple, real-world plan to protect student laptops, tablets, and phones before they get tossed into backpacks and hauled across campus. From padded sleeves and hard cases to screen protectors that prevent expensive bonded-screen repairs, we focus on the small purchases and setup steps that save you big money and big headaches. We also flag the timing of the Florida tax-free holiday and what typically qualifies under $1,500, so you can make smarter upgrades while it still counts. Then we get into the stuff that makes people’s stomach drop: scary “virus” pop-ups and computers that will not power on. We explain why many of these warnings are scareware scams designed to trick you into calling a fake support number, what to do first, and when it is worth bringing a system in for a check. On the data side, we talk through why a dead computer does not always mean dead files, what basic data recovery can look like, and when specialized partners like DriveSavers may be the next step. The simplest protection is still the most boring one: set up OneDrive or Google Drive now, turn on autosave, and keep a second copy of truly important work. We also zoom out to home tech that can pay you back. Smart thermostats can cut cooling costs by adapting to schedules, location, and weather, and smart plugs can reduce vampire power, but only if you avoid gimmicks and secure your network with strong passwords and a guest Wi‑Fi for smart devices. To wrap up, we share step-by-step casting tips so you can mirror from iPhone with AirPlay, cast from Android apps, or connect from Windows with Windows key + K, plus the quick fix that solves most “won’t connect” issues. Subscribe for more practical tech help, share this with a parent or student who needs it, and leave a review with the device habit that saves your household the most. Support the show Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RefreshComputers/ Track us on X at https://x.com/RefreshStores

  8. Aug 8

    You Can Make Your Computer Fast Again Without Replacing It

    Send us Fan Mail Your computer doesn’t need to be “done” just because it’s slow. We walk through the real reasons a Windows PC starts crawling, from too many startup programs to low storage space and not enough RAM, and we explain why a simple diagnostic often beats dropping $1,500+ on a replacement. If your laptop takes forever to boot, opens 15 apps you didn’t ask for, or feels like it’s choking just to launch a browser, we map out the fixes that bring speed back fast. Then we shift to smart home security, because video doorbells and security cameras are everywhere now and the choices aren’t just about price. We talk reputable options like Ring, Blink, and Nest, what “smart” alerts actually do, and the practical decisions that affect daily use: wired vs battery power, solar add-ons, cloud subscriptions priced per camera, and local storage alternatives. We also dig into privacy and security questions that matter before you connect any camera to your home network, especially if you’re considering cheap, off-brand devices. We wrap with Wi-Fi troubleshooting you can do today: running a speed test near the router and from your usual spot, rebooting the modem and router in the right order, and using a guest Wi-Fi network to isolate smart devices like cameras, doorbells, smart TVs, and plugs. If you want a faster computer, a safer camera setup, and more reliable internet for school and work, this one is packed with practical steps you can use right away. Subscribe for more Tech Talk, share this with a friend who’s fighting a slow PC or flaky Wi-Fi, and leave a review with the question you want us to tackle next. Support the show Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RefreshComputers/ Track us on X at https://x.com/RefreshStores

See All (178)

About

Audio files of our weekly radio show on WDBO where we talk about your electronic life. Help and advice are given on a range of technical issues from computers to everything internet-related.

Information

  • Creator
    David Leavitt
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    178
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Refresh Computers Tech Talk
  • Show Website
    Refresh Computers Tech Talk