Bob's Computer Service

Bob's Computer Service I help local businesses and organizations solve computer and technology problems so that you can focus on growing your business Need help onsite or remote?

Bob’s Computer Service, we don’t speak geek—unless you want us to. Since 2008, we’ve been the go-to mobile IT partner for homes and small businesses across Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut. Whether it’s a slow laptop, a misbehaving network, or just a weird popup that won’t go away, we’ve got it covered—without the tech talk headache. We specialize in proactive computer maintenance, r

emote monitoring, managed antivirus, custom-built PCs, business-grade networking, and classic hands-on repairs. We’re available Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm—because tech problems don’t adhere to a schedule, but we make sure they don’t last long. From tune-ups to total overhauls, our services are designed to keep your tech running fast, safe, and stress-free. We’re one of the only managed service providers in the area that offers plans even homeowners can afford. Think of us as your personal IT department—without the corporate price tag. So, whether you’re running a business or just trying to print something for once, let Bob’s Computer Service handle the tech so you can handle everything else. Reliable. Local. Slightly obsessed with fixing your tech.

It can start with a Facebook ad, a friendly message, a fake investment group, or a deal that looks too good to pass up.S...
06/01/2026

It can start with a Facebook ad, a friendly message, a fake investment group, or a deal that looks too good to pass up.

Social media scams are no longer sloppy or obvious. Many of them now look professional, personal, and believable. Scammers are using fake business pages, hacked accounts, AI generated content, and targeted ads to trick everyday people into sending money, clicking links, or trusting the wrong person.

Americans reportedly lost $2.1 billion to social media scams in 2025, and many of these scams started on platforms people use every day like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

The best protection is not fear. It is awareness.

Before you click, buy, invest, or respond, slow down and verify what you are seeing. A few extra minutes can protect your money, your identity, and your family.
Read the full article to learn what scams are most common right now and how to protect yourself.

Yes, restarting your computer really does still fix things.It sounds too simple, but there is a reason IT people ask you...
05/31/2026

Yes, restarting your computer really does still fix things.

It sounds too simple, but there is a reason IT people ask you to restart first.

Your computer is constantly opening programs, running updates, syncing files, loading browser tabs, checking email, and keeping background services running. Over time, something can get stuck.

A restart gives Windows a clean start.
It can:
Close frozen background processes
Finish updates that are waiting
Clear temporary memory issues
Reconnect services that stopped working
Fix strange printer, internet, or Outlook problems

That does not mean restarting fixes everything. If the same issue keeps coming back, there is probably a bigger problem that needs to be checked.

But for the occasional weird issue, a restart is still one of the fastest and easiest first steps.

Think of it like letting your computer take a deep breath.
Sometimes that is all it needs.

This Week in Tech History In May 1972, the world got its first glimpse of the Magnavox Odyssey, the very first home vide...
05/29/2026

This Week in Tech History

In May 1972, the world got its first glimpse of the Magnavox Odyssey, the very first home video game console. Long before Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo ruled living rooms, the Odyssey showed people that you could bring interactive entertainment right into your home.
What made it groundbreaking? Instead of big arcade cabinets, this console hooked up to an ordinary TV. It came with plastic screen overlays (yes, you had to stick them on the TV!) to add color and scenery, and players used simple controllers to move glowing dots around. It wasn’t flashy by today’s standards, but it sparked the idea that games could be played at home—not just in arcades.

The Odyssey directly inspired Atari’s Pong, launched the home gaming industry, and set the stage for everything from Mario to Fortnite. Without that first demonstration, the entire gaming world as we know it might look very different today.

It’s wild to think that what started with a few bouncing dots on a screen now drives a multi-billion-dollar industry, fuels esports arenas, and even influences how we connect socially online.
👉 Do you remember your first home gaming console?

Most businesses do not think about leased hardware until the renewal notice shows up. By then, there may not be enough t...
05/28/2026

Most businesses do not think about leased hardware until the renewal notice shows up. By then, there may not be enough time to plan a smooth replacement, confirm which data is stored locally, or securely wipe the drives before the equipment is returned.

That old server or workstation may be holding customer records, financial files, cached passwords, or business documents long after everyone assumes it is “empty.”

Lease end dates are not just accounting deadlines. They are data security deadlines.
Read the full article to see why leased hardware needs to be tracked, documented, and handled carefully before it leaves your business.

You may already be paying for Microsoft 365, but are you really getting everything you can from it?Most people use Word,...
05/25/2026

You may already be paying for Microsoft 365, but are you really getting everything you can from it?

Most people use Word, Excel, and Outlook every day, but never use some features that can save a lot of time. Dictation can help you write emails faster. Outlook Quick Steps can clean up repetitive email tasks. OneNote can organize notes, ideas, and projects in one searchable place. Power Automate can even handle small repetitive tasks for you.

The best part? You do not have to be a tech person to use these tools.
I put together a simple guide to some of the most useful Office 365 features that many home users and small businesses overlook.

Read the article and see which features could make your day a little easier. Link in the comments

This Week in Tech HistoryBack in May 2010, a Florida programmer named Laszlo Hanyecz made history by trading 10,000 Bitc...
05/22/2026

This Week in Tech History

Back in May 2010, a Florida programmer named Laszlo Hanyecz made history by trading 10,000 Bitcoins for two Papa John’s pizzas. At the time, Bitcoin was a relatively new and experimental digital currency with almost no value. That simple transaction became the first real-world purchase made with Bitcoin — forever remembered as “Bitcoin Pizza Day.”
,
What seemed like a quirky exchange has turned into one of the most famous stories in tech. Those 10,000 Bitcoins? Today they’d be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The event demonstrated to the world that cryptocurrency could move beyond theory and be applied in everyday life.

Since then, Bitcoin has evolved from niche forums to Wall Street, shaping our perspective on money, security, and the future of digital transactions. Love it or hate it, that pizza order marked the beginning of a financial revolution.

Would you have traded your Bitcoin for pizza back then… or held onto it?

The worst time to learn your backups are not protected is after a ransom note is already on the screen.Modern ransomware...
05/21/2026

The worst time to learn your backups are not protected is after a ransom note is already on the screen.

Modern ransomware attacks often go after backups first, quietly removing recovery options long before anyone realizes something is wrong. This article explains why having backups is not always enough, and what makes a backup strategy much harder for attackers to destroy.

05/18/2026

Your computer updated overnight.

Now the printer will not connect. Your software is throwing errors. Your team is waiting around because something that worked yesterday suddenly does not.

This is one of the most frustrating parts of modern business technology. You did not do anything wrong. Sometimes Windows, Chrome, Microsoft, or Google changes something in the background, and your business feels the impact first.

That is why updates should not be left to chance. A smarter update plan means testing changes, watching for problems, and catching issues before they slow down the whole office.

Read the full article to learn why updates break things, and what small businesses can do to stay ahead of it.

Link in comments

This Week in Tech HistoryBack in May 2011, Google made a bold announcement that would reshape how we think about persona...
05/15/2026

This Week in Tech History

Back in May 2011, Google made a bold announcement that would reshape how we think about personal computing: the introduction of the first Chromebooks. Built by Samsung and Acer, these lightweight laptops didn’t rely on heavy operating systems or bulky software—they were designed to run almost entirely in the cloud.

At first, many people were skeptical. A laptop that was basically just a browser? No Microsoft Office? No giant hard drive? But Google had a vision: a fast, secure, and simple device that was always up to date, affordable, and powered by the internet.

That gamble paid off. Today, Chromebooks dominate classrooms across the U.S., giving students low-cost access to technology and reshaping how education integrates with the digital world. For businesses and everyday users, Chromebooks have proven that cloud-based computing can be reliable and secure, paving the way for the apps and platforms we use daily—such as Google Drive, Workspace, and numerous web-based tools.

The Chromebook’s announcement wasn’t just about launching a laptop—it was about introducing a new era of computing where the internet is the center of everything. And whether you love them or not, there’s no denying they’ve helped shape the way we all work, learn, and connect.
💻 Would you ever use a Chromebook as your primary laptop, or do you stick to Windows/Mac?

Address

Springfield, MA
01129

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Bob's Computer Service posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Bob's Computer Service:

Share