Archive for February, 2010

Since the October, 2009 release of Windows 7, many computer users have found themselves wondering “should I upgrade?” As someone who uses 7 both at home and work, my only response to this question is yes, you should. But don’t just take my word for it. Here are a few of the many reasons why you should seriously consider upgrading.

Speed

Windows 7 is fast! From the moment it was installed, I was impressed. In less than 30 minutes, including formatting and loading drivers, I had a fully functioning computer. The only driver that had to be manually installed was the video drivers. That’s it. In less than 30 minutes I was browsing the web and thinking about which programs I was going to install. In previous versions of Windows this is virtually unheard of. Windows XP, for example, has been known to take upwards of 3 + hours, including driver install.

Not only is installation quick, but the OS itself seems much faster than previous versions. Opening and running multiple programs at once, even large programs like Photoshop, doesn’t seem to faze Windows 7. The zippiness of the OS is particularly apparent when you have multiple user accounts on the computer, as Windows 7 switches between profiles so fast that you’ll find yourself wondering if you actually pressed the “switch user” button.

User Features

By now you’ve no doubt seen the Windows 7 commercial where a user is boasting about how Microsoft finally listened, and how Windows 7 is easier to use because of the features. As it turns out, this isn’t just a marketing ploy. The new features are intuitive and make computing a breeze. After a day or two of using them, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without these features.

Snap

The snap feature allows you to fluidly manage the windows you have open. Gone are the days of using the minimize and maximize buttons. Want to full screen your window? Drag it to the top and it will snap open completely. Want to place two windows side by side? Drag one to the left, the other to the right, and each will snap to their respective sides, allowing you to look at both windows at once.

Shake

Minimize all windows except for the active one with a simple shake. Click and hold the title bar of the active window; then shake the mouse. All of the other windows minimize, leaving you free to concentrate on what you want.

Preview

This feature allows you to preview your program before you click on it. Place your cursor over the icon of any active program on the taskbar, and a small preview of that program will appear. For a larger preview, move your cursor over the small preview. This is especially handy when bouncing between two (or three, or four) different Word documents or browser windows. Never accidentally open the wrong item again.

Jump Lists

Quickly access commonly used documents, songs, web pages and more. Simply right click any item pinned to your taskbar and the jump list appears. For items in your start menu, click the arrow next to the program name, and the jump list will appear on the right.

The bottom line is, Microsoft may have gotten it right this time. From an end user perspective it’s fast, easy, and fun to use. With features like this, the real question is why haven’t you upgraded yet?*

*Running Microsoft’s Upgrade Advisor is a necessary step to assessing your computer’s ability to upgrade. To do so, visit: http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx

Make the transition to Windows 7 even easier by contacting techQuility today to schedule your upgrade. From assessing and upgrading your system (as needed), to installation, techQuility will make upgrading to Windows 7 a smooth, painless process.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Author: Julie Strier is a freelance writer. She is interested in technology and finding ways to help people work smarter, not harder, with their software. To learn more about her, visit JulieStrier.com.

When it comes to surfing the web, we all have our own style. There are some who prefer to click the mouse as much as possible, and others who prefer to tap away on the keyboard. Whatever your style, at least one of these tips will save you time while surfing the web.

Bonus: Use any combination of the five to impress your friends and surf like a pro!

Keyboard Only

1. Ctrl + Enter: Adds www and .com a website address. Next time you are typing a website name into the address bar, forget the www, and stop typing when you get to the .com. Then press Ctrl + Enter and let the computer do the rest of the work. Need .net? Use Shift + Enter. For .org, use Ctrl + Shift + Enter.

2. Alt + Home: The quick way to return to your home page. Instead of reaching for that mouse to click on home, press Alt + Home and return quickly and effortlessly.

3. F11: Full Screen mode. Use on a news site to be able to read more and scroll less. Or use it while playing a game to see more of the screen. To activate, press F11. When you’re done, press it again to deactivate.

Keyboard Mouse Combos

4. Ctrl + Click: Opens a link in a new tab. Why perform a two step maneuver when you don’t have to? Get to where you’re going in one click instead of two. Place your mouse over the link, press and hold Ctrl, then click the link. Sit back and watch as a new tab appears.

5. Shift + Click: Works just like Ctrl + Click, but instead of a new tab, the link opens in a new window.

Tips have been tested in both IE and Chrome.

---

About the Author: Julie Strier is a freelance writer. She is interested in technology and finding ways to help people work smarter, not harder, with their software. To learn more about her, visit JulieStrier.com.