Windows 7 - A Quick Feature Roundup of the New Microsoft Operating System

By: Alison Brundle

Eagerly awaited and anticipated by Windows fans around the world, Windows 7 is about to be launched and is full of new features. The Windows operating system is the most widely used computer software in the world, with almost every business, personal computer, laptop and even mobile phone incorporating it into its operations. Notorious for bugs, early systems often caused considerable consternation and much tearing of hair, so the top people at Windows have been working away to smooth out the wrinkles, include new and more user-friendly features and generally bring Windows into the 21st Century.

Improved taskbar

The taskbar at the bottom of your screen is used to launch programs and move between them without having to continually open them during your operation. Before, icons were limited to your usual running programs such as Internet Explorer, email and other primary programs. With Windows 7, you will now be able to 'pin' any program to the taskbar so that it is always just one click away, rather than having to search through your C drive to find it. You will also be able to rearrange the icons just by clicking and dragging. The icons themselves have been made larger, making them much easier to use. By moving your cursor over the icon you will be able to see a thumbnail of every file or window open in that particular program, including a full-screen preview of that window.

Desktop enhancements

Windows 7 has been specifically designed to make it easier to do repetitive tasks and cut down on the amount of effort it takes. One of the most common problems is having two windows open at once and switching between them. Previously, when you wanted to compare two open windows you had to manually resize your open windows to show them side by side. Windows 7 has a new system called Snaps, which allows you to grab a window and pull it to one side of the screen. It will then automatically take up only half the screen, allowing you to see the other window and compare the two at a glance.

Windows 7 is much more interactive. Another thing you may want to do is quickly see your gadgets or grab a file from your desktop. To see your desktop just move your mouse to the lower right corner of your desktop. That'll make all the open Windows transparent-so your desktop is immediately visible. If you want to get all but one window out of your way, you simply grab the top of that window, shake it and all the other open windows will minimise to the taskbar. Shake the window again, and they'll all come back.

Windows Search

If you use the web a lot, you probably start by looking around for a search box. Now you can use the same system to find files on your computer. Originally introduced with Windows Vista, Windows Search helps you find virtually anything on your PC quickly and easily. Windows 7 also makes search results more relevant and easier to understand. If you're looking for a file, email or application, a simple click on the start button will reveal a search box at the bottom of the start menu. By entering a word or file name, you will then get an organised list of results.

Better device management

Windows 7 incorporates a new package called Device Stage, which takes device management a step further. Device Stage helps you interact with any compatible device connected to your computer. From Device Stage you can see device status and run common tasks from a single window. There are even pictures of the devices which makes it really easy to see what's there, so you can see exactly what photos are on your camera, what music you have on your MP3 player and if your printer is active.

HomeGroup

This package makes connecting more than one computer to your home network easy. HomeGroup is set up automatically when you add the first PC running Windows 7 to your home network. Adding more PCs running Windows 7 to the HomeGroup is then an easy process. You can specify exactly what you want to share from each PC with all the PCs in the HomeGroup. This makes sharing files across the various PCs in your home as easy as if all your data were on a single hard drive.

View Available Network (VAN)

Windows 7 makes viewing and connecting to all of your networks simple and consistent. You'll always have one-click access to available networks, regardless of whether those networks are based on Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, dial-up, or your corporate VPN. It's particularly useful for those using laptops away from their usual network source.

So Windows 7 aims to make life much simpler and your programs easier to navigate. The advancements in technology have meant that the advent of a far more user-friendly system is finally here - bug-free and very 21st Century.

How to Find Cheap Laptop Computers

By: Asif Siddiqui

Gone are the days when you would go to a PC store to pay out $1000 to purchase laptop PC. There are many ways or alternates by which you can acquire low-cost laptop computers for fewer than $500

Cheap New Laptop Computers - It is obvious that a lot of the time the best solution is to buy new computer however when you are working towards a budget a cheap new computer can be hard to find, and if your budget is limited then often you end up compromising PC quality or the specification of your new computer. There are many computers that are imported from China and looks like a perfect clone of major brands i. Dell, HP, Toshiba, Lenovo and that are sold low-cost for almost half the price mainly because of the mass amount they are produced in. It is crucial however to understand that in the future if a problem does occur there may not be much you can do to repair as these parallel imported cheap notebooks are not being sold with support or warranty.

There are stacks of options to purchase low-cost laptop computers, there are many retail outlets with laptop deal offering great discounts or freebies. Computer hardware industry is very competitive and retailers are working with light margin, as light as $50-$75, therefore they have very narrow scope of coming down on cost however how they try to beat competition is by offering free ad-on i.e. Memory upgrade, carry case, web cams, and sometime things like free mp3 player etc., so that you make a nice multimedia and other entertainment products along with your laptop without paying anything further. Also, in selected shops you possibly will locate Open Box, Graded Returns, and Refurbished laptops. So the question comes in your mind which ones to go for? Well here I have compile a study looking at several aspects and pros and cons of buying these laptops

Open Box Computers - These laptops are normally the ones returned from customers for any reason. The PC box has been opened but not at all tested. These are by and large sold at at-least 20-30% less than its original value. In my observation buying these kind of laptops should be avoided unless it’s a serious deal and you are confident by seeing it that there is nothing wrong with it and retailer is providing some kind of warranty on it.

Graded Returns - comparable to Open Box, graded returns are new laptops returned by customer for various kind of fault or snag that was found in it. The product is returned to the manufacturer and instead of scrapping the product new parts are used to fix it and the manufacturer then sells it as graded item. They are sold as "factory refurbished". They can be a fine buy, especially for students or home use.

Refurbished Computers- Refurbished computers are the ones which is previously used by folks or corporate and then returned back to dealers. These returned computers are checked for wear & tear, aesthetic condition, memory, hard disk and all of these are fixed based on its condition. Sometimes, its screens are changed, memory rams are replaced, hard disks are upgraded, and keyboards are polished. An "A grade" refurbished PC can look and perform like a brand new laptop and mostly sold with 30-90 days warranty. These computers are sold at fraction of cost as compared to the new ones. There are few things you should look into before buying a refurbished computer:

• How much warranty is with this laptop?
• If the specification of this notebook is proper for your need?
• If you are buying from retail shop - is the shop reputed?
• If you are buying online, does the online company has contact number or customer service number?

If you are an online shopper, there are couple of great places you can buy refurbished notebook and with complete peace of mind. Company's like Dell, HP & Lenovo sells their refurbished notebook at their web site(s). You can visit these web site(s) and look for refurbished section. Dell has a separate web site for its refurbished notebook called Dell Financial Service

Well, that’s all about how to buy cheap laptop computers or discount laptops, hopefully it helps to make a wise purchase.

What You Need To Know Before Buying A Netbook

By: Roberto Sedycias

The desktop computers when they first arrived on the scene revolutionized the way we worked and then laptops made their appearance making the desktop computers almost obsolete. Now, another revolution is on its way with ultra sleek netbook computers which have made the hitherto conveniently portable laptops seem cumbersome. However, it`s not enough to jump onto the bandwagon and purchase any netbook but certain points must be considered while making the purchase.

The first and foremost point to consider is your computing needs. You have to be sure of what use you are going to be putting your netbook to and then decide whether the work required is suitable for a netbook or not. Checking your email, browsing the internet or composing word or office documents can all easily be handled by a netbook. But, stuff like some heavy video editing or application of graphics which require quite a few resources may not be possible with a netbook.

Ideally, a netbook should be purchased by someone who is heavily into web browsing and not much more as it is specifically designed to handle intensive emailing and web browsing. It runs on Windows XP or Linux operating system and is not meant to handle extensive data storage or 3D games or Photoshop.

Although net books are ultra light and very easily portable, its size and weight still merits some consideration. They come in different sizes and though they themselves are tiny, the power adapters of some may be very large and heavy. The battery weight and size should also be checked.

Some of the important features to look out for while purchasing a netbook for your convenience are the optical drive, potential upgradation, layout of mouse etc. Many netbooks still don`t come equipped with an optical drive and an external drive may have to be purchased. You also have to consider whether the hard drive and the RAM of that particular netbook can be upgraded without a fuss. At times, upgrades make your warranty void. So, be very sure on this angle while buying a netbook.

Another important feature is the size of the keyboard. It is but natural that a small device like a netbook cannot have a big keyboard and you have to be sure that you`ll have no problems typing on a small keyboard. The position and the layout of the mouse and the touchpad should also be looked into as these two factors alone can make or mar your experience of using the netbook.

Although netbooks are highly affordable and have been a big hit in the market with manufacturers cashing onto lucrative deals, its limited usage should give pause for some thought. It is alright for some portable browsing but for long term use or heavy data storage, a laptop is still the better option. A netbook while offering more intensive web browsing than a smart phone is still shorter than a normal laptop which has a larger battery capacity. This limitation permits only about 30-45 minutes of netbook usage which is less than most plane rides.

The price tag of the netbook may make it hard to resist but its value can only be realized through it usage. If the netbook is sitting unused for most of the time because it cannot handle your work, the great price notwithstanding, the device is going to be rendered useless and not even worth the affordable price. That said if you are the type who has to have the latest gadget irrespective of its suitability to your requirements, then a netbook is right up your street!

Notebook Features To Look Out For

By: Roberto Sedycias

The earlier notebook computers were heavy, expensive and accessible to only a few computer users. But, today`s notebook computers are lightweight and comprise of as many features as the desktop computers. And with the prices really coming crashing down it is feasible for most people to buy a notebook. However, some tips and advice always come in handy while purchasing one and especially so, if you are a first-time buyer.

The first thing to decide is the usage of the notebook as each segment, like that of business, games, graphics, research, movies, communication or basic usage all need slightly different features to be present in that particular device. Once you have zeroed onto your priority, it becomes simpler to look for those particular features and you can narrow down the choices of the notebook computer.

The screen size of the notebook computer varies from 10.4 inches to 17.1 inches but for most notebook users, a 13 inch screen is enough. Those who are mainly interested in gaming or watching movies will want larger screens and the needs of professional graphic designers also will be different from others. People using graphic programs will prefer as large a screen as possible and a graphic card may be added.

The processors and memory RAM also vary from usage to usage and while a 20 gigabyte drive will take care of the requirements of most of the users, gamers will require at least 526 megabytes of RAM. A full giga-byte of RAM or more may be a must for those who open large files or wish to open several files simultaneously.

Although the weight of the notebook computer has come down considerably from its earlier versions, there are still variations to be found in its weight. It is sensible to first ascertain whether you are constantly on the go and always need to carry your notebook with you. If yes, then an ultra light notebook may be the best solution for you.

Ultra light notebooks may be more expensive when compared to their counterparts and also have smaller screens and lesser options but they are infinitely more preferable to lugging around the standard notebook when you are in and out of vehicles or planes or simply walking. The standard notebooks are fine for those who do not have much traveling or commuting to do.

The keyboard of a notebook computer is smaller than those of the regular computers and can require some getting used to. The mouse is also integrated in the center and learning to operate the mouse with your finger can get cumbersome in the initial stages but the problem can be mitigated by buying an external mouse.

A notebook commuter having two ports like USB and Ethernet is preferred as portability and storage capabilities will much enhanced. A wi-fi enabled notebook has become very popular as it enables users to connect anywhere at wireless hotspots like restaurants, airports, hotels etc. The older notebook can be upgraded by buying a wi-fi card. Your notebook should have expansion bays if later on you want to install a CD-ROM or DVD writer. Technology is moving at a very fast pace and if you do not maximize the memory and processor speed now itself, your notebook may not be able to adapt to newer application and software.

Investing in a good although expensive lithium ion battery is worth it as it will last longer than the normal batteries and you do not want your notebook going dead on you in the middle of some important work. So, keeping your eyes open for these features should help you make a sensible purchase.

Windows Explorer Error - Common Causes, Simple Fixes

By: Logan Albright

Have you ever been using the computer, just surfing the net or playing around with a Windows based software, and suddenly you get the message that ‘Windows Explorer has encountered an error’ - which follows the entire desktop crashing, a little hour glass appearing and then the entire desktop, flushed with all your icons; reappearing again. The problem is, whatever you were doing has been erased and if you were doing some work with any of the office tools and did not save them, then you can wave them goodbye. This article will tell you how you can avoid all that, by exploring the common causes and simple fixes you can do to prevent Windows Explorer error.

Windows Explorer errors and crashes are pretty common nowadays, especially with the newer incarnations of Windows, and there are some easy ways you can adopt to avoid them completely. One, is to maintain the health of your computer and its internal physical memory. Some of these problems have been traced to an overly fragmented drive, which means that data and important files have been scattered all over the disk - requiring Windows to constantly re fragment data. This also causes hiccups within the system and can cause Windows Explorer to crash at the same time. Avoid this by using the defragment tool that is present on your system.

Leave it on over night if you have a particularly large hard disk and soon in the morning, you will be presented with a faster and much more efficient machine. Also, take a look at the programs you have installed, especially those that are running in the background. More than 60% of computer uses have no idea about the damage they are doing to their system by having unnecessary programs running in the task bar, eating away at precious system memory. Delete those that you do not need and ensure that those that are running need to be running. If there are non essential, then quit the program at once and ensure that it does not load up at start up again.

One more common root of Windows Explorer crashes is the registry itself. This tiny file that sits within the core system of Windows is one of the most important files in the OS. Windows uses it as a digital log book as well as an instruction guide to run programs. Once malware, viruses and over use set in, orphan keys, bad command lines and even corrupted data become a familiar sight in registry files. These corrupted and messed up files are the cause of explorer errors and crashes. Get a decent registry cleaner online and start cleaning your registry regularly. The process is extremely fast and it ensures the overall health of your registry - which means the overall health of your entire system. Once you are able to ensure the health of your registry, then these niggling problems in Windows Explorer will surely disappear, along with the common causes. It is a simple fix, and together with the rest discussed, will ensure that your computer will run smoothly all the time.

What to Do When Your Computer Freezes Up

By: Logan Albright

Do not panic, if you can believe it, a computer freezes up in the modern world every 40 seconds, which means you will have someone joining you soon. Keep calm and try to figure out what you last did. Tapping on the keyboard and wildly swinging your mouse around will not help the situation much. If your keyboard is still responsive, try to ALT-TAB and see whether you can end the problem program. Usually it would be earmarked with something like ‘not responding’ tagged to its status on the task bar. If your keyboard is locked up, see whether or not you can move your mouse around. If the answer is a yes, then try to move it to the restart button, or try to right click and shut down some programs.

Well, these are the options that you have if your keyboard and mouse are still functioning. If you are tapping your keyboard and you get a beeping sound, then the entire system has locked you out, meaning Windows has gone into a freeze state that is irreparable. You will have no choice but to find your manual reset button (usually next to the power button on your CPU’s tower) and flick your computer back to life. This article is more of a venture into the root of the problem and surveys around the world have revealed a single problem to this one woe of computer users all over the world - the registry of Windows.

What is the registry? The registry is the nexus of the Windows operating system, where all commands are written within its matrix. Windows uses it as a log book of all the activities that happen within the OS as well as an instruction book to execute programs and launch sensitive .DLL and system files. Normally, if all goes well and the registry is intact, bad program launches and system freezes will not happen. But of course, this is not a perfect world, and the computer as well as the end user is not perfect as well. In the end of the day, the registry can get bombarded from many different angles, which include viruses and worms, which infiltrate the registry and leave malicious command lines and false embedded keys inside.

They can also be attacked by malware which has the same effect. Bad program installs and uninstalls can leave negative zero values, orphan keys and bad command lines within its matrix; and these are just some of the problems that can arise. In summary, these bad hats within the registry can and will confuse the Windows operating system, which will lead to problems like crashes and of course systems hangs. The best way to prevent yourself from these problems is for you to get a reliable anti virus, anti malware/spyware program as well as a good registry cleaner. These three in combination will give you a speedy machine with minimal hiccups, leaving you without a situation of what to do when your computer freezes up.

3 Simple Solutions on How to Make Your Computer Go Faster

By: Logan Albright

How to make your computer go faster? Know your computer. That is one of the most important things to take note of when you decide to ramp up the speed, or restore it to its former glory not so many months ago. Information is one of the most important aspects of upgrading or tweaking your CPU and OS. The central processing unit and the operating system are part of a much larger picture; a picture in which you need to know about. What kind of memory are you running? How much? What is the speed of the memory? What about your computer chip?

You should have all this information and more before you decide to do anything and people often slip up and spend gargantuan amounts of money because they did not realise what they had under the hood in the first place. Once you have all the information then you can start to increase the speed of the computer. One of the best ways to do so is to upgrade the memory, because more than likely, you have been installing recent programmes on a machine that was assembled before it was published.

Programmes are pretty scalable, but when too many are installed on a system or if you are working with huge files, you need to ramp up the memory and remove one of the bottlenecks of the system. Memory, especially RAM (or random access memory) is pretty affordable nowadays, even hard disks come pretty cheap. Buying one will solve plenty of problems for you. Another way is for you to defragment your disk. You may have heard this advice somewhere before, but there is a darn good reason why that advice is there in the first place. A fragmented hard drive means that data is strewn about.

This means that to launch a programme, Windows has to go through the motions of re assembling the fragmented data into a coherent code before the programme can launch. This causes massive slowdowns and system hangs even and you need to address this issue pretty quick. It is a good idea to defragment your drive once every 2 to 4 weeks, and this makes sure that you have a speedy hard drive that can launch programmes quick.

Also, the registry is one of the main chokes on a computer system; meaning that the tiny file that resides in your system core has the capability of slowing your system down to a crawl if it is not maintained. Zero values left by programme uninstalls, null values from bad code, corrupt data and command lines left behind by viruses and malware are just some of the examples of how your Windows registry can be left a debilitating mess.

All you need to do is to download a good registry cleaner, which will take care of 100% of these problems and then some. They are pretty advanced nowadays and can even settle clutter from your browsers, system files and trailing debris left behind by bad uninstalls. These are 3 simple solutions on how to make your computer go faster.