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Vol. 1, # 6 - Oct 15, 2009 - Issue # 6 |
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Reach Out and Touch Windows 7
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- Editor's Corner
- Reach Out and Touch Windows 7
- Follow-up: A New Way to Navigate
- Quotes of the Week
- Cool Tools
- News, Hints, Tips and Tricks
- Windows 7 Party Pack Unboxed
- Windows Mobile 7: Sooner than we Thought?
- Does Windows 7 need a universal updater?
- Will Windows 8 support 128 bit architecture?
- Most common password
- How to: Using the New Win7 Features
- Add link to search the Internet from the Windows 7 Start menu
- Windows Security
- Win7 Question Corner
- How do I get my Windows 7 computer on the network?
- Win7 Configuration and Troubleshooting
- How to configure a program to run under a different user account
- Fav Links
- This Week's Links We Like. Tips, Hints And Fun Stuff
- Product of the Week
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Kiss Your Antivirus Bloatware Goodbye
We asked users of antivirus products what they didn't like about their AV software.
They told us they are resource hogs and slowed their computer down. They told us that
scan times took way too long, and that the AV software nagged them. In short, old-style
AV software takes too much Memory and CPU. Time to switch to VIPRE! It gives you malware
protection that combines antivirus, antispyware, anti-rootkit and other technologies
into a seamless, tightly-integrated product.
Even if you run "free" antivirus software, it hijacks 20% of your PC, so it's really not
free at all! Get VIPRE now and see how fast your PC can really be:
http://www.win7news.net/091015-VIPRE
You on Facebook? So is VIPRE!
http://www.win7news.net/091015-VIPRE-on-Facebook
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Editor's Corner |
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Reach Out and Touch Windows 7
Back in the December 6, 2007 edition of VistaNews, I wrote about our HP
TouchSmart IQ775 "kitchen computer." Tom and I were both impressed with the
ability to open and close windows, move objects, etc. using the touchscreen
instead of the mouse. It came with Vista, and a while back we upgraded it to
Windows 7 RTM. However, back before the upgrade it had already started having
some problems - periodically crashing (not the traditional blue screen but the
colorful rainbow hued look of a hardware-based video problem). A format and
clean OS install didn't help. We hadn't really expected that it would, but
figured it was worth a try.
In addition to the crashes, it's a fairly early model and doesn't support multi-touch,
something we really wanted to try in Windows 7. And finally, the 19 inch
monitor, although adequate, is a little small for one of the purposes for which
we use it - to watch TV through Windows Media Center while we're cooking. All of
this added up to a great excuse to update to an IQ800 series TouchSmart -
especially when we got a special deal on it from HP that shaved several hundred
dollars off the regular price.
So our new kitchen computer arrived last Saturday (only five days after we
placed the order) and it's a beauty. It's both bigger - with a gorgeous 25.5
inch screen - and smaller, with a super thin form factor that doesn't include
the clunky base that the earlier model had. The keyboard is wafer thin (reminds
me of a Macbook Air) but still surprisingly easy to type on. Setting it up and
getting everything plugged in took only a few minutes.
Since Windows 7 won't be released until October 22, this one came with Vista, so
the first thing I did was upgrade it to Windows 7. With 4 GB of RAM, an Intel
dual core processor and a 640 GB hard drive, the specs are more than enough to
run 64 bit Windows. I was pleased to find that I was able to do an in-place
upgrade from Vista Home Premium x64 to Windows 7 Ultimate x64 with no problems.
The upgrade proceeded smoothly and the only things that didn't work afterward
were a couple of the HP games, Bejeweled and Chuze. We don't play the games
anyway, so that was no big loss. And the setup program warned me ahead of time
that those applications might not work.
The design does a good job of fitting everything into such a sleek package.
There is a slot-type DVD drive on the right side, along with a hard drive light
(I wish they had put the light on the front, so it would be easier to see when
there's drive activity, but I'm guessing the thought was that it might be
disruptive when watching full screen videos or TV). There's also a FireWire/IEEE
1394 port. On the left side is a memory card reader. It supports SD/SDHC, MMC
and Memory Stick, but I was disappointed to see that there's no support for CF
cards, since I use a Nikon pro-level digital camera that uses CF. Also on the
left side are the headphone jack, audio line-in jack and two USB 2.0 ports.
There are three more USB 2.0 ports on the back. The whole thing has a sturdy leg
on the back to stand it up at a 10 to 40 degree angle, or it's wall mountable if
you prefer to use it that way. There's an Ethernet jack for the gigabit Ethernet
card as well as a built-in 802.11b/g/n wi-fi adapter. It also has a Bluetooth
adapter, making it easy to pair up with BT headsets or a BT smart phone. And
there's an SPDIF out jack to connect the computer to a home theater or audio
system, as well as an S-video in jack for connecting a set-top box or analog
video camera.
The display is very nice, with 1920 x 1200 resolution, and can display full
1080p high definition video. The built in stereo speakers sound pretty good, but
you can also connect external speakers if you prefer. There is only one tuner
card, which means you can only record one program at a time, but it does support
clear QAM. You can add an external USB tuner if you want to be able to record a
second program or watch live TV on one channel while recording another.
There is a built-in webcam and microphone array. After installing Windows 7, we
had to reconfigure the array as the default microphone in the sound settings.
The mic's range is only about two feet, but if you're using the touch interface,
you're probably going to be close to the screen. The webcam's picture quality is
average; not as good as my Logitech Pro 9000 but better than most built-in
laptop webcams and the low-cost snap-ons I've used.
There is a Pocket Media Drive bay, into which you can pop an HP Pocket Media
drive. This is a small portable hard drive you can use to transfer files from
one HP computer to another. Our main Media Center tower PC also has a bay. At
around $100 for 160GB, the drives are relatively expensive, but the convenience
factor is high as is the aesthetic appeal - no dangling USB cables are involved.
The skinny keyboard has a handy sleep button, as well as media controls (stop,
play, fast forward, and so forth) and a rocker style volume control in addition
to the usual Windows keyboard keys. A Media Center remote control is included,
as are an infrared emitter to hook up a cable company set-top box, a Y-audio
cable to connect sound input from an external audio source, and even a cleaning
cloth to clean the screen (which you will be using frequently).
The custom HP TouchSmart interface has been completely revamped to take
advantage of the multi-touch capabilities, so that you can do the pinch and
other multi-finger gestures to zoom and resize, double finger swipe to scroll,
etc. It takes a little practice to get the moves right, but once you do, it's a
very cool and intuitive way to work, especially when dealing with photos.
The new HP overlay interface (which you can get to via an icon on the desktop or
a hardware button on the front of the monitor) also includes a much more
functional calendar (which can be synchronized with Windows calendar in Vista or
with your Google calendar, but unfortunately not with Outlook), an enhanced
Notes app that supports multi-touch gestures, Photo, Videos and Music apps, and
integration with more applications than before. Curiously, however, they did not
include a link to Windows Media Center (although you can always start it by
pushing the Big Green Button on the remote control). Another minor gripe is that
the TouchSmart Photo, Video and Music apps only give you access to media on the
computer's hard drive, not to shared media on other computers on the network. Of
course, you can access those through Windows Media Center or the Windows 7
libraries.
Software that comes with the computer includes CyberLink DVD suite that includes
CD/DVD recording software, YouCam video capture and editing software,
PowerDirector for making movies, and LabelPrint for printing labels directly on
a disc. There is a nice 60 page "Getting Started" booklet that covers most setup
issues and answers questions on how to perform basic tasks with the HP software.
All in all, we're happy with the new addition to the family, and you can see
some photos of it in my blog at
http://www.win7news.net/091015-IQ775-TouchSmart
Have you thought about investing in a touchscreen computer or do you already
have one? Do you plan to take advantage of big savings on current models or wait
until the new models come out with Windows 7 pre-installed? What do you think of
the touchscreen experience vs. the traditional keyboard-and-mouse way of
inputting information? If you have a TouchSmart, do you like the HP interface
or do you prefer to just use the regular Windows 7 interface to access your
media? What types of applications would you like to see that take advantage of
touch technology? We invite you to discuss this topic in the forums at
http://www.win7news.net/091015-Forum-Discussion
Follow-up: A New Way to Navigate
In last week's editorial, readers got two for the price of one as I talked about
new ways to navigate in Windows 7 and did a review of my favorite (so far)
Windows 7 "fat book."
I'm with Davewolfgang, after reading through all the complaints in the forum
about the Windows 7 libraries. It's not as if you can't continue to click
through all those layers of the file system to get to your files if, for some
reason, you want to do it that way. The file structure in Explorer is
exactly the same. Libraries in no way take away your ability to know where your
files are "really located" nor do they impact your ability to back up your data.
They just give you a way to get to those files much more quickly and intuitively
if you want to.
How is Microsoft "changing things just for the sake of changing things" when
they didn't change things? They just added things, giving you more options. If
you don't want to take advantage of them, that's okay. But I'll bet you that I
can find the file I'm looking for, using all my options, more quickly than you
can by clicking through folders and subfolders all over the hard drive and
network.
Thanks to all of you who wrote this week!
'Til next week,
Deb Shinder, Editor
feedback@win7news.net
PS: Did you know this newsletter has a sister publication for XP users called
WXPnews?
You can subscribe here, and tell your friends:
http://www.win7news.net/091015-WXPNews
And for IT pros, there's our "big sister," WServer News, at
http://www.win7news.net/091015-WServerNews
Join the Win7News fan page on Facebook!
http://www.win7news.net/091015-Win7News-on-Facebook
Quotes of the Week
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber. - Sir Winston Churchill
(1874 - 1965)
There's a difference between a philosophy and a bumper sticker. - Charles M.
Schulz (1922 - 2000)
Remember that nobody will ever get ahead of you as long as he's kicking you in
the seat of the pants. - Walter Winchell (1897 - 1972)
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Own a Single-user VIPRE?
Upgrade Now To Home Site License For Just $19.95
You run VIPRE and love it. But what about the other PC's at the house? We have
a special, limited time upgrade offer. You can upgrade now and just pay the
difference (20 bucks) between the Single License and the Unlimited Home Site
License (UHSL). But wait, it gets better. Your UHSL starts fresh and you get
a new 12 month subscription! Do the math. Wait and pay 30 bucks later, or buy
the upgrade now and get a whole year for 20 bucks. A no-brainer! Remember this
is for a limited time only, get that upgrade now! Click here to learn more and
order:
http://www.win7news.net/091015-UHSL-Upgrade
You on Facebook? So is VIPRE!
http://www.win7news.net/091015-VIPRE-on-Facebook
*Offer not valid in the UK
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Cool Tools |
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News, Hints, Tips and Tricks |
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Windows 7 Party Pack Unboxed
Those of us who were selected to host the Windows 7 launch parties have begun
receiving our official party packs. Mine came last Monday and I was eager to
open it up and see what was inside. If you're curious too, you can find out
about the contents and see screenshots in my Amazon End User blog post at
http://www.win7news.net/091015-Party-Pack
Windows Mobile 7: Sooner than we Thought?
In last month's editorial, "Is 7 Microsoft's Lucky Number," I mentioned that all
the rumors indicated at that time that the next version of Microsoft's
handheld/phone OS, Windows Mobile 7, would be released "sometime in 2010." The
latest reports, based on a leaked slide and comments from some folks in the
industry, is that it's likely to happen earlier rather than later, with WM 7
going RTM in the spring. That does present a dilemma for some of us. Should I
get a new Omnia II phone when it comes out (supposedly in the next few weeks) or
wait a few months? The Omnia II will support WM 6.5 but will it support WM 7? It
would be nice to have a little more info, but it's trickling out at an
excruciatingly slow rate. Here's more about the WM 7 release:
http://www.win7news.net/091015-Windows-Mobile-7
Does Windows 7 need a universal updater?
Do you get exasperated with all the individual application updaters that run on
your computer? You probably have update programs for Java, Adobe, your anti-virus
program, Dell, HP, Sony or whatever hardware vendor made your system, and
more. Often you get updates that you don't even need. This article suggests a
universal updater that would let you control what apps get updated and when and
how. I rather like the idea. What do you think?
http://www.win7news.net/091015-Universal-Updater
Will Windows 8 support 128 bit architecture?
Many folks haven't even upgraded yet from 32 bit to 64 bit computing, and now
we're hearing that Microsoft may be building 128 bit compatibility into the next
version(s) of Windows. However, apparently it was supposed to be a big secret -
until a senior researcher at Microsoft (inadvertently?) let the cat out of the
bag with a post on his LinkedIn profile. Find out more here:
http://www.win7news.net/091015-128-Bit-Windows8
Most common password
If your password is 123456, you're not alone. A recent examination of 10,000
stolen and published passwords for Hotmail email accounts revealed that was the
most common of the lot, with 64 people using it. More disturbing, only 6 percent
of the passwords showed an attempt to set a strong password by mixing alpha-
numeric and other characters, and many of them used people's names as the
password. Read more here:
http://www.win7news.net/091015-Passwords
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How to: Using the New Win7 Features |
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Add link to search the Internet from the Windows 7 Start menu
In Vista, you could search the Internet from the Start menu's Search box. You
can add this same functionality to Windows 7, if you're using the Professional,
Enterprise or Ultimate edition, by editing the local group policy. Here's how:
- Click Start and in the Search box, type gpedit.msc
- At the UAC prompt, click Yes
- In the left pane of the Local Group Policy editor, click to expand User
Configuration, then Administrative Templates, then click Start Menu and Taskbar.
- In the right pane, right click Add Search Internet Link to Start Menu.
- Click Edit
- Click the option button Enable
- Click OK
- Close the Local Group Policy editor
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Windows Security |
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October 13 Patch Tuesday includes security updates for Windows 7 RTM
If you're running the RTM of Windows 7, be aware that this month's slew of
security updates (thirteen in all) includes five that affect Win7 RTM, both 32-
and 64-bit editions. However, only one of these is rated critical and it applies
to IE 8. These are the first security updates released for Windows 7 RTM. Read
more here:
http://www.win7news.net/091015-Patches
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Win7 Question Corner |
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How do I get my Windows 7 computer on the network?
QUESTION:
I have a laptop computer with Windows 7 RC installed. I connected it to my home
network with a wireless connection (my other two XP computers are connected,
one wireless and one with Ethernet cable and they can see each other). I can
get on the Internet so I know the Windows 7 computer is connected, but my XP
computers can't see it and I can't get the XP computers to see the printer
that's attached to the laptop. How do I get it on the network so the other
computers can share files with it? Thanks. - Jim H.
ANSWER:
The first thing to check is whether Network Discovery is turned on in your
Windows 7 computer because you won't be able to see other computers on the
network if it's turned off, and they won't be able to see yours. You also need
to enable file and printer sharing if you want In Control Panel, go to the
Network and Sharing Center. Click Change Advanced Sharing Settings. Now click
"Turn on network discovery" and "Turn on file and printer sharing." If you want
others to be able to access the files in the Public folders on the Windows 7
machine, also click "Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and
write files in the Public folders." If you don't want everyone else on the
network to be able to access the public shares, turn on password protected
sharing. Then you can set a password and others will have to enter it to access
the public shares from one of the other computers.
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Win7 Configuration and Troubleshooting |
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How to configure a program to run under a different user account
If you're moving to Windows 7 from XP, you might wonder what happened to the
"Run as" option. It's no longer there in the right click menu for a program, but
you can still use it at the command line to run a program under a different user
account. Here's how:
- Click Start and type cmd to open the command prompt window
- Type runas /user: username programname
- You'll be prompted to enter the password for the user account you specified
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Fav Links |
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This Week's Links We Like. Tips, Hints And Fun Stuff
Disclaimer: VistaNews does not assume and cannot be
responsible for any liability related to you clicking any of
these linked Web sites.
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Product of the Week |
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Print Screen Deluxe
All New - Version 7.1 - Print Screen Deluxe is the ultimate screen capture
utility. It provides a fast and easy way to capture, print and save your
screen. One keystroke does it all! With one keystroke you can capture and
print the entire screen, the current window, a selected region, and more. Print
Screen Deluxe will even let you add comments to your captures! Start capturing,
printing and saving your screens with ease. Then highlight, embellish, annotate
and liven up your captures for that extra punch. WXPNews readers can download
the free trial now and get an exclusive $15.00 off instant discount with
our online coupon,
http://www.win7news.net/091015-Print-Screen
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Copyright © 1996-2012 Sunbelt Media Services. All rights reserved.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Other products and companies
referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders.
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