Business Should Not Fear Vista

Windows Vista has been out for public use for a year and a half. It has been hammered refined, and adapted to work with most all business software. Business software vendors have tuned their new versions to Windows Vista.

The small business owner should not fear to upgrade their computer and operating system to Windows Vista. The speed, increased functionality and security are three big reasons to let go of that old slow computer in the office.

Take the average small business person that runs a little business from his back room or garage. Using Windows Vista will give increase security, the a program like Quicken Home Business will take care of his financial monitoring and invoice needs in a nice sweet package.

Did I mention that Windows Vista includes a calendar and a email client. For the independent contractor, salesman or other small business person what more is there to ask for???

Create PDF's and Save Money

Two things any Windows Vista loves is saving money and not having to walk through UAC when using a program. Today's tip will do just that. My old favorite Cute PDF will let you print to a PDF and not cost you more than the time to download and install it.

I have used other free PDF creator/writers. Most of them required to go through UAC every time you wanted to create a PDF. When I found that Cute work smoother than ever in Window Vista I was very happy. Install it and try it for yourself.

Any programs that users a printer can be used to put your finished product into a PDF format. You won't have to worry about giving Adobe money to do the very same thing.

I Am Humbled

This morning as I was going through my email and got an email from Microsoft. I have won the MVP for 2008. It was because of this blog and the podcast Vista Is Here To Stay.

The podcast will have to wait until to get produced, until tomorrow. I am to shaken to get past the shock. I have put the announcement below.

Congratulations! We are pleased to present you with the 2008 Microsoft® MVP Award! The MVP Award is our way to say thank you for promoting the spirit of community and improving people’s lives and the industry’s success every day. We appreciate your extraordinary efforts in Windows Desktop Experience technical communities during the past year. Microsoft will soon send your MVP Award gift package. It is our way to say “thank you for making a difference."

I want to think wife, daughter, Biz Advice team, NPM Productions, Leo Laporte, and others that have had an affect on my life.

Don't Blame Vista - Troubleshoot

I hear many complaints about Windows Vista. Vista is the new kid on the block, and has to prove itself. It is easy to blame Vista when it comes to installing a program or a new printer, does not work. It is so easily to forget that people with Windows XP has similar if not more issues.

I can not remember the last time I have had a Vista computer was so infected with malicious software that I had to wipe the hard drive and reinstall the operating system. However, it was just last week that I wiped the hard drive and reinstalled Windows XP on a computer.

Saturday, I was called out to clients home, who had bought a two Vista computer along with two Lexmark printer scanner All-in-One's. This couple was ready to take their computer's back to their old Windows XP computers.

After going though some basic troubleshooting steps, I found that the printer was unplugged from the back of the printer. They was embarrassed that all that was wrong was the printer was unplugged.

Free Is Good

I really believe that for the average person there is several good free applications. There may be some adjustments along with a small learning curve.

I found a good website that lists the application that I use on my Vista work computer. Check out Freeapps.co.uk .

If you find any other feel free add them to the comments.

Navigating Through Explorer

When I first got my hands on a beta version of Windows Vista, I felt like an awkward child. The file path window or address at the top of Explorer was not like what I was use to using. In fact it took me a while to figure out the redesign of Window Explorer navigation bar.

Now I look at it and think the navigation bar is simple and quite helpful. All you have to do is left click on the downward arrow. Then a dropdown window appears with folders in that specific folder. All that is left is select the folder you want to look inside.
Navigating Through Explorer

Computer Users Bill of Rights

Everyone who sits down behind a computer has certain expectations. Some are realized others are met with anger over the results. This has lead to a wide variety of people with a wide variety of experiences and attitudes when it comes to computers.

In my weekly podcast, I talked about the following, "Computer Users Bill of Rights". I hope to hear your comments about these.

• It Turn On and ready to use in 2 minutes.
• My Computer Will Not Crash After Installing A Program or Update from Apple or Microsoft, or Linux.
• My Computer Is Secure from Viruses’, Spyware, or any other malicious attack with normal use.
• My computer should run reasonable fast and responsive.
• There should be an easy efficient means to back up all my files.
• Tech support should be by people who speak my language and have good communication skills.
• When I get an error message it should be relatively to understand.

Mother's Project

I know that money is tight. If you are like me you want to do something nice this Sunday for your mother or the mother of your children.

A few old photos scanned into your computer, that is running Windows Vista, can make a very big impression for Mother's Day. Converting a favorite song to MP3 along with a few spoken words in voice over of Window Movie Maker is all you need.

The video you see below took me only 3 hours. It says to mom who imiportant she is. The cost is only the time it takes to do it.

Windows Media Player - Burn CD

Windows Media Player has been around since Windows 95. A crude form has been around since Windows 3.1. Today, Windows Media Player has a lot of tools that at value to the Windows Vista operating system.

Next to playing music, most intermediate computer users, want to burn files to CD's or DVD's. This can be done in Windows Media Player.

In the top menu is a link labeled, Burn. This opens up two windows on the right side of Media Player. The top window is the status of the CD in your burning optical drive. The bottom window is where you can drag in the files or music you want to burn.

Once you have the music or files you want to burn in the burn list window. the Start Burn will darken, then all you have to do is left click on it. The CD will start burning.

Windows Mail - International

Even if you do not regularly send or get email from other countries, this filter will help cut down on the amount of junk email you get.

It has long been known that Russia and Nigeria are the two biggest sources of spam or phishing email. This is where you can disallow email from certain countries from putting email in your inbox.

Top-Level Domain's refer to blocking email from countries that you would have no reason to receive email.

I periodically receive an email from a bank in England. When I investigate it the email originates from Russia. So to keep from getting that type of email again, I block any email that orginates in Russia.

Blocked Encoding List refers to email from people who use other languages. If you do not want to receive email from people of other languages who use special character of that language, would be a good thing. This will prevent some malicious program being placed on your computer.

Icons Are More Than Icons

Yes, Vista does require a lot of processor power. It does use a good deal of Memory. Over and above the security features, Windows Vista give you some nice key graphics.

By default Vista will give your PDF's a preview thumbnail view. Folders let you see if documents or other folders are inside that folder.

I know to some people this is an unnecessary feature. If you feel that way you can turn it off. However, I am in need of all the help I can get when it comes to keeping track of what I got in different folders.

Just when you think that Windows vista can be dull and borning. Check out the latest video from Microsoft.

There Is Always Help

One of the things that make the World Wide Web so great is the availability of information. No matter what the subject there is several website or blogs that contain information on the subject.

This Sunday morning I have listed the top 10 websites that I go to for help about Windows Vista.

1. PCmag.com
2. Support 4 Vista
3. Cnet Forums
4. Life Hacker
5. Windows Vista Magazine
6. Windows Super Site
7. Microsoft's Vista
   
8. Win Vista Club
9. ITs Vista
10. Windows Vista Blog
    

Optimization of Vista - Save Energy

One of the major complains of Windows Vista is that it is a resource hog. The tools that turned on by default and are nice take up so much of its' memory.

I must admit Aero Glass affect looks cool. Even the side bar with the widget keep information I want at my finger tips. Then there is me having 6 programs open at the same time.

Did you know by just turning off Aero Glass and the Sidebar will reduce your memory usage by 70 plus megabytes. That is what those two extra features use. Other programs that run in the background that you don't need on a day to day basis can be switched from automatic to manual.

The way I look at it we all have to cut back in some place to save energy, do a little less at the same time. In doing so we will be more secure. Or you could upgrade your computer to be more powerful. Or you could switch back to Windows XP. For me I am looking for ways to be more efficient in my entire life. That include my work behind the computer.

NOTE: Did you know that the more efficient your computer run the less electricity it takes? High end video cards, CRT monitors, and super fast processor's all require more energy.

Ready Boost - Tweak

USB thumb memory sticks are not the only way to get ready boost performance. Since USB memory sticks protruding from a computer or a laptop are easy to get knocked out. If your computer has a Secure Digital or CompactFlash card reader, you can use those media in place of a USB stick for Ready Boost.

All you need to do is put in you memory card, then when the window pops up what you want to do select Speed up my system.

NOTE: Don't have on your USB drive or SD and pictures or files that are important. You may loose them. If you use Ready Boost, have a flash card or USB drive specific for that purpose.

Search - Run

The search box above the Start Orb can be used for more than just search. It can be used as a launcher for programs, utilitites, beside looking for that miss placed music file.

To open a program all you have to do is type the file name in the search box. The program will appear in the search box at the top. Then all you have to do is left click on the search result.

Some of the more common utilities you can launch from the Desktop Search box is:

• dxdiag - Direct X and other setting
• cmd - Opens the command line window
• msconfig - Will open the start and running programs utility
• services.msc - Allows you edit the services
• mmc - The Microsoft Management Console

Search - Desktop

One of the new and powerful features in Windows Vista is Desktop Search. I fully like Microsoft's version as opposed to Google's. Vista's search feature does not require an internet connect, which makes me feel better when it comes to the privacy issue.

You get to the search feature in Vista by left clicking on the Start Orb. The search box is right above the Start Orb. All you have to do is start typing in the search box and Vista will start pulling up results to match what you have typed.

The search results from above the Start Orb will sort by category such as History, Files and Communication. This search can even be directed to the internet or your computer and the internet.

You can do this in any window you may have open in Vista. Windows explorer has a search box in the top right if it's window. This search will only be in the specific are searching from i.e. Outlook, Document, etc.

Compatibility Mode

Up until a couple of days ago, I have had almost no issues with installing programs on my Vista box computer. That was until I started to install a program that was not Vista compatible. The program was RSS Anouncer. It install just fine, but I kept getting errors when I tried to run it.

Then I remembered about Vista's Compatibility mode. So I right clicked on the program icon, then went down to Properties. I clicked on the Compatibility tab. After checking the the box Run this program in compatibility mode for:, I selected Windows XP (Service Pack 2).

I started to run the program, again. It start up and ran just fine. So I left clicked on the OK button and went on with my work.

Windows Contacts

Who needs Outlook? Microsoft has given you all the features that are in Outlook in Windows Vista. There are not bundled together, but they are there to use.

From the Start Orb to the All Program, then left click on Windows Contacts. Here is all you need in an address book on your computer. It is simple and straight forward.

I would like to point out a couple of things.

1. In the left column Contacts is a sub folder of your user accounts settings
2. Along the top on the right side is a search window. This search will help you find a contact if you have a 100 or more and can't remember how you got them listed.
3. The colored bar below is basically all you will need for organizing your contacts.
   

DVD Maker - Intro

What I can not understand is why buy specialize software when Windows already has a program built into its' operating system that will the same job. This is true with Windows DVD Maker. Here is a program that is bundled in with Vista. Most all new computer, that are sold today, have a DVD burner.

Access to the DVD Maker is accessed by

• Left clicking on the Start Orb
• Go to All Programs
• Then left click on DVD Maker

Why burn to a DVD instead of a CD?

1. You can share pictures, music on most all DVD players.
2. A CD will hold just under 700 Megabytes of information, where a single layer DVD will hold 4 Gigabytes; a dual layer DVD will hold almost 8 Gigabytes.