Video: Keyboard shortcuts for moving faster in Windows Vista

Courtesy of Tech Republic, here is the video. The link also has a link to text, if that's preferable to video.

Video: Keyboard shortcuts for moving faster in Windows Vista

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Video: Stop programs from running when Windows Vista starts

Is your Vista system running slow? If you have less than 2 GB of memory it certainly is slower than it can be!

Here is a video from TechRepublic that shows how to lighten the load on Vista by not starting programs at startup.

Video: Stop programs from running when Windows Vista starts

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Vista Service Pack 1 Is Here!

Microsoft says Windows Vista‌ Service Pack 1 (SP1) "is an important update that helps improve the reliability and performance of Windows Vista." What it really does
is finally make Vista an alternative for home and business use.

SP1 is now being installed via Windows Update, so anyone with automatic updates on Vists should have already noticed an improvement.

For those of you who installed Vista only to see it hang, even after repeated reboots, SP1 seems to have taken care of most of those issues as long as the computer is not underpowered (with either processor speed or RAM). We recommend at least a dual core processor and minimum 2 GB RAM, although you'll be happier with 4 GB RAM.

Microsoft says that other reliability improvements include better wireless computer-to-computer (ad hoc) connections, better peer-to-peer connections, such as using Windows Meeting Space, and many more.

From Microsoft, here are Improvements in performance:

• Faster copying or extracting files from a compressed mode.

• Better use of network bandwidth when browsing file shares over a network.

• Improved performance from Windows ReadyBoost in reducing the time it takes for Windows to wake up from Hibernate and Standby power modes.

• Better power consumption when your computer screen is idle for a long time.

• Improved logon experience when using a corporate computer, such as a laptop, outside of the corporate network.

• Faster opening of large image files.

SP1 also changed desktop search. Now the user gets to select a default desktop search service.

SP1 also changes how installed RAM is reported. Before SP1, the amount of memory reported was the amount that Windows was able to use. In SP1, the amount reported is the amount of actually installed. This may be more accurate for reporting the hardware, but not as useful if you want to know how memory you can use.

For more information visit Microsoft at Windows Vista Service Pack 1.

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Create your own custom Windows Vista Control Panel

For those of us who have already migrated to Visata and don't need the Windows XP keyboard shortcuts in the previous post, here's some help with Vista from Tech Republic.

Create your own custom Windows Vista Control Panel

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Vista control panel

5 Ways to speed up your PC

Courtesy of Microsoft (not that you need a faster PC to run Vista). The last note is on ReadyBoost in Vista, using a flash drive or memory card to boost memeory without having to crack the case. We prefer cracking the case at this time...

5 ways to speed up your PC

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ReadyBoost
Vista

Uh-Oh, MS Windows XP really IS going to be harder to find...

Every time we build a system on the Dell website they tell us, in bright red lettering, that June 18 is the last day to order a system with Windows XP. Microsft said in multiple statements over the past year or so, "Windows XP will no longer be available for purchase from Microsoft for general retail and OEM partners as of June 30, 2008."

Ah, but the operating system that wouldn't die isns't quite dead yet!

Retailers can continue to sell copies as long as they were purchased before June 30, and manufacturers can continue to sell Windows XP PCs as long under the same circumstances. Expect to see them available for a while, just not from Dell.

Another option for someone purchasing a new PC will be "downgrade rights." The OEM can sell a PC with Vista as the operating system, but downgrade it to Windows XP before shipping it. Dell will apparently only be offering this for a handful of models and only until January, 2009. advertising that yet, but I'm sure we will. These PCs will ship with both operating system and driver disks so the buyers can upgrade to Vista if they're so inclined.

Microsoft will be offering bug and security updates and support for Windows XP until April, 2009 and security updates until April, 2014.

Here is more information directly from Microsoft via their Windows Life-Cycle Policy page and MICROSOFT SUPPORT LIFECYCLE BLOG

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Beginning To Look Back On 2007 - Where Did The Year Go?

Sanity check: The 10 biggest technology belly flops of 2007 From Jason Hiner in Tech Republic

Speaking of TJX - TJX offers $40.9 million breach settlement From SearchSecurity.com

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2007 review
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