Orbis Blog » Microsoft

Top 5 Benefits of Windows 7

Anthony — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:05:05 +0000

New Taskbar
This is one of the most visible changes in Windows 7. The Quick Launch toolbar is gone. A user can now ‘pin’ applications to the toolbar (Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer are here by default). Applications are now launched and managed from the toolbar. All open windows of a given application will be grouped together under a single icon. A user can simply hover over this icon to get a thumbnail sized live look-in to each window, a feature known as “Aero Peek”. While this may take some getting used to, we really like that it organizes windows better and allows a user to change applications more quickly and easily.
Device Recognition
One of the biggest knocks on Windows Vista pertained to hardware compatibility issues. Simply put, often times if you plugged something in (a printer, external hard drive, cell phone) the computer could not communicate with these devices without installing additional software. Windows 7 comes preinstalled with a large number of drivers and can automatically search for new ones via Windows Update.
Less Restrictive
Thanks to new customizable and controllable settings, Windows 7 features fewer pop-up notifications and permissions windows. Windows 7 also utilizes the “Action Center” to centralize messages pertaining to security status, Windows Update, and User Access Control.
Problem Steps Recorder
Have you ever experienced a problem on your computer and when you call Orbis for assistance, the problem seems to have gone away? With the new “Problem Steps Recorder” this will be a thing of the past. Simply open up this program and click record and try to perform the troublesome task again. Everything you do can be tracked with screenshots to assist a technical support representative in troubleshooting your issue.
Aero Snap & Aero Shake
These are a couple of the cooler new features of Windows 7. “Aero Snap” allows a user to take an open window and drag it to one side of the screen and ‘snap’ it to take up half of the screen. Doing this with multiple Microsoft Word documents for example would allow you to view two open documents side-by-side.

“Aero Shake” allows a user to grab an open window and ‘shake’ the mouse back and forth, doing so hides all other opened windows except the one selected. Shaking the mouse again restores all hidden windows. As monitors continue to grow in size and users transition into having multiple windows open at one time, we see these features being a convenient way to organize your work.

Internet Explorer Critical Update

Jessica — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:18:51 +0000

Microsoft has released an official security update to Internet Explorer which fixes an exploit announced yesterday. The update fixes the hack which could grab passwords and other sensitive information, so you will want to download it.

Click here for a handy table which will direct you to which update is best for you, as they differ depending on which version of IE and operating system you currently use.

Zune vs. iPod

Jessica — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:10:22 +0000

CNet recently conducted a head to head comparison of Microsoft’s Zune and Apple’s iPod. Both are sure to be hot gifts this Christmas!

http://reviews.cnet.com/4370-11399_7-324-101.html?tag=bubbl_2

Easy Image Resizing

Alex — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:11:35 +0000

When you email a photo, you’ll want to reduce the size of the file since large digital images can take a long time to view or download and potentially be too large for someone’s inbox. This can be done in most image editing programs, such as Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, and even Microsoft Office Picture Manager. Here’s a free tool from Microsoft that will let you resize one or more image files with a right click.

This tool only works with Windows XP. For some other fun, free and functional tools from Microsoft, check out these Microsoft Power Toys.

New Critical Microsoft Update

Jessica — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:30:13 +0000

Microsoft has released a new critical patch for Windows XP and Windows Server 2000 and 2003 operating systems. This patch fixes a servere bug that would allow a hacker to gain control of your computer system remotely. Be sure to run Windows Update today to ensure you get this important update. Windows Vista is not affected by this problem.

Microsoft Security Bulletin

Backing up your data

Alex — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:16:22 +0000

Most corporate networks have a system for backing up all company data stored on the server. But what about all the personal photos, pictures, and music that are on your home computer? Most people think about backing up their data about 5 minutes after it’s too late to do any good. Make sure you’re not headed for a disaster and give some thought to a system for backing up your personal data.

Fortunately, backing up your data doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming. If you’re using Windows XP, it’s especially easy.

Microsoft Outlook keyboard shortcuts

Jessica — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:34:13 +0000

For those who use email regularly, click here to check out a listing of some useful keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Outlook 2007. If you are interested in upgrading to Microsoft Office, or Microsoft Outlook 2007, contact us today.

Convert old Office files to the 2007 version

Jessica — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:36:45 +0000

If you’ve recently upgraded to Microsoft Office 2007 and want to quickly convert your old Office documents to the Office 2007 format, click here for step-by-step instructions. This is a great way to avoid manually updating every file separately.

Office 2007 incompatibility with older versions

Jessica — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:38:25 +0000

If you’ve ever sent a document created in a Microsoft Office 2007 program (Word 2007, for example) to someone who had an older version of the program and they got back to you saying they couldn’t open it, here are two quick and helpful tips:

You could pass along this link so the recipient could download a compatibility pack, that way they can view the file without upgrading their software.

Or, you can always take it upon yourself to save the file so it is compatible with all versions of Office software. Get those quick directions here.

Outlook Tip for Large Attachments

Jessica — Fri, 23 May 2008 18:58:50 +0000

If you ever find that your Outlook inbox has too many emails with large, unneeded attachments, there is a simple way to delete only the attached file, while still keeping the original email message. Not only does this process allow you to keep solely the information that you need, but it is also a good way to save space on your hard drive and in your inbox. Click here for the instructions, which also show you how to save the attached file to your hard drive before deleting it from Outlook, so it stops clogging up your inbox.