Minimal PC

Oct
29th

Thu

Microsoft Signature on PCs

This blog post by Ina Fried on CNet describes the “Microsoft Signature” PCs being sold at the new Microsoft retail stores and online store. These PCs come pre-installed with Windows 7 and applications like the Windows Live suite, Security Essentials, Zune and Adobe Flash and intended to bring out the best possible experience. Most importantly, none of the PCs will have trialware or “crapware” installed on them!

trevinphoto

Oct
27th

Tue

Installing Windows 7 without a DVD drive

Windows 7 is available by download from Microsoft Store, and one of the perks is that you have the choice of not only 32-bit and 64-bit, but also between a “compressed” and ISO format.

The compressed format, is simply a set of compressed Windows 7 setup file, with one overall setup file. You run the first setup to “unpack” Windows 7 setup files, then you can run Windows 7 setup normally. The files are packaged up to make it easier to download — 3 files instead of over 800. The installer version is perfect if your downloading on the PC you’re upgrading — just download, unpack the files and run Windows 7 Setup.

However, if you’re trying to install Windows 7 on another machine, or do a complete clean install, the compressed version may not be ideal since you often need physical media. To address that situation, Microsoft now offers Windows 7 also in ISO format, which will enable you to more easily create physical media to boot from and install Windows.

This blog article discussed Windows 7 download options as well as a tool they released (Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool) to help you take the ISO files and create either bootable DVD or USB Key.

trevinphoto

Oct
26th

Mon

12 Steps to Simplify Your PC

Just posted this on my blog - it’s the 12 steps I take with Windows 7 to get my system humming along how I like it. It’s no-nonsense but it’s still very basic. It’s really just about the essential stuff.

(BTW got a nice recommendation on a post from Minimal Mac about optimizing Windows for netbooks - not very minimalist - yet I wonder if he realizes that Mac OS X simply won’t run on $300 hardware and doesn’t have to address that problem?)

mitorres

Sep
15th

Tue

Unleashing the power of the Windows Key

Windows Key

We’ve talked about the power of the Windows Key several times in the past, because all of us are keyboard junkies and love any shortcut that makes our lives easier. This time, let’s talk about Window management with the arrow keys.

Windows Key combined with various keys gives you incredible control over your desktop:

Windows Key + { Left or Right Arrow } will activate Aero Snap and put the active window on either the left or right half of the screen. It even works with multiple monitor setups if you click Left or Right arrow repeatedly.
Windows Key + { Up or Down Arrow } will maximize or restore/minimize.
Windows Key + Home minimizes all other windows (except the current active one).
Windows Key + Shift + { Left or Right arrow} will put the active window on the left or right monitor in a multi-mon setup
Windows Key + Space will make activate Aero Peek, which makes all windows transluscent so you can see your desktop and any gadgets. (This is the keyboard shortcut for putting your mouse in the bottom right corner)

trevinphoto

Sep
14th

Mon

Another useful item to pin to your Windows 7 taskbar - Control Panel. Just like pinning a program, launch Control Panel and then right-click on the icon in the taskbar and click “Pin this program to taskbar”.

Now when you right-click on the Control Panel icon, you get quick access to the most recent control panel options you’ve used. I’ve pinned Personalization, Uninstall a program, Windows Update, Devices and Printers, and Change system sounds to make sure they’re always a click away.

As Mike says, it’s the little things…

jayfluegel

Sep
2nd

Wed

While the Windows Mobility Center isn’t new for Windows 7, it’s just as useful now as it was when it was introduced with Windows Vista.

With a quick press of <Windows Key> + X, you get a dashboard that appears that allows you to control a myriad of features on your PC from a single window.

You can do things like adjust screen brightness, toggle wifi, external display settings and even turn on “presentation mode”. OEMs, like Lenovo and Acer, can even extend the Mobility Center to add their own custom tasks that apply to their unique hardware specs.

trevinphoto

Aug
30th

Sun

Microsoft went over virtually the entire Windows OS, fine-tuned every single feature to be simpler, easier, and more efficient, and then made sure it was all as attractive and usable as possible…

…Sure, previous Windows versions provided a number of real world advantages over the competition, but in this release, finally, Microsoft has come up with an upgrade that is simpler, better looking, easier-to-use, and superior in every meaningful way to what Apple has created with the latest version of Mac OS X.

— Paul Thurrott, WinSuperSite

mitorres

Wow, this is one slick all-in-one. 24” multi-touch screen and a miniature SideShow screen. Check it out on Engadget.

mitorres

Aug
27th

Thu

iamakey from LaCie is the first USB thumbdrive that actually looks and feels just like a key.

omars

Aug
26th

Wed

A feature doesn’t need to be groundbreaking to make the time I spend on a computer more enjoyable or productive. Take connecting your laptop to a projector in a conference room, for example.

If you hate having to squint at the FN keys to remember the key combo for that particular computer maker, just hit the Windows and P keys together. You get a big, easy-to-read window for choosing how you want to project. Slick yet simple.

jayfluegel