Windows Vista Compatible Web Cam

After 5 long years, Microsoft has finally launched a new Operating system called the Windows Vista, which was codenamed Longhorn. The premium edition of this operating system uses a Windows Aero graphical user interface. But one of the other features include the use of web cams compatible with the Vista. There are two top of the line web cams, the first being the Creative web cam Vista Pro and the other is the Logitech QuickCam Fusion. In addition, There are also other web cams that can be used with Vista which should also be considered during the buying process.

Creative web cam Vista Pro has the ability to capture in high-resolution video format and enable a state of the art chatting experience. It is an ideal web cam for home use as well as office use as it is fitted with a high quality 640 x 480 (VGA) CMOS sensor. It can even capture still images up to a resolution of 640?480 and can help you to take photographs with the help of a snapshot button. The Creative windows Vista web cam is compatible with USB 1.1 and 2.0. The web cam is compatible with all messaging programs like AOL Instant Messenger, Windows?Messenger, Yahoo!? Messenger, MSN? Messenger and other IM services.

The Logitech QuickCam Fusion is no less than its creative counterpart and has been designed in such a way that it can easily sit on the CRT monitor using its rubberized stand. It comes with a horizontal design and features a new 1.3-megapixel sensor. You can capture high resolution 640 x 480 video and 1280 x 960 for still pictures. It is priced at $99.99

Another web cam, the Hercules Dualpix HD priced at $85.95 is rated higher than many other web cams on the market for it's 1.3 megapixel video sensor, the clamp on the bottom allows you to attach the webcam to both LCDs and CRTs, the bundled software, and the low price tag. This web cam has digital zoom, emotion delayer, burst mode, and more. Finally, this webcam won an award for excellence in the industry and most importantly, it is compatible with Microsoft Vista.

Choosing a web cam can be difficult but if you do a little bit of research you can find one that fits your purpose. Just make sure it is compatible with the OS you are using or you may have a useless piece of software on your hands.

Windows Vista Backup Features

Windows Vista has been one of the most anticipated operating system releases ever. The many delays have only heightened the wait. But now that Windows Vista has been released, what features does it bring to you - the end user? Some of Vista's best features revolve around data backup and restoration.

Windows Vista sports a new backup and recovery center. This is the kind of feature that makes a support technician want to get up and dance. One of the most frequent problems from end users is data loss. That's a heart breaking situation for all involved. Vista gives you the ability to backup and restore your data quickly and easily.

One of the hallmarks of a good backup and recovery system is that it is easy. Windows Vista makes it easy for you to backup your valuable data by providing a helpful wizard. One of the great things about the wizard is that it excludes system and program files. You don't need those backed up. And most users don't know what to exclude. The restoration of the data is also easy. The wizard steps you through the restoration process quite nicely. Another hallmark of a good backup system is that it is automated. The wizard steps you through scheduling backups to the location of your choice.

Now, a special treat is in store for users of the business, ultimate, and enterprise editions of Windows Vista. You have access to a handy little feature called shadow copy. This little jewel creates versions of your documents as you work on them. If you accidentally delete the file, you can easily restore it via shadow copy.

Windows Vista adopts the system restore feature from Windows XP. System restore is another feature that most users don't know about or use. This great feature allows you to roll back your computer to a previous time. You won't lose any documents. And it can correct wrong installations of drivers and software mishaps. System restore makes automatic restore points when you install new hardware or software. Again, automation is a great thing.

If you are the lucky owner of Windows Vista business, ultimate, or enterprise edition; you can enjoy the benefits of a complete imaging system. This allows you to do snapshot backups of your entire PC. Recovery can be done so that you retain all your programs, documents, drivers, etc. This is similar to Norton Ghost features. You could also push that image over to a replacement PC if needed. Microsoft is also coming out with a backup server that will ease backups across the network.

Windows Vista brings some much needed backup features to the typical end user. It allows for simple and automated backups. And the recovery process is very easy. Shadow copy allows for document versioning, which will help alleviate document loss issues. And Vista also incorporates XP's system restore feature. Windows Vista's backup functionality will help many users.

Learn About Windows Vista Registry Cleaner

Just keep in mind, you can keep your vista system is perfect operating state by regularly cleaning it up and Registry Cleaner is one of the tools that will help you do so. Application error messages are reduced hence increasing the speed of the Vista operating system as well as its performance. Adware and Spyware leave behind a whole plethora of errors that the Registry Cleaner removes. Therefore, for a complete and secure Vista experience, get a Windows Vista Registry Cleaner.

Microsoft Windows Vista is the most sought after operating system now-a-days. What is most fascinating about Windows Vista is its interface. The interface is comprised of an animated see-through window that has a touch of graceful and subtle color along with a brand new Start menu. While this many be the case, keeping the system efficient and effective is still the key interest of users and computer professionals. Windows Vista Registry Cleaner is one such utility that is needed to maintain the operating system in good shape.

The registry is catalog of all information about the software, hardware and preferences of the user along with all the settings details. A registry key in Vista operating system is created or modified or deleted every time new software program has been installed or uninstalled. This is the case even when software programs are used.

Any error that occurs during installing or uninstalling of software in Windows Vista is also stored along with the error application in the registry. This causes the registry to be crammed with orphaned or corrupted entries. The registry also gets stuffed with invalid programs that you may have removed from your system long ago. This causes the resources of the system to choke and this considerably slows down the Windows Vista computer.

Registry Cleaner is, often, used to counter software problems in Windows Vista based computers as well as to optimize the system performance. It basically removes the invalid entries from the computer. But the problem that goes with badly developed Registry Cleaner is that it may remove useful programs keys, which may be useful for running your favorite software. Hence a good Registry Cleaner would scan the system for any dubious entry that may harm your system. It would also make sure that the suspicious entry does not affect any software that has already been installed and ones that are in use.

If any problems are detected by the Windows Vista Registry Cleaner after it analyzes the vista system, you can view each of these issues and ask for a detailed explanation of that particular problem. On the other hand, you can choose for an automatic correction of the errors. But you must remember to take a back up of all registry keys that you require to delete before you run the Registry Cleaner to make sure you are always safe.

Just keep in mind, you can keep your vista system is perfect operating state by regularly cleaning it up and Registry Cleaner is one of the tools that will help you do so. Application error messages are reduced hence increasing the speed of the Vista operating system as well as its performance. Adware and Spyware leave behind a whole plethora of errors that the Registry Cleaner removes. Therefore, for a complete and secure Vista experience, get a Windows Vista Registry Cleaner.

Windows Vista feature to avoid power misuse

Microsoft introduced new feature in Windows Vista which can help to reduce power misuse.

One of the significant features Microsoft introduced in Vista is new power saving mode. Windows XP has two power saving mode, Standby and Hibernate. Windows Vista replaced them by Sleep mode. Hibernate is still available as an advanced power setting, but the Sleep mode is the default one and has more advanced features.

While in sleep, computer uses very less power for internal use. In notebooks, with the minimum power used during sleep mode, system goes to stand by mode and the state of the system is saved in the memory. If battery power goes down to critically low level, the system wakes for a very short time to save the needed information onto the hard drive, and immediately goes to hibernate state.

In Desktop systems, the process is little different. Here Microsoft Vista uses "hybrid sleep". In hybrid sleep, the state of the system is stored both in RAM and on disk, so that system can recover it?s state in case the power is lost. After saving the state of the system, it goes to sleep mode from where computer can easily bring back to working state.

Top goal of introducing this mode is enabling easy and first ?on? and ?off? of the computer. While making sure computer can save all data when the system is turned off, and brings in same state while you turn back on. In order to ensure that "off" worked effectively with this new model, instead of waiting for green signal from each application in the computer, Windows Vista sending notice to each application, services and devices about the power saving state and wait for maximum 2 seconds for them to finish up their current job and put themselves into a state from where they can continue when the system wakes up. Similarly Windows vista is very fast to come back from the sleep state. When you open the lid of your laptop, you will find your system becomes instantly on, sometime you may wonder if it was on whole time.

Another goal is to reduce the power consumption when the system is idle. Normally we want to avoid long boot process of the computer, so we prefer to keep the system up 24X7. This may be nice to keep your system always ready to work but in this way we are wasting huge amount of power. Windows Vista?s sleep mode made dramatic change to reduce computer?s idle power consumption. While a typical Pentium 4 system uses 102.6 watts of power, same PC while in sleep consumes only 5.6 watts. Vista provides API for the application developers so that application can get notifications about the power scheme being used on the system and then adapt their behavior for the power scheme.

Using Microsoft group policy IT administrator of a Business organization can decide that all machines will go to sleep after specified time of inactivity. Normally in large organization tons of computers sitting idle and because of that huge power gets wasted. This feature must help them to reduce power wastage.

Protect your Computer with Windows Vista

Windows Vista introduces number of new security features to protect computer from malware. It is always good to know about them, that will help you to implement them in your computer.

There are number of security features in Windows Vista. Most of which are newly introduced in this version. Along with them old security features also available with some advanced protection mechanism. UAC (User Account Control) is the most significant security update in Vista. With this feature, all users, including users with administrative privileges, run in a standard user mode by default. When any action require Administration privilege such as software installation or changing system setting, Windows prompts for Administrator authentication. This security implemented in Vista to protect your computer from malware software. If any of those malware softwares tries to change any setting or install any software in your system, they will be prompted for consent first. System administrators also have the option to configure the system to require an administrator password for such elevations. Microsoft added another layer of security ?Windows Defender?. Windows defender going to scan the system periodically to detect spyware, addition to that it includes Real Time Security Agents which is going to monitor the important settings of the systems if there any system configuration changes caused by spyware. Windows vista introduced several parental controls. As an administrator it is possible to locking web content and limit web browsing to only Kids website. As well as controlling based on categories such as ?Pornography? or ?Chatting? and so on. Administrator can restrict other users from executing certain programs. Also there is option to restrict certain hours of the day when gaming or other activities are permitted. It also introduced BitLocker Drive Encryption to protect data from a lost or stolen computer. There is a big threat of data theft or exposure from lost or stolen computer. Data on lost or stolen machines can often be viewed by installing a different operating system. BitLocker Drive Encryption is a hardware-enabled data protection feature that helps protect data on a PC when the machine is in unauthorized hands. By encrypting the entire Windows volume, it prevents unauthorized users from accessing Windows file and attempting the offline viewing of information on the secured drive.

The Encryption File System (EFS) is a powerful tool for encrypting information on client computers and remote file server to protect them from unauthorized users. EFS support storing user keys as well as administrative recovery keys on smart cards. If smart cards are used for logon, EFS operates in a Single Sign On mode, where it uses the logon smart card for file encryption without further prompting for the PIN. The Client Side Cache, which stores offline copies of files from remote servers, can also be encrypted with EFS. Another way that malicious software makes its way onto a user?s machine is by taking advantage of buffer overruns. Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) is a defense capability in Windows Vista that makes it harder for malicious code to exploit a system function. Whenever a Windows Vista computer is rebooted, ASLR randomly assigns executable images such as DLLs and EXEs to one of 256 possible locations in memory. This makes it harder for exploit code to locate and therefore take advantage of functionality inside the executables. It is very common in office environment that somehow malware got into one of the systems and from there malware spread into other systems in the local nework. To avoid those circumstances vista introduced Network Access Protection(NAP) that performs computer health policy validation. Independent hardware and software vendors can plug their security solutions into NAP, so IT administrators can choose the security solutions that meet their unique needs and NAP helps ensure that every machine on the network makes full use of those solutions.

Vista also includes the much improved Internet Explorer 7, which includes more than a dozen new security enhancements.

Memory Requirements For Windows Vista

Now that Windows Vista has been released many people are now asking if their computer is capable of running Microsoft's new operating system. With relatively new PC's, the answer is likely to be yes, but even older PC's may be able to run Windows Vista with a simple memory upgrade.

Microsoft classify computers as either "Vista Capable" or "Vista Premium Ready", depending on the hardware specs.

Vista Capable pc's will have a minimum 800 Mhz CPU, 512MB of RAM, 20GB hard drive (15GB free), and a DirectX 9 class graphics card. A computer that meets these requirements should be able to run all versions of Windows Vista, but may still require a hardware upgrade to access the advanced features of the new Aero interface, such as the window transparencies and other visual effects.

Vista Premium Ready pc's will have at least a 1Ghz CPU, 1GB of installed RAM, a 40GB hard drive (15GB free), and an Aero-compatible graphics card which supports the new Windows Display Driver Model and 128mb of onboard memory. A computer that meets these requirements will be able to take advantage of the "high end" features of Windows Vista and have access to all of the new Vista special user interface effects.

To help you determine whether or not you can install Vista, Microsoft offer the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor from their website (runs on Windows XP or Vista) to help determine if your pc is capable of running the various versions of Vista.

Now that we've got the "official" requirements out in the open, let's discuss the hardware you are really going to need to have a satisfying experience using Windows Vista.

After upgrading literally thousands of computers over the last 3 years, I really cannot recommend Windows Vista to anyone with a pc running a CPU slower than 1GHz. With a CPU this slow, it's very likely that the maximum memory capacity of your pc is going to be 1GB (especially with laptops). If you have a pc in this category and only a minimum amount of RAM, I recommend staying with Windows XP and upgrading to at least 1GB of system memory. You'll be amazed at the difference it makes to how well Windows XP runs, and it's likely going to feel like you are using a new computer. Alternatively, look at buying a new computer with Vista pre-installed.

If your PC has at least a 1GHhz CPU then by all means install Windows Vista, but don't expect great performance with the recommended 512MB of installed RAM. Consider 1GB of RAM as the absolute minimum, and 2GB as the sweet spot. If you're a power user who runs a lot of applications at once (or a serious gamer), then I recommend you consider 4GB of installed RAM as a target for the maximum experience, but only if you have a modern CPU (Core Duo 1.8Ghz equivalent or higher) and graphics card (256mb on-board ram or higher).

Windows Vista certainly provides a richer and more user-friendly interface, but the hardware requirements to take advantage of all the new features are quite steep. As with Windows XP and most other windows-based operating systems, installing a good amount of system memory is going to give you a pleasant experience and ultimately extend the useful life of your computer.

Microsoft's Windows Vista

Windows Vista is the next version of Windows for clients and servers. With the client version expected in 2006 for businesses and 2007 for consumers and the server version in 2007, Vista adds numerous features, including improved security and advanced multimedia capabilities.

Vista also includes Trustworthy Computing (Palladium) and greater support for digital rights management. PCs running Vista require more memory than Windows XP. At least 1GB is recommended, with 2GB being a safer bet.

Security and safety features of Windows Vista There are a number of security and safety settings of Windows Vista. Internally, Microsoft adopted a "Security Development Lifecycle" with the underlying ethos of, "Secure by design, secure by default, secure in deployment". New code for Windows Vista was developed with the SDL methodology, and all existing code was reviewed and refactored to improve security. A number of specific improvements have been made:

-Windows Resource Protection prevents "potentially damaging system configuration changes", by preventing change to system files and settings by any process other than Windows Installer. Also changes to registry by unauthorized software are blocked.

-Protected-Mode IE: Internet Explorer runs in a separate, low-privilege process, protecting the user from malicious content and security vulnerabilities, even in ActiveX controls.

-Windows Firewall has been upgraded to support outbound packet filtering and full IPv6 support. A new MMC-based interface has been introduced which offers much more advanced control over the firewall.

-Session 0 Isolation: Previous versions of Windows ran System services in the same login session as the locally logged-in user (Session 0). In Windows Vista, Session 0 is now reserved for these services, and all interactive logins are done in other sessions. This is intended to help mitigate a class of exploits of the Windows message-passing system, known as Shatter attacks.

-BitLocker Drive Encryption. Formerly known as "Secure Startup", this software utilizes a Trusted Platform Module to improve PC security. It ensures that the PC running Windows Vista starts in a known-good state, and it also protects data from unauthorized access through full volume encryption. Data on the volume is encrypted with a Full Volume Encryption Key (FVEK), which is further encrypted with a Volume Master Key (VMK) and stored on the disk itself.

-Windows Vista can use Smart Cards or Smart Card/Password combo for user authentication.

-Windows Vista can use smart cards to store Encrypting File System (EFS) keys. This makes sure that encrypted files are accessible only as long as the smart card is physically available.

Drawbacks of Windows Vista:

-If you install Windows Vista and any other operating system on a computer, you must install Windows Vista on a separate partition. Installing Windows Vista on a separate partition ensures that it will not overwrite files used by the other operating system.

-The drawback is that Windows Vista comes with two OpenType Khmer fonts, Daunpenh and Moolboran. Those fonts have small characters, which makes it hard to view Khmer text. This problem can be fixed by installing Khmer OS fonts. After Khmer OS fonts are installed, Khmer text will display nicely on Firefox.

-Another problem would be the Keyboard layout. Khmer Keyboard layout on Windows Vista (layout attached) is not the same as Keyboard Driver from KhmerOS.info, which I think many people are used to.

Find and Use InformationThe success of a business depends on the success of its people. Making your employees more productive and facilitating communication is the main reason you invest in Information Technology. Yet, with most tools today, it is difficult for employees to quickly find the information they need and leverage information technology to its full potential. Windows Vista is designed as a People-Ready solution so they can easily find and use information.

-The fast, integrated desktop search in Windows Vista helps make it easier for users to find the information they need, even if it is on a shared drive or other network resource. Windows Vista Desktop Search is integrated throughout the operating system?in the start menu, control panel, and their document folders making it easy to find the information they are looking for. Users can also tag a file with "metadata" to indicate that it belongs to a certain project or other category, making it easier to search, filter and organize their files.

-Once the user has entered the search information, Windows Vista helps make it easier to identify the right data by displaying high-resolution thumbnails of the content. Users can dynamically adjust the size of these thumbnails to make them large enough for users to know whether they've found the right document without opening it. The user can then store the search results in a "search folder" to be recalled for later use.

-Windows Vista helps make users more productive managing online information as well. With tabbed browsing in Internet Explorer 7, users can visually scroll to the right page. Web page printing is also improved so you can capture all of the information, without cutting off part of the page.

5 Hardware Essentials for Installing Microsoft Windows Vista

Windows Vista works based on the capabilities of the hardware installed. Windows Vista Capable PCs and Windows Vista Premium Ready PCs both are geared for running Windows Vista but the experience varies with the "premium" delivering more advanced user experience.

Even if you are just considering installing Windows Vista in the far or near future when buying a new laptop or PC you must check the hardware configuration so that the computer is in actuality capable of running Windows Vista in all its glory.

According to Microsoft:

* A Windows Capable PC must have:

o An 800MZ modern processor.

o System memory of 512 MZ.

o A graphics card that is DirectX 9 capable.

* A Premium Ready PC must have:

o 1 GHz with a x86 or x64 bits.

o 1GB memory card.

o 128 MB graphics memory which supports DirectX 9 graphics.

o 40GB hard drive with 15 GB free space.

o DVD rom drive.

o Audio output.

o Internet access capability.

o TV tuner card specific for Windows Vista.

o A TPM 1.2 chip or USB 2.0 key.

o Electromagnetic digitizer pen.

To completely experience Windows Vista features a computer must be state of art and have at least a 40GB harddrive and 15GB of free space. Most Pcs in use today have neither the memory or graphic processors that will run Windows Vista without a major overhaul. And according to Robert McLaws a Windows Vista tester, "Windows Aero is a great eye candy feature, but most families should not drop what they've got and get a fast new machine for it,"

Before you rush and spend money on upgrades you must consider what is important to you. In Vista useable features are enhanced security and easy of use. Features like Windows Aero are "wow" but do not add to everyday use unless you area computer connoisseur.

Tips:

* Don't invest in PCs or laptops with integrated graphics cards. These use up a considerable amount of a PCs memory.

* Desktops can be upgraded while notebooks cannot.

* If your use of a computer is for gaming, editing or watching movies, or CAD then you must invest in a high powered graphics card as ell as additional memory.

* Notebook owners must aim for a 2GB Ram and discrete graphics chip.

Microsoft is dedicated to preparing the world of PC users for Windows Vista and to this end they have set up a "Get Ready Site" at Windowsvista.com which provided in depth information to users about the OS. They also have an application for download on Windows XP PCs that will informer the owner what is required to become "Vista" ready.

7 Must Knows for Windows Vista Newbies

Not all computer users are tech savvy and attuned to blogs, forum discussions, and reviews of the great new expectation of 2006 the Windows Vista Release. For everyday computer user things like administrator control or enhanced security has little or no meaning. All he or she looks for is a computer that works smoothly, allows them to enjoy the World Wide Web and simple functions like email, photos, and perhaps online shopping.

According to those in the know Windows Vista is all set to open many doors of delight.

1. According to Bill Gates, Microsoft is planning to allow DirectTV subscribers to "move shows from their set top boxes to Windows PCs, or even the Xbox 360 or other mobile devices. This is to be a part of the "Plays for Sure" plan.

2. Vista is all set to have a swanky new Messenger which will steal minds and hearts of users and function smoothly too.

3. Music played on a PC will reach new levels with the swanky new Windows Media Player 11 which is being launched with Windows Vista. This will sort, file, and mix and match music according to the likes of the user. You can view the music according to say genre or even type.

4. The Windows Vista Media Center will allow uninterrupted viewing of high definition digital cable.

5. Vista is designed with futuristic photo editing tools that will change the way photos are viewed or stored or shared. Every Vista user will have enhanced features and will be able to edit and print studio quality photographs. Photos can be sorted by date, keywords, or any other individual system.

6. That Vista graphics will be state of art is well known but inbuilt in Vista is Flip 3D a tool that will allow users to shift among multiple open windows and a side bar that will run in the corner continuously.

7. Vista users will be able to use a new slideshow to mix video images and still photos.

8. As far as gaming is concerned Vista reaches for new heights with enhanced graphics, 3D effects, and real to life projections. Gaming will take on new dimensions with the launch of Windows Vista.

Vista is being promoted by Microsoft as the ultimate OS, what the release will bring will be known only when the actual system is released towards the end of 2006. Fairly advanced Vista users will have to tweak their hardware systems or purchase a new dream machine. The Windows Vista according to promos is all set to bring "clarity to the world" and open new vistas in computing. The program addresses needs at all levels personal and professional and the system is such that it can be tweaked to suit individual needs.

Get Rid Of Windows Vista Bootloader

This particular problem is noticed when you have installed Microsoft Windows Vista BetaRC1 on your existing Windows system, in dual-boot mode. While installing windows, Vista overwrites the system MBR (Master Boot Record) and gives you an option between Windows Vista and Windows XP or any other operating system. When windows Vista is uninstalled, one expects, not to see the dual-boot menu, but this isn't quite the case. There could be three possible solutions for this particular problem as discussed below in detail below.

Solution 1:

The Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store contains the boot configuration parameters which controls the start of Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" operating systems. Previously these parameters used to be in the Boot.ini file (in BIOS-based operating systems) or in the nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) entries (in Extensible Firmware Interface-based operating systems).

Bcdedit.exe, located in the WindowsSystem32 directory of the Windows Vista partition can be used as the command-line tool to alter the Windows? code which is run in the pre-operating system environment by adding, deleting, editing, and appending entries in the BCD store
Why was there a change to BCD from Boot.ini?

Improved mechanism for describing boot configuration data was the main intention for changing to BCD from Boot.ini. With the development of new firmware models (for example, the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI)), an extensible and interoperable interface was required to abstract the underlying firmware.

This new design provides the foundation for a variety of new features in Windows Vista (for example, the Startup Repair tool and Multi-User Install shortcuts).
VistaBootPRO is an application, which is used to make changes to the Windows Vista Boot Configuration Data (BCD) registry quickly and easily.
Designed for both beginners and advanced users, VistaBootPRO can be used to make "cosmetic" changes to the Windows Vista boot Menu, such as changing the name of the Operating Systems shown in the boot menu and also can be used for more advanced "functional" changes like adding an Operating System to the boot menu and repairing the Windows Vista boot configuration data.
Advanced settings include backing up and exporting the boot loader configuration, and modifying various details for the entries.

For those who have used bcdedit.exe in the past, you will be impressed with the ease of use and functionality that VistaBootPRO provides.
Install this software on your Windows XP system and delete the Windows Vista entry. It is advisable to make a backup of existing boot config using VistaBoot Pro incase anything goes bad.

Solution 2:

This solution is the second best option for the problem. To achieve this you'll need a Windows XP Home or Windows XP Professional CD.
Make necessary changes in the BIOS settings, so as to boot from CDDVD-ROM drive and boot from your Windows XP CD. Now, you would see screen as below, Choose the "Recovery Console" option by pressing 'R' key.

Now it should display the screen below as shown below, if asked enter you Admin password:
Now, type FIXMBR and press enter, press 'Y' to confirm as shown below:
Now, you need to type: FIXBOOT and press ?enter?, press 'Y' to confirm
Now, remove the XP CD from drive and restart your computer, and this should remove the EXTRA Windows Vista Boot Option.

10 New Features in Microsoft Windows Vista

The curiosity levels and buzz regarding Windows Vista is probably greater than the news that spread when man landed on the moon. Extensively discusses and analyzed Microsoft's Windows Vista is scheduled for an end 2006 release with the corporate version coming first.

According to reports Windows Vista is all set to satisfy every need:

1. Security is comprehensive and takes care of every imaginable problem. Windows and spyware library are streamlined as also administrator tools.

2. The back up software is state-of -art and computer systems can be installed across several states and countries within a company by simple creating an image.

3. Windows side bar is atoll that has been designed to provide regular or continuous updates on weather, stock movements, temperature, sports scores and more. This just means you will be able to keep a tab on these while you are working on the main screen.

4. The internet explorer 7 has enhanced privacy management and security functions are all at the next level. The color coded address bar will indicate whether a page is designed to "phish" information or whether it is authentic.

5. A feature awaited for with bated breath is high-end graphics and aero-glass interface with great 3D rendering, animation, and effects. Translucent icons and other elements are all the latest technology and allow functions like viewing real time on minimized windows without opening programs. The Windows Vista is designed for people who multitask.

6. Integrated desktop search will allow powerful indexing, user specific searches and data access, and ease of filing and storing much used URLs. Searches can be extended to other PCs on the network by using Windows Longhorn.

7. Updates are streamlined and can be done directly without the use of Internet Explorer. A key component of the new system is said to be Windows Defender.

8. Windows Vista brings with it updated and revolutionary Windows Media Player, with an MP3 library. The Windows Photo Gallery in Vista brings photo library functionality and in Vista photos can get mega tags, titles, ratings, and what are more there are systems that allow limited editing and printing too.

9. Windows Vista recognizes parental concerns regarding computers and the World Wide Web. The new software has enhanced systems that allow greater parental control. Parents can limit access to files, and web pages, block sites, lock downloads, and screen objectionable content. Guess what even games can be blocked based on the game's Entertainment Software Rating.

10. Back ups are visionary in Windows Vista. The system can be set to take periodic snapshots of your whole operating system as well as files. This means in case of total break down you will not loose any data or software.

Windows Vista brings great news for business users. It not just facilitates P2P collaboration, but Vista users can share files and other data across the network. It allows even a mobile workforce to utilize computers while traveling.

Although there are releases, reviews, and speculation one needs to wait until Windows Vista is in actual use to judge how many hopes and promises are going to come true.

25 Main Windows Vista Features

The whole world is waiting with expectancy for the arrival of Windows Vista and its promised delights. And, in the meantime, techies speculate and debate on what to expect, what the hurdles will be, and more.

Microsoft has been promoting Windows Vista as having features that provide a unique experience. The system is aimed to be user friendly and dynamic. Microsoft has worked on Vista at two levels; they have updated existing windows features and introduced new features. Among the many features of Windows Vista are the following gleaned from published documentation, blogs, and releases by Microsoft.

1. The interface is said to be state of art and has been called Aero, authentic, energetic, reflective, and open. User friendly, the interface is touted to be cleaner, streamlined, and aesthetic.

2. The windows shell for Vista is expected to reach for new standards in operating systems. The organization, navigation, and search capabilities are all user friendly and fast. The tool bar and one click access are devised to speed up operations.

3. Instant search is expected to revolutionize the system. Search boxes are integral to many applications.

4. Desk top gadgets positioned on the right hand side of the screen will enable users to view sports scores, weather, and other interesting things while continuing to work on the main screen.

5. The Media Player is expected to have great new features like graphic interface, photo display, systematic organization, and compatibility with Xbox360 and other media players.

6. The internet explorer, aimed to be genx, is expected to have a new user interface, tabled browsing, search box, easy printing, tabs, zoom, and other on tab functions. The system hopes to have advanced security protection and improved web standards support.

7. State of art back up and restore functions will enable users to schedule back ups of files. The system is designed such that back ups are incremental and only new material is backed up saving space as well as making the system easy to use. The "complete PC backup" will create an image on the entire system onto the hard disk or a DVD. In case there is a break down the "complete pc backup" will recreate the entire system.

8. Outlook express has a new avatar, Windows Mail. And, according to those in the know the system is reliable and can actually filter junk mail.

9. Updates of software and security systems in the new system will be through a control panel. There will be no need for any web applications.

10. In Windows Vista parents can have greater say in what the children can use and access. This system is designed to protect kids from exposure to violence and porn.

11. Windows vista has features that will enable computer access through handhelds and mobiles even if the computer if off.

12. Vista has multiple language speech recognition which will allow dictation and activation of commands.

13. Gaming with Vista has raised expectations of avid gamers. New graphics, better display features, and ease of use means faster gaming and more thrills."

14. The photo gallery in vista has great new applications. It will function as a photo and movie library and be compatible with all kinds of devices. In windows vista this will tag and rate photos, make adjustments in color and exposure, create effects and burn slideshows to DVDs.

15. The Vista DVD maker will create DVDs from existing content.

16. The system permits sharing of files and applications. Vista's Windows Meeting space promoted P2P applications.

17. Vista is designed to think. Super Fetch a memory management strategy studies user usage and retains pages in accordance to popularity. High priority content is retained in memory by detection of troublesome memory usage patterns.

18. Windows Vista is expected to have a ready boost, a flash device that extends disk caching capabilities. This will enable use of USB 2.0 flash drives, SD cards, or compact flash cards. This innovation is expected to lend a performance level that is 8-10 times higher than at present.

19. A touch screen is expected to be a part of Vista.

20. Disk partitions in Vista are designed to prevent data loss.

21. The task manager as well as task scheduler in Vista is being revamped to provide better computing.

22. Extensive focus is on security which has been a problem with Microsoft operating systems. In Vista the aim is to provide security at all levels of operation and the system includes an advance security firewall, a defender, as well as a phishing filter among other security measures. The innovations are all set to give a new definition to windows security.

23. Vista's premier interface, Windows Aero will lend 3D graphics, great animation, visual effects, and translucence to videos, games, and other applications that have graphics.

24. The Vista developer technologies are many and are expected to include .Net framework version 3.0, a new user interface system among others.

25. Vista based on a new interface will support many features like WIM image format, group policy settings, and network file systems, that will ease the working of businesses

While techies and others are waiting to see how Vista functions, in actuality there are several concerns surfacing regarding costs, user account control, hardware requirements, digital rights management, security, and the similarities to the Mac OS X.

Windows Vista: Which edition do you need?

With the commercial release of Windows Vista right around the corner many users are preparing to upgrade to the latest Microsoft operating system. The software giant has created serveral editions of the Vista OS to meet the needs of home and business users. At first glance the list of Vista editions may seem unnecessarily confusing. Let's take a look at these new versions so you can decide which one works best for you.

Windows Vista Starter

This edition is the bare bones version of Vista. It only supports Aero Express, so there are no glass or transparency effects. This version will not be available to users in the United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, or other high income markets.

Windows Vista Home Basic

This edition is built for the average home user with basic computing needs. The features in Windows Vista Home Basic form the foundation for all of the other editions of Windows.

Suggested retail price for full package product, $199.00. Suggested upgrade retail price, $99.95.

Windows Vista Home Premium

This is the Vista edition for homes with advanced computer needs. It will help you use your laptop or desktop PC more effectively as well as enable you to enjoy new, exciting digital entertainment experiences, all with the benefit of added security and reliability. Windows Vista Home Premium includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center.

Suggested retail price for full package product, $239.00. Suggested upgrade retail price, $159.00.

Windows Vista Business

The Windows Vista Business operating system is designed to meet the needs of business organizations of all sizes. For small businesses, Windows Vista Business will provide a more stable operating system, and hopefully less need for dedicated IT support. For larger organizations, Windows Vista Business provides several new administrative improvements, reducing the time your IT staff spends on deploying PCs and the day to day support requirements that come along with a large business environment.

Suggested retail price for full package product, $299.00. Suggested upgrade retail price, $199.00.

Windows Vista Enterprise

Enterprise is designed to provide higher levels of data protection using hardware based encryption technology. It also includes tools to improve application compatibility and enables businesses to standardize by using a single operating system disk image.

This edition will only be available to customers who have the Microsoft Software Assurance or a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement.

Windows Vista Ultimate

The Ultimate edition is the most comprehensive versions. It combines all of the features of the business platform, as well as digital entertainment features you would get with a Media Center PC. For the person who wants one system that is great for working from home, on the road, and for entertainment, Vista Ultimate is the OS that lets you have it all.

Suggested retail price for full package product, $399.00. Suggested upgrade retail price, $259.00.

Choosing the Right Windows Vista Edition

It has been confirmed that Microsoft's next generation operating system "Windows Vista" will be available in stores from January 2007. Microsoft has been working hard past few years for this release and I believe this version of Windows is worth buying.

Windows Vista Editions

Unlike Windows XP, Vista comes in 6 different versions and each of them is different in its features and price. Obviously you will be at confusion while choosing from the different versions.

1. Vista Starter Edition

This version is the stripped down version of the basic home edition. This means it has the lowest feature set and security. It is more like a demo for all other editions of Vista. This version is only available in emerging regions like India, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia & Thailand.

2. Vista Home Basic Edition

This is more like Windows XP Home Edition. Just the enough features for casual Internet browsing and entertainment. This edition does not have the important features like Aero UI & Windows media technologies.

3. Vista Home Premium Edition

This is more similar to Windows XP media centre edition. It has all the important features required for normal Home entertainment PC. This edition comes with Aero UI, Scheduled back up feature & premium games. Thus if you are addicted to XP media center edition, this is the vista equivalent for you.

4. Vista Business Edition

Business Edition of Windows Vista is equivalent to XP Professional Edition. It has all the features of Home Premium Edition except parental control and has some additional feature for faxing & scanning. This also has shadow copy - system back up & recovery service to keep your data safe. If you are a XP Pro fan like me, this is the right version to look forward.

5. Vista Enterprise Edition

From the name itself, it should be clear that it is for big enterprises where data protection is important. The major difference between Vista Business and Enterprise is the added data encryption & security features. You only need to buy this version if you are running a business and need more security for your data.

6. Vista Ultimate Edition

If you have all the designed features of Windows vista in one package, you call it Windows Vista Ultimate. It has all the features of Home Premium and Business Enterprise Editions. Unfortunately, I'm yet to learn the prospects of this edition.

Thus if you are an avid gamer, movie enthusiast or an audiophile, Home Premium is the best choice. If you just need a PC for emailing and document processing, Vista Home Basic is your edition. For small businesses, I would recommend Vista Business Edition.

Reasons to Wait to Upgrade to Windows Vista

Just like when Windows XP was released, most people did not do an immediate upgrade. You can probably upgrade to Windows Vista with a lot few problems then with XP but I would still wait a few months.

There are quite a few reasons why you should wait. The first reason is security. There will always be a few problems and bugs with the initial release of any software product. I know there have been a few beta versions and release candidates, but there will still be bugs.

The second reason is software compatibility. You may think all your software and hardware is compatible with Windows Vista, but the vendors may not have drivers or updates ready by the time Vista comes out. I would rather wait to get a valid driver from the manufacturer then a generic driver from Microsoft.

The third reason would be the learning curve. I know this isn?t a very strong reason, but there will still be a learning curve with Windows Vista. If you are comfortable with Windows XP then Vista probably will be a welcome change, but for new users or users who are not experts with Windows XP, this could be a problem.

I would recommend trying Windows Vista out in a computer store first to make sure that you want to upgrade to the latest version of Windows. Windows Vista is a welcome update, but I am going to wait at least 3 months before I upgrade my computer because of possible security and software problems.

IE8 : Internet Explorer 8

Windows Internet Explorer 8 (commonly abbreviated IE8) is the next version of Microsoft's Windows Internet Explorer web browser, succeeding Internet Explorer 7. Beta 1, targeted for web designers and developers, was released to the general public on March 5, 2008. Microsoft released Beta 2, targeted for all consumers, on August 27, 2008. A public RC (release candidate) was released January 26, 2009, and the final release is scheduled to follow it later in the year.

On January 5, 2009, a tool was provided by Microsoft to block the automatic install of Internet Explorer 8 via Windows Update.

According to Microsoft, security, ease of use, and improvements in RSS, Cascading Style Sheets, and Ajax support are its priorities for Internet Explorer 8.


History

IE8 has been in development since at least March 2006. In February 2008, Microsoft sent out private invitations for IE8 Beta 1, and on March 5, 2008, released Beta 1 to the general public, although with a focus on web developers. The release launched with a Windows Internet Explorer 8 Readiness Toolkit website promoting IE8 white papers, related software tools, and new features in addition to download links to the Beta. The Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) added new sections detailing new IE8 technology. Major press focused on a controversy about Version Targeting, and two new features then called WebSlice and Activities. The readiness toolkit was promoted as something "developers can exploit to make Internet Explorer 8 'light up'."

On August 27, 2008, Microsoft made IE8 Beta 2 generally available. PC World noted various Beta 2 features such as InPrivate mode, tab isolation and color coding, and improved standards and compatibility compared to Internet Explorer 7. Two name changes included Activities to Accelerators, and the IE7 Phishing filter renamed Safety Filter in the first Beta to SmartScreen, both accompanied by incremental technical changes as well. By August 2008 the new feature called InPrivate had taken the spotlight.

Features

OverviewThe first beta release of IE8, which was demonstrated at the MIX08 conference, contained many new features, including WebSlices and Activities. In the second beta release, Activities were renamed to Accelerators.

Added features
Some of the features and changes for the Beta 2 compared to Beta 1.
-InPrivateDelete
-Browsing History Search Suggestions
-User Preference Protection
-Caret Browsing
-Accelerators (previously known as Activities)
-Web Slices (previously known as WebSlices)
-Suggested Sites Tab Color Grouping
-Automatic Crash Recovery
-SmartScreen Filter (Known as Safety Filter in Beta 1)
-Tab isolation (tabs spread over separate operating system processes)

Removed features
-Inline AutoComplete
-The option to delete files and settings stored by addons or ActiveX controls.
-CSS Expressions are no longer supported in Internet Explorer 8 Standards mode


Suggested Sites

This feature is described by Microsoft as a tool to suggest websites, which is done by the browser sending information to Microsoft which keeps the information and IP Address for a short time. Suggested Sites is off by default and the user has to turn it on manually when desired. The functionality was defended by Microsoft after itworld.com's Gregg Keizer described it as a "phone home" feature.


InPrivate

A new security mode called InPrivate debuted with Beta 2, which consists of three main features: InPrivate Browsing, InPrivate Blocking, and InPrivate Subscription. Like similar privacy protection modes in Safari and Google Chrome, InPrivate Browsing has been described as a "porn mode" in various news outlets. Informationweek mentioned it as a "'Stealth' Privacy Mode".

Gregg Keizer of Computerworld says Private Blocking "notifies users of third-party content that can track browsing history", and that InPrivate Subscription allows "subscribing to lists of sites to block". When enabled, IE8 will not save browsing and searching history, cookies, form data and passwords; it also will automatically clear the browser cache.


Accelerators

Example of a map Accelerator using the IE8 Accelerators Smart tag.Accelerators are a form of selection-based search which allow a user to invoke an online service from any other page using only the mouse. Actions such as selecting the text or other objects will give users access to the usable Accelerator services (such as blogging with the selected text, or viewing a map of a selected geographical location), which can then be invoked with the selected object. According to Microsoft, Accelerators eliminate the need to copy and paste content between web pages. IE8 specifies an XML-based encoding which allows a web application or web service to be invoked as an Accelerator service. How the service will be invoked and for what categories of content it will show up is specified in the XML file. Similarities have been drawn between Accelerators and the controversial Smart tags, feature experimented with in the IE 6 Beta but withdrawn after criticism (though later included in MS Office).


Web Slices

Web Slices are snippets of the entire page that a user can subscribe to. Web Slices will be kept updated by the browser automatically, and can be viewed directly from the Favorites bar, complete with graphics and visuals. Developers can mark parts of the pages as Web Slices, using the hAtom and hSlice microformat. Web Slices have been compared to Active Desktop, introduced in Internet Explorer 4 in 1997.

Microsoft donated the specification to the public domain under the Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication. It is also covered by the Microsoft Open Specification Promise.


Autocomplete changes

The address bar features domain highlighting for added security so that the top-level domain is shown in black whereas the other parts of the URL are grayed out. Domain highlighting cannot be turned off by users or web sites. Other features of the address bar include support for pasting multi-line URLs and an improved model for inserting the selection caret, and selecting words, or entire URLs in the Address bar. The inline autocomplete feature has been dropped from Internet Explorer 8.


SmartScreen Filter

SmartScreen Filter is an extension of Internet Explorer 7's phishing filter. If a user visits a site which has been labeled as an impostor or harmful, then Internet Explorer 8 will show a screen prompting that the site is reported harmful and shouldn't be visited. From there, the user can either visit his or her homepage, visit the previous site, or continue to the unsafe page. This feature can be disabled using Group Policy.

Developer toolsFor developers, IE8 includes tools that allow HTML, CSS and JavaScript debugging directly from the browser.


Favorites Bar

Other new features in IE8 include a redesigned Favorites Bar, which can now host content such as Web Slices, web feeds as well as documents, in addition to website links.


Automatic Crash Recovery

A crash recovery mechanism has been incorporated; if the browser crashes, web pages being viewed may be recovered, at the user's discretion, when the browser is restarted.


Zooming

Full-page zoom now reflows the text to remove the appearance of horizontal scrollbars on zooming.


Performance and stability

Internet Explorer 8 includes performance improvements across the HTML parser, CSS engine, mark-up tree manipulation as well as the JScript runtime and the associated garbage collector. Circular Memory leaks, which resulted earlier due to inconsistent handling of JScript objects and DOM objects, have been alleviated.] For better security and stability, IE8 uses the Loosely Coupled Internet Explorer (LCIE) architecture and runs the browser frame and tabs in separate processes. Glitches and hangs don't bring down the entire browser. It also leads to higher performance and scalability. Permissions for ActiveX controls have been made more granular - instead of enabling or disabling them globally, they can now be allowed on a per-site basis.


Rendering engine

IE8 improves rendering of content authored to various web standards (like HTML, CSS and JavaScript) in standards mode. Such changes might cause it to break compatibility as its behavior differs significantly from that of IE7. In order to maintain backwards compatibility, sites can opt-into IE7-like handling of content by inserting a special meta element into the web page, that triggers the "IE7 standards mode" in the browser, using:

(meta equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=7")

While the behavior of the browser is unchanged from Internet Explorer 7 in "IE7 Standards Mode", in standards mode (the default IE8 rendering mode), IE8 supports Data: URIs, HTML object fallback, the abbr tag, CSS generated content and the display: table CSS rule, in addition to fixing a lot of CSS and HTML parsing bugs. As a result, IE8 Beta 1 passes the Acid2 test in IE8 standards mode (now called "standards mode"). Also, the proprietary hasLayout property will be eliminated when using IE8 in IE8 standards mode. Microsoft has stated that Internet Explorer 8 will improve only some of the standards being tested by Acid3.

Compliance with the CSS 2.1 specification was a stated goal in Internet Explorer 8 by Microsoft, even including an attempt to support some CSS3 features. IE8 Beta 1 also partially supports CSS 2.1 Paged media (including the @page CSS rule and the left, right and first page selectors). In addition, it also supports the DOM: Storage, Cross Document Messaging (XDM) and the Selectors APIs. IE8 also adds cross-domain communication via the XDomainRequest object, that exposes a programming model similar to XMLHttpRequest. IE8 features an enhanced and standardized DOM, that brings it in line with implementations in other browsers. Attributes and properties in DOM objects are now handled differently, and the behavior of the getAttribute, setAttribute and removeAttribute modifiers have been changed to match the behavior of other browsers. Internet Explorer 8 also supports the Accessible Rich Internet Applications(ARIA) specification for enhanced accessibility in Ajax-based rich Internet applications.


Hardware requirements

IE8 RC1 requires at least:

-233MHz processor or higher
-Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher-resolution monitor with 256 colors.
-Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft IntelliMouse, or compatible pointing device.
-RAM: 64MB for Windows XP/Server 2003 (32-bit) and 512MB for Windows Vista

Windows Vista - a Welcome Change!

The Windows Vista User Experience represents a new design philosophy that delivers a compelling user experience from the moment that you start interacting with the computer to the moment that you leave it. It introduces breakthroughs in user experience, security and reliability, enabling you to build applications that bring clarity to the user's complex world of information.

In the past, Windows focused heavily on discoverability, time to task, and task completion. The Windows Vista User Experience continues to deliver on discoverability, time to task, and task completion. From folders to animations, thumbnail views to the glass look of interface elements, Windows Vista is nothing short of stunning.

Working with Windows Vista is all about seeing, finding, organizing, and confidently controlling your information and your computer. It enables a new level of confidence in your computer. Desktop.Windows Vista provides a solid visual experience, free of flicker, redrawing, hesitation, latency, and visual artifacts.

New productivity tools bring clarity to information on your computer--you can see what your files contain without opening them, find applications and files instantly, navigate efficiently among open windows, and traverse wizards and dialog boxes more confidently and surely.

In computers that can use the new Windows Vista Display Driver Model (WVDDM), windows are translucent, meaning that it's easier to focus on the content of a window rather than the window itself.Windows Vista provides two entirely new features to manage windows codenamed "Flip" and "Flip 3D".

Flip allows you to flip through open windows (by using Alt+Tab) providing a live thumbnail of each window rather than just a generic icon and filename. With Flip 3D,you can use the scroll wheel on your mouse to flip through open windows in a stack, and quickly locate and select the one you want to work with.Windows Vista introduces a new level of confidence to the experience of using your computer.

Beyond the design aesthetic of Windows Vista, the fundamentals of the operating system free you from worrying about security, reliability, and managing your computer. You are in total control.

Security is fundamental to the Windows Vista architecture. Windows Vista security features protect against the latest generation of threats, such as worms, viruses, and spyware. In the unlikely event of a successful attack, Windows Vista ensures that the effects are minimal. With Windows Vista, you can connect to whomever you want and do the things that you want to do, confident that Windows Vista is keeping your information and your computer safer.

Overall, the Windows Vista experience is more polished, smooth, and refined on all computers. Even details such as how windows move when they are minimized have been improved-when minimized, a window now clearly minimizes to a thumbnail on the taskbar where it resides, making it easier to locate later.

Some interesting Features :

1.Parental Controls: Windows Vista introduces a rich set of parental control features, providing powerful tools to help parents monitor, manage, and administer their children's computer usage to keep them safe.

2.Fast On and Off: A Windows Vista computer starts and shuts down as quickly and reliably as a television, typically within 2 to 3 seconds. Windows Vista processes login scripts and startup programs and services in the background so you can start working right away.

3.Diagnostics: Built in diagnostics will help you detect, analyze, and fix problems such as failing hard drives, networking and performance issues more quickly and easily and help keep your computer running smoothly.

4.User Account Protection: Windows Vista User Account Protection bridges the gap between user and administrative privileges by running programs with limited permissions. When you need to perform an administrative task, such as installing software or drivers, Windows Vista prompts you to confirm your intentions or to provide the proper administrator credentials.

5.New look and feel: When you start using Windows Vista, you will recognize familiar elements such as the Start menu and task bar. Beyond the familiar, however, the overall Windows experience is redesigned and streamlined so that it is more intuitive, more attractive, and easier for you to use so you can accomplish tasks more efficiently.

6.Familiarity: Because Windows Vista is built on technology that you are already familiar with, you can get up to speed quickly with minimal training and support.

7.Media Center: Enjoy all your favorite entertainment -- including live and recorded TV, movies, music, and pictures -- in one place through an easy-to-use Media Center menu system and remote control.

Fix disappearing Status Bar in Internet Explorer

You are working away in Internet Explorer 6 when you decide you need another browser window open. You open the browser window either by typing CTRL-N or going to File->New->Window in the menu. Problem is, when you open this new window you notice that the status bar at the bottom is missing. You close down Internet Explorer and restart it. The status bar is there now, but again when you open a new window it's missing. This is a known bug within Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (SP1); and, fortunately there is a fix for it.

1) With only one Internet Explorer window open, in the menu click View, and select Status Bar. Make sure it is checked.
2) Right-click on IE's Toolbar and select: "Lock the Toolbar". If it's already locked, select "Unlock the Toolbar" then right-click in the toolbar again and select "Lock the Toolbar".
3) Hold down the Ctrl key and click the close button in the upper right corner of the window.
4) Open Windows Explorer, in the menu click View, and select Status Bar
5) Right-click on Explorer's Toolbar and select "Lock the Toolbar". If it's already locked, select "Unlock the Toolbar" then right-click in the toolbar again and select "Lock the Toolbar".
6) In the menu click Tools and select Folder Options. Now click on the View tab
7) Click the "Apply to all folders" button. Click on the "Yes" button in the small dialog box that appears. Click on the "Apply" button then on the "Ok" button.
8) Hold down the Ctrl key and click the close button in the upper right corner of the window.
9) Open Internet Explorer and when the page has loaded hold down the CTRL key and type the letter N. This should open a new window with the status bar present.

If you are still having problems with the status bar, use the REGEDIT program and:
10)Verify that these Registry entries exist:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain
"Show_StatusBar"="yes"
"Show_URLinStatusBar"="yes"

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1) With only one Internet Explorer window open, in the menu click View, and select Status Bar. Make sure it is checked.
2) Right-click on IE's Toolbar and select: "Lock the Toolbar". If it's already locked, select "Unlock the Toolbar" then right-click in the toolbar again and select "Lock the Toolbar".
3) Hold down the Ctrl key and click the close button in the upper right corner of the window.
4) Open Windows Explorer, in the menu click View, and select Status Bar
5) Right-click on Explorer's Toolbar and select "Lock the Toolbar". If it's already locked, select "Unlock the Toolbar" then right-click in the toolbar again and select "Lock the Toolbar".
6) In the menu click Tools and select Folder Options. Now click on the View tab
7) Click the "Apply to all folders" button. Click on the "Yes" button in the small dialog box that appears. Click on the "Apply" button then on the "Ok" button.
8) Hold down the Ctrl key and click the close button in the upper right corner of the window.
9) Open Internet Explorer and when the page has loaded hold down the CTRL key and type the letter N. This should open a new window with the status bar present.

If you are still having problems with the status bar, use the REGEDIT program and:
10)Verify that these Registry entries exist:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain
"Show_StatusBar"="yes"
"Show_URLinStatusBar"="yes"

What Is DRM?

DRM stands for Digital Rights Management, or as some people call it, Digital Restrictions Management. Put simply, DRM consists of various restrictions applied in music or video files, so their use (such as playback) can be controlled by a third party, usually the company holding the copyright for a song or movie. DRM is not just a copyright protection technique but a whole set of technologies that aim to implement the DRM strategy each distributor of digital content specifies. As an example, DRM can verify that the user that bought an audio file is actually the same user playing the file. DRM technology can also be used to limit the number of PCs a file can be played on. The major disadvantage of DRM is that these restrictions are not always clear when a user buys a digital product.

Which Multimedia Formats Support DRM?

If you're expecting to see MP3 in this list, guess again. Due to it's open nature, the MP3 standard is unable to support DRM. Furthermore, there is no centralized coordination in the development and evolution of the MP3 format so don't expect digital music stores to offer songs in the MP3 format.

Advanced Audio Coding: The AAC format, used by iTunes and iPod, is based on Apple's QuickTime. It was originally designed as a replacement of the MP3, and can actually compress files better than the MP3 format can.

Windows Media Audio: WMA is a closed-source standard of digital music. It was designed to compete with the MP3 but in reality, it's actually AAC's main competitor, especially with regards to DRM support and buying music online. The latest version of WMA offers similar quality to that of AAC and better than that of MP3 files. This means that much smaller files can have CD quality. WMA is based on the ADvanced System Format (ASF) which can integrate different streams of audio and video as long as they belong to the Windows Media family.

RealNetworks & Sony: Both of these companies offer music download services. Real mostly uses the AAC format with the Helix DRM system, while Sony uses the OpenMG DRM system on ATRAC3 files. It is expected that Sony will support other music formats in the future.

Limitations of iTunes and iPod

Finally, here are certain things that you should know about iTunes DRM:

1. Music you buy from iTunes can only be played on an iPod.
2. Files from iTunes can be played on an unlimited number of iPods.
3. iTunes allows you to download each song you buy only once and of course, you're not allowed to re-sell that song.
4. An iPod can also store and play non-DRM music files.
5. Any certified .m4p files can only be copied/played on 5 authorized computers.
6. Music you buy from iTunes can be copied to a CD without any DRM limitations.
7. A playlist consisting of songs you bought from iTunes can only be turned into a CD 7 times (you can make 7 CD copies of the list).
8. You are not allowed to convert a song to a different music format.

Good News / Bad News of Computer Security

First for the Bad News:

There are many risks attached to connecting to the Internet. The only way to keep one hundred percent safe is by not connecting! But who wants to do that especially if ones in business?

It is a fact that when you connect to the Internet you will be wide open to attacks. In essence you open up a highway that connects you to it and it to you. Thus anyone on the Net can come directly to your computer.

With some trickery and exploitation of the trade, vulnerabilities that exist in Microsoft Windows can let outsiders access your data and cause havoc right in the privacy of your own computer.

Such malicious things as viruses, worms and Trojan horses are rapidly increasing and rendering millions of computers easy prey to hackers looking for credit card information, banking passwords and other personal identifications, or to blatant vandals looking to delete files, trash hard drives and do any damage they can just for the fun of it.

The scary thing is that many of these invaders dont even leave a trace. You dont even know theyre there or theyve come to your station!

For your computer to be attacked, intruders first need to locate your IP address. Using some specialized software programs readily available on the Web -- they can scan and find and invade your computer.

Hackers can get to your computer through a variety of ways, including eMail, chat/messaging services, HTML-based emails with hidden image tags, etc., etc.

But, enough of the bad news

Now for the Good News:

You can protect yourself. And you can check out your computer for vulnerability levels.

All you need is to spend some time getting familiar with what the weaknesses are and how you can protect your computer against them.

For a non-technical person like myself, what that means is of course researching and getting information from people who do know what theyre talking about. And thats the hard part: to come across someone you can trust.

Thats what I did. And I was blessed to come across a product that tells and shows how to keep hackers, worms and other germs out of your PC, and how to set up a high level of security against unwanted invasions.

What I did learn in the first instance is that you can go to a web site that will give you free tools to test your computer. Thats the first thing you need to do. Well, to my surprise, I found that my security system was pretty good. So that gave me peace of mind.

And I found that the reason for this was that I had both a router box and an anti-virus product installed. Each has certain protective characteristics that together make your computer safer.

And with my continuous research, I'm also finding other areas for improvement that keep adding to my arsenal of knowledge.

Backing Up Your Data in Windows XP

If you haven't backed up your important data at least to a CD, you should do so IMMEDIATELY! A computer, any computer, can crash at any time, whether it's a new computer, an old computer, a really expensive computer, or a cheapy.

This article will teach you how to back up your My Documents folder on a CD, since the My Documents folder is where people usually keep most of their important stuff. I only discuss the method for Windows XP here, because methods for other operating systems tend to vary.

(By the way, you need a CD burner (or CD-RW) to do this. If you're not sure if you have one, look at your CD drive(s) and see if you see "rewritable" written in tiny tiny letters. If so, you can burn CDs. If not, well you might want to think about getting a CD burner installed in your computer.

1. Open your CD burner. There's usually a button on the outside you can press to open it. Place the CD in the burner. The side you will burn onto should be face down. Close the burner, again using the same button you used to open it.

2. Wait a minute. A box should pop up on your screen with a variety of choices. Click once on the choice that says "Open Writable CD Folder Using Windows Explorer." (There's a picture of a manilla folder next to it.) Your choice should turn blue. Click OK.

3. A box opens up representing the empty CD you want to burn. Now take your mouse pointer and place it on the top blue border of this box. Press and hold (don't click) with your left mouse button, and drag the box down into the lower righthand corner of your screen.

4. Locate your My Documents folder on the desktop. If this folder isn't on the desktop, you should put it there for convenience sake. See the tip How to Put a Shortcut on your Desktop.

5. Now simply press on the folder with your left mouse button and drag the folder onto the empty box representing your CD in the lower right corner. You should see the contents of your folder being copied over. If you get a box asking if you want to copy "Thumbs" files, you can say "Yes" or "Skip." It's your choice. These files aren't important, trust me. You can also check the box to repeat your answer for each of these files to save time.

6. When the folder is completely copied to your CD box, clik on "Write these Files to CD" on the lefthand side of the box. A "wizard" pops up.

7. Click Next in the wizard (ignore the CD name and date underneath) Wait for the CD to burn. You'll see a green line progress across the screen.

8. When the CD is done, it should pop out of its drive, and you can click on Finish in the wizard. Label your CD with a Sharpie or other felt-tip pen, and you're all backed up!

How To Make Your Computer Faster Without Buying A New PC

It's kind of a law of nature: your computer slows down over time even though nothing seems to have changed. This has been happening to computers over the years and early on, it was probably kind of true. But in reality nowadays it's not your computer getting slower, it's all the stuff that gets added to it when you install software or even just save or delete a file.

After all, you current computer is probably not that old. It's likely running XP or Vista. Why should you spend hundreds of dollars replacing it, especially when you know deep down that it will only start slowing down again as soon as you've bought a new PC.

So how to make your computer faster again without buying a new machine? What can you do to breathe some life into your computer and make it a joy to use again?

Firstly, check how much memory your machine has. Windows always has liked to use lots of memory and modern operating systems like XP and Vista are especially greedy. If your machine has less than 2Gb of RAM memory, it's time to treat it and you to more. No matter what the "in your dreams" minimum requirements there were on the box of the operating system.

Upgrading your memory to this level will make near enough everything on your computer run faster. If Windows doesn't have enough memory to work with, it will use space on your hard disk as an alternative. But hard disks are lots, lots slower than regular memory. Swapping information to your hard drive takes a lot longer than switching it around in memory.

A memory upgrade is simple enough to do yourself - there are plenty of tutorials online to show you how - or your local computer store will be happy to help you for a small fee. The whole operation should be over quickly - it will probably take you longer to unscrew the screws on the case than it will to upgrade the RAM. It's then a matter of earthing yourself (touch a water pipe, for instance) so you don't suddenly jab your machine with static electricity. Then just add the extra RAM in the slots that are almost certainly sitting vacant.

If it's only print jobs that are running slow, do the same treatment for your printer if it's possible. Color lasers especially will appreciate any extra memory you give them and will allow Windows to pass them across more of the printing job, freeing up your machine for other tasks. Putting extra memory in your printer works much the same way as adding it to your main computer. I've done this to printers in the past and they've really appreciated it – their print performance came right up to the advertised pages per minute speed rather than the speed you'd expect from an ancient dot matrix.

If that still doesn't do enough to make your computer faster, there are other things you can try as well.

Get Multiple Virtual Desktops On Your Pc

Too many opened windows crowded on your desktop? Cannot find the window you want? Get rid of the problems on your desktop with Virtual Desk.

Your desktop computer becomes more and more powerful and faster, the monitor - bigger, and you have more and more job to do. you work on a specific task that involves several application windows: two draft documents, the one that you work on, a mail message, couple of network browser windows... You need a Virtual Desktop Software help you.

Lets you have multiple virtual desktops (just like many screens) and you can have different windows and applications running in each desktop. You can switch among them quickly and easily with just a single mouse click or press hotkey.

DesktopX 3.2 completely change the Windows desktop into anything you want it to be. Enhance your desktop by giving Windows the capability to have real objects on the desktop. Objects include clocks, stock tickers, calendars, weather monitors, living creatures, and thousands of other objects or widgets. Developers can use Javascript or VBScript to make their objects fully scriptable. DesktopX can even make your existing desktop look better by allowing you to have icons sized independently from the rest of the system as well as add mouse event effects.

ManageDesk 2.45.19 is a Virtual Desktop product from managedesk.com, get 4 Stars SoftSea Rating, ManageDesk enables you to organize a busy desktop by creating up virtual desktops that you can quickly switch to from the system tray. Each desktop can have its individual wallpaper and resolution and the taskbar only shows the applications open on the current desktop. You can switch between desktops from the system tray, via keyboard shortcut or middle mouse button. You can also hide windows and the taskbar and access reboot options from the tray icon menu. The software works well and maintains the correct icon layout between desktops, even if the resolution is different. ManageDesk also includes a process viewer, a DLL viewer, memory manager.

Chimera Virtual Desktop create up to nine separate virtual desktops and move applications between desktops. Use tabs, hotkeys, mouse gestures, drag-and-drop interface and other methods to manage your desktops and windows. Distinct wallpapers, desktop and quicklaunch icon sets can be setup per desktop.

XDESK 4.30.973 is powerful & stable Virtual Desktop Manager / Desktop Assistant - features QuickView, AppBar, strong rules, Reminders & Alarms, CPU meter, Applications AutoRestart, Memory Cleaner, TaskList, HotKeys, HotMouse, Mouse-Scrolling, Mouse-Knocking, HotCorners, windows roll-up and more!

Dexpot 1.4 is allows you to create multiple, virtual desktops to increase the work area of your screen by up to 20 times. Each virtual desktop is independent from the others and can have its individual wallpaper, resolution, and icons (or no icons at all). You can easily switch between desktops from the tray icon, or via hotkey, or even use an automatic desktop slideshow that rotates all virtual desktops. In addition, you can move and copy windows from one desktop to another among the desktops, set up rules to automatically move, copy or close windows and more. Dexpot is one of the most advanced desktop managers out there, that is easy enough for beginners, but offers some great flexibility for more demanding users as well.

How To Select A Web Site Host?

So, you grasp how to establish HTML files (web pages) and necessity to ground a website. You have a realm mention but don't experience where to keep the files (web host). You gem legion web hosting companies offering a wide range of products but you can't make heads or tails of all the features to decide which plan is right for you.Does this sound like you?If so, this article was written for you. Hopefully after reading it, you will have a better understanding of all the terms associated with web hosting and find a hosting company that is right for your business.

File Storage Space Usually hosting companies sell different packages centered around storage space. Storage space is specified in kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), or gigabytes (GB); a megabyte is 1000 kilobytes and a gigabyte is 1000 megabytes. How much storage space do you need? Well, that depends on what you are planning to do with your website. If you have only a few pages of text and little to no graphics or images, a 25 MB should be more than you will ever need. Most hosting packages start at 25 MB of storage space. When comparing web hosting companies for file storage space, be sure to check their terms and conditions to make sure they do not charge another setup fee for upgrading to a packge with more space.

One way to determine the size of your files in Microsoft Windows, right click the Start button and click Explore. Scroll down and select the file(s) or folder(s) you plan on using for your website. Right click on the selected file(s) or folder(s) and click Properties and you will see the size.Bandwidth Bandwidth is the measure of how much data flows through your site. It is usually expressed in GB transfered per month. If you are expecting a lot of hits (millions of page views) to your site you will need to get the most bandwidth you can afford. For new web sites it may take a while to get up to a significant bandwith. If you find you are approaching the bandwith limit, you can always upgrade to a plan with higher bandwidth. Some plans allow you to increase your monthly bandwidth for an additional monthly charge.

E-Mail Most hosting plans include a significant number of POP e-mail accounts and unlimited e-mail forwarding. POP accounts can be accessed with your current e-mail program and some hosts may include a webmail interface for your POP accounts. If you have several people that work for your web site/business and want them to have their own e-mail address, you will need to select a hosting plan with enough POP accounts. E-mail forwarding is when e-mail that is addressed to your website gets redirected to another e-mail address that you specify. Most plans include unlimited e-mail forwarding.

An example of e-mail forwarding: for one of my websites mail addressed to mike-@-mrgoodbeer.com, sales-@-mrgoodbeer.com, and webmaster-@-mrgoodbeer.com all get redirected to my Gmail address. With e-mail forwarding you can easily track where your e-mails are coming from. Be careful though...the more e-mail addresses you have, the more SPAM you will receive. Shared vs Dedicated When comparing hosting plans, you may notice plans for shared hosting and dedicated hosting.

Shared hosting simply means that your web site will be hosted with other websites on the same server or machine. Shared hosting is good for the average web site where speed is not a priority. A dedicated server is just that, a server that is dedicated to your website. The advantages of a dedicated server are speed and control. The disadvantage is cost, you will usually have to pay a much larger monthly fee for having a dedicated hosting plan. If you know nothing about Unix, Linux, or network administration make sure to get a managed dedicated server.

The hosting company will take care of all the security and software patches/updates that arise over time. Make sure to review the hosting company's terms and FAQ concerning their dedicated servers to determine if their service is right for you. Support For the companies that do not have 24 hour support, you will have to determine if their phone support hours meet your specific needs. Make sure to note the location of the company and offset the support times for your time zone. If you plan on working on your web site during all hours of the day, make sure to choose a company with 24/7 phone support; otherwise, you will have to wait for them to open before you can get help to solve your problem. CGI Common Gateway Interface (CGI) is a program, also know as scripts, that can be run on a website to make the site more dynamic.

CGI programs can be written in PERL, C, Unix shell, and countless other languages. It is best to select a hosting plan that allows CGI because you will undoubtedly run across an application or game that you want to modify or include on your site. There are many resources on the web that list free CGI scirpts and countless companies offering CGI scripts for you to buy.

MySQL MySQL is used for creating and maintaining mesh based databases. If you anticipating having some scoop on your reservation that your users know-how necessity to bunch you leave usual desire to gem a web host that supports MySQL. Some hosting companies specify how many databases you can have on your site and charge an additional monthly fee if you want more. You will have to determine how many databases you will need and select the appropriate web hosting plan. FrontPage FrontPage is a website creation and management what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) tool developed by Microsoft. The files generated by FrontPage may have extentions asscoiated with them. If you are using FrontPage to develop your site, you will need to make sure that the hosting plan you choose supports FrontPage extentions or your web pages may not display properly, if at all.

Server Operating System (OS) For most basic websites you will not have worry about which OS your web hosting company is using. Most plans are running on either Unix or Linux. For some unique web site features, you may need a Windows based server. Setup Fee Some hosting companies charge a setup fee when your account is created. This is usually a one time fee and may be waived, in some cases, when you pre-pay for your service. Check the hosting company's terms carefully to determine the details of their setup fee. SPAM Filter Most hosting plans include some type of SPAM filter for your e-mail accounts. This feature can come in very handy if you are using POP email accounts. Shopping Cart Some hosting companies provide shopping cart features as part of their hosting plan. You do not have to worry about this featue if your web site is not selling products. Also, there are many different third party shopping cart applications and CGI scripts available on the web that you may choose to implement on your web site such as the ones found at PayPal.

Configuring and managing user profiles in the Windows XP operating system

A user profile is a set of files and folders that contain information about user-specific configuration settings such as customized desktop, personalized application settings, network and printer connection settings, display settings, and other specified settings. Microsoft Windows XP supports the following types of profiles:

Local user profile: A local user profile is a computer-based record about a specific user. It is created automatically on the computer's local hard disk the first time when the user logs on to a computer. A local user profile is specific to the computer on which it is created. Both Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional operating systems support the local user profile. In Windows XP, a local user profile is stored in the Documents and Settings folder hierarchy on the system root drive. Whenever a user initially logs on to a computer running Windows XP, Windows creates the user-specific folder in the Documents and Settings folder. Each user profile contains several files and folders that store configuration information including the following:

1. Application Data: This folder is hidden by default and stores the user-specific application configuration information.

2. Cookies: A cookie is a small text file that is created by websites to store the user-specific information and preferences on a local computer.

3. Desktop: This folder stores files, folders, and shortcuts that are placed on a Windows XP desktop.

4. Favorites: This folder stores shortcuts to locations added to the Favorites list by a user in Windows Explorer or Internet Explorer.

5. My Documents: This folder stores documents and other user data.

6. My Recent Documents: This folder contains shortcuts to recently accessed documents and folders. A user can also access such documents from the Start Menu.

7. NTUSER.DAT: This file stores the information about changes made to Windows Explorer, taskbar, user-specific Control Panel, Accessories, and Internet Explorer settings.

8. NTUSER.DAT.LOG: It is a log file that provides help in the recovery of the NTUSER.DAT file when a computer crashes.

9. Templates: This folder is hidden by default and contains the template items created by the user applications. These items are used automatically when a user creates a new document.

10. Printhood: This folder contains the shortcuts to printer folder items.

11. NetHood: This folder contains shortcuts created by the Add Network Place option in My Network Places.

Built-in user profiles: In addition to the user-specific profile, Windows creates two built-in local user profiles at the time of installation:

1. Default User Profile: This profile works as a template to create all new profiles on the computer. A newly logged on user receives a copy of this profile as his or her personal user profile. The default user profile can also be customized in several ways and is stored in the Documents and SettingsDefault User folder, which is hidden by default. A user has to configure the Folder options appropriately to view the Default User folder.

2. All Users profile: The All Users profile contains settings that apply to each user who logs on to the computer. The All Users profile is stored in the Documents and SettingsAll Users folder. The All Users folder contains settings that are common for all the other profiles on the computer. The settings in the All Users folder are merged with the profile of the current user by Windows during the current logon session. If an administrator wants to apply a common setting for every user who logs on to the computer, then the most appropriate way for him is to modify the All Users profile. As an administrator, a user can directly edit the All Users profile to add or remove items as per his requirement.

Roaming profile: Before describing the roaming user profile, it is necessary to understand the meaning of a network client and the server. In a networked environment, a client computer can be defined as a computer that uses the shared network resources provided by another computer. A computer that provides the shared resources to all the client computers on a network is referred to as a server. A user who logs on to the network from different computers at different times is called a roaming user. The roaming profile is a user profile that is stored in a shared folder on a network server and is accessible by any of the clients on the network. When a user logs on to any of the computers in a network, the roaming user profile is downloaded to that computer from the network server. The roaming profile is automatically updated both locally as well as on the server when the user logs off.

Mandatory profile: A mandatory profile is a type of roaming profile that is pre-configured and cannot be modified permanently by a user. Mandatory profiles are generally used to restrict users from making permanent changes to their profiles. Any changes to the mandatory profiles remain till the current session lasts. The original settings are automatically restored as soon as the user logs on again. Mandatory profiles decrease the administrative overhead of managing desktop systems to a great extent. They can be implemented in two ways:

An administrator can either rename the file called NTUSER.DAT to NTUSER.MAN or he can append .MAN to the end of the name of the Roaming User Profile folder. The first option allows users to log on using a locally cached copy of the profile if the network is unavailable and the second approach forbids logging on unless the roaming user profile is accessible on the network. Such profiles are modifiable only by the system administrators and are supported by only the Windows XP Professional operating system.

An administrator or a user with the administrative privilege can manage the user profiles from the System Properties dialog box, which is opened by running Start menu > Control Panel > Systems. An administrator can copy a user profile, delete user profiles stored on the local computer, and create a roaming user profile by copying a local user's profile to a network file share.

iPod Basics and Purchasing Guide

So, you are looking to purchase an iPod? Please take the time to read this brief article which will at best help you get the most out of your new iPod, and at the least, help you avoid mistakes and misconceptions. This article is written out of my personal experience with iPods.

1. What is an iPod?

An iPod is a MP4 player, not a MP3 player. Basically, the MP4 format is a proprietary format only recognized by Apple products, such as iPods and QuickTime™. In order for music to play on an iPod, it must be in MP4 format. Apple's music download site, iTunes™, offers music only in the MP4 format. The iTunes™ software which comes with an iPod will convert MP3 music files to MP4 format, so they will play on your iPod. An iPod will not play MP3 files, neither will Windows Media Player play MP4 files. Both the Nano and Video iPod will store and display photos, but a video iPod is needed to play video files.

2. What is iTunes?

(c) Apple hosts the world's largest music download site called iTunes™. As of March 2006, over 1 billion files have been downloaded for use in iPods. Pretty amazing. This site offers music files for 99 cents each, and you need not download an entire album, but can select only the music files you want and download it into your computer. The iTunes™ software in your computer is the vehicle by which files are loaded into the iPod. Simply place your iPod into its dock (which is attached via USB to your computer), start iTunes™ and your iPod is updated automatically with new music, playlists, Podcasts and so forth. I have tried other music download sites and have not found any which I like as well as iTunes™, even though they may offer music cheaper than iTunes™. A basic search will locate alternative music download sites.

There are a variety of other files available on iTunes™ called Podcasts. These are audio or video files which include news broadcasts, informational programs, comedy programs and many others. The great majority of Podcasts are free, and others are not.

3. What You Get

iPods come with the following:

iPod with battery

Earphones (called "earbuds")

A generic pouch for the earbuds

A docking station (to transfer files and charge the iPod)

iTunes™ software CD

instruction manual

That is all.

4. What You will Need

Every iPod user will need a case, and we strongly recommend a screen protector.

Both the iPod Nano and 5th generation (5G) Video iPod are susceptible to scratching, and the black units seem to show scratches worse than the white ones. This is true of both the iPod housing AND the screen. Nothing is worse than having your iPod blemished with unsightly scratches, especially when it is easily avoidable by using a case and screen protector. Having your unprotected iPod floating around inside your purse or in your pocket will absolutely cause your iPod to quickly accumulate scratches both on the housing and on the screen. Be warned! This is not really a defect, but just the way it is.

5. Using iPods in your Car

Most people quickly realize that it would be great to be able to have their iPod play music through their car stereo. No longer would they have to mess with CDs or tapes. How many CDs would you have to carry to have your entire music library with you in the car? You can take it all in the palm of your hand with an iPod. So, how does one play music through their car stereo? There are several options.

First, there are cables available for most car stereos which plug into the iPod and the other end of the cable plugs into a port on the back of the stereo. Removal of the stereo is usually required to accomplish this task. Also, the wire used to connect your iPod is exposed. It does, however, sound great! Some car stereos have a line input on the faceplate. In this case, all one needs to do is use an adaptive cable from the headphone jack of the iPod to the input on the stereo. In both of these scenarios, the iPod will run on its internal battery unless a car charger is used as well.

Second, (and by far the most popular) method, is to use an FM transmitter to transmit a signal from your iPod to your FM radio and play it as if it were a radio station. There are a variety of FM transmitters from several manufacturers. We recommend using a unit which is a dock and not a plug into the iPod port. The plug-in units consume power from the iPod battery and seem to produce a weak signal resulting in poor audio quality. A docking unit (such as the Griffin RoadTrip™) holds your iPod in place, charges the iPod and produces a strong signal. The RoadTrip™ also features a removable FM module which allows it to plug into your computer. You can therefore listen to FM radio through your computer without having to install software.

6. Using iPods at Home

iPods can easily play through your home stereo. One can simply use an adaptive cable which plugs into the headphone jack of the iPod and into the stereo input of your stereo. In this setup, the iPod is operating on battery power unless the iPod is also plugged into a charger.

Docking your iPod is the preferred method, and there are a variety of docking solutions available. The iPod docks into a base which charges the iPod, and an output jack on the base connects the iPod to your stereo via a cable. Some units offer remote controls for your iPod and others do not, but often these remotes are weak and have very limited range and field of reception. We have found that some television or stereo programmable remote control units can be programmed to work with certain iPod docking systems, while others work partially or not at all. It is worth trying if you have a programmable remote.

Some docking units also have a video output for use with the 5G Video iPod, which allows one to watch videos or photos stored in the iPod on a television. We have found that the picture quality is poor on large screen televisions, but ok on a smaller screen. Using a dock with S-video output will provide a far superior picture than units using an RCA connector. As of now, iPods do not support high definition.

There are speaker systems which contain their own amplifier and operate as a stand-alone unit with an iPod. These are not all created equal. Our testing has found that a high price does not always equal high quality. We have found $150 systems which in our opinion sound significantly superior to $400 units. It is best to listen to the various systems before making your selection; or if buying online, follow the recommendations of the seller IF they have tested the systems and can provide you with recommendations based on testing results.

There are alarm clock radios (such as iHome™) which allow you to go to sleep listening to your iPod and wake up to it as well. We have tested the iHome™ and others, and found iHome™ to be our unit of choice.

7. Loading Movies into Your 5G Video iPod

When the Video iPod first came out, I gave it a high ranking on the "Dumb-O-Meter." Who wants to watch a movie on a 2.5 inch screen? However, after having used one, I have recanted my original opinion. It is now my iPod of choice. Unfortunately, iTunes™ and other MP4 download sites usually have little to offer in the way of legal movies which are formatted to play on an iPod. ITunes™ does have some short films, music videos and television shows, but not much else.

An easy solution for this is to convert your own DVDs into a format that the iPod can play. This can be accomplished by means of a software product called a DVD to iPod converter, such as Cucusoft, Lenogo and others. It is a simple process. Put a DVD in your computer, start the converter program and let it convert the movie to iPod format. Then, move the converted file into your iTunes™ video list. The next time you dock your iPod to your computer, it will load into your iPod. Some converter programs will also convert AVI, MPEG, MPG, WMV and other computer video formats for use on an iPod. This can allow you to convert your family videos and view them on your ipod. IPod movies are great for entertaining children on the road, for the business traveler stranded at an airport or for long airplane trips.

DVD converters we recommend are available here.

8. iPods and your PC

The music files for your iPod are stored in two places: in your PC in the iTunes™ program, and in your iPod. If your PC crashes and you loose your hard drive or have to reformat, you will loose EVERYTHING contained in your iTunes™ folder, including all of the songs you have purchased from iTunes™. Furthermore, iTunes™ does not offer the means to re-download songs you have purchased for free. You will have to buy them again. Neither does the iPod come with a means to load files into a computer. Fortunately, there are software programs which allow you to copy the contents of your iPod into a PC or from one iPod to another. These programs are usually titled "iPod to PC", or something similar. If your computer crashes, you will kick yourself for not having this program to restore your music files back into your computer.

iPod to PC programs we recommend are available here.