Washington - Microsoft has announced that its successor to Windows Vista will be called Windows 7. Microsoft reportedly decided to abandon the naming schemes of the recent past in favour of the simpler numerical names of the Windows 3.1 era. The reason: Users have come to view Vista as too complicated, and a return to the numerical naming scheme is meant to underscore a return to Microsoft's roots: delivering functionality without getting in the user's way. --------
Washington - Want to maximize the life expectancy of your writable CDs and DVDs? Always store recordable disks in their original jewel cases or caddies to minimize contaminants and reduce the possibility of surface damage. Never store writable CDs and DVDs on top of another, without a jewel case, and keep them away from direct sunlight. Storing them in the car where they can be exposed to sun, for example, will often result in damage.
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Washington - Text hard to read in Internet Explorer? You can increase or decrease text size in a couple of ways. First, if you have a scroll wheel mouse, just hold down the Ctrl key and scroll the wheel forward to increase text size; scroll it backward to decrease text size. You can also hold down the Ctrl key and tap the plus key (+) to increase text size or the minus key (-) to decrease text size.
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Washington - If you share a computer, be sure to create a separate account for each user. That way, each person can have his or her own desktop, settings and privacy. You can create separate accounts in the User Accounts Control Panel in Windows XP and Vista. Just make sure that children don't have administrative rights; otherwise, they could change, delete or alter privileges on accounts.
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Washington - Need to share an LAN port among computers? No problem. Look at your local electronics dealer for a device called a "switch." Networking switches are relatively inexpensive and come in versions that allow you to plug in anywhere from four to several dozen computers. You plug in the switch to the LAN port and the computers into the switch. In an instant, all computers will have access to the internet.
