Washington - Sliding windows and menus might look cool, but in Windows, they'll slow you down. You can turn off animation effects in Windows to get some snappiness back. Right-click My Computer and select Properties from the pop-up menu. In Vista, select Advanced System Settings, and in XP, click the Advanced tab. Click Settings in the performance box, and remove the check mark next to anything that says animation, slide, or fade. --------
Washington - Thinking of upgrading your computer's central processing unit (CPU)? Take the guesswork out of finding out which CPU is compatible with your current computer by visiting CPU Upgrade.com (http://www.cpu-upgrade.com). This site provides information on exactly which processors your motherboard supports. You can conduct searches by motherboard or by CPU, and links take you to more information about individual processors.
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Washington - Notebooks are made for travel, but they are also prime targets for thieves. If losing your notebook to theft would pose a serious problem for you, consider investing in some tracking software such as Absolute Software's Lojack for Laptops. Tracking software can help a service locate your notebook, no matter where it ends up.
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Washington - It's a good idea to lock your PC or notebook when you are not around. To lock a Windows PC quickly, just press and hold down the Windows key and tap the letter L, for lock. A simple Ctrl-Alt-Del plus your password will get you back into the computer, with all of your applications intact.
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Washington - Sitting at the computer for long hours will take a toll on your body. That's why it's important to get up, stretch, and move your legs from time to time. If you have trouble remembering, download a program such as Stretch Break (http://www.paratec.com), which will not only remind you to take breaks but also show you examples of how to move around to increase circulation.
