On page 24 of W7 Step by Step, in Chapter 1: Explore Windows 7, the authors give the reader a most valuable table that they can print out and keep with them as they use Windows 7. Essentially this table summarizes the most vital keyboard shortcuts which allow for diverse operations to take place within W7. This table can be found on page 24 of this book. It can also be found on the companion CD to this book within the e-book that is presented there. I recommend you take note of these keyboard shortcuts so that you can perform these W7 feats all the better.

Keyboard Shortcut – Function

Windows logo key – open or close the Start menu.
Windows logo key + B – Select the first icon in the notification are of the taskbar.
Windows logo key + D – Minimize all open windows.
Windows logo key + E – Open the Computer window.
Windows logo key + F – Open the Search window.
Windows logo key + G – Select or move between desktop gadgets.
Windows logo key + L – Lock the computer.
Windows logo key + M – Minimize all open windows.
Windows logo key + Shift + M – Redisplay the windows.
Windows logo key + P – Display the Projection controls.
Windows logo key + R – Open the Run dialog box.
Windows logo key + T – Select or move between the taskbar buttons.
Windows logo key + U – Open the Ease Of Access Center window.
Windows logo key + X – Open the Windows Mobility Center (portable computers only).
Windows logo key + Spacebar – Make all open windows temporarily transparent (Aero-capable computers only for this command option).

Enjoy your weekend everybody

Special thanks to Rich Robinson for Windows 7 Pocket Guide
Special thanks to Joan Lambert for Windows 7 Step by Step

Yesterday, a good friend of mine created a post about this software program on his Windows blog (called Minty White). Indeed, blogger Rich Robinson is right, we can all get to the point where our machines run really slow and then frustration overshadows us. So, what is the solution? Soluto. That is what Rich recommends. In fact, this software application looks like a keeper. This weekend, I will download this program on both my work and home laptop computers and see what it can do to speed up my machines. I do not know the level of analysis that it provides regarding how it improves speed, but I am going to keep my eye out for this. Special thanks to Rich Robinson for this post at Minty White. Click here to read the full post. Click here to check out Soluto software.

CompTIA

(Computing Technology Industry Association, Oakbrook Terrace, IL, www.comptia.org) Formerly ABCD: The Microcomputer Industry Association, it is a membership organization of resellers, distributors manufacturers dedicated to business ethics and professionalism, founded in 1982. It is involved with many issues including product returns, freight and warranty claims and price protection. CompTIA is also well known for its certifications for computer professionals, all of which have a plus sign at the end of their names as outlined in the following list.

Short Name (Full Name) or Field of Coverage
A+ Computer service technician
CDIA+ (Certified Document Imaging Architect)
i-Net+ Internet, intranet, extranet skills
Network+ Network support and administration
Server+ Industry Standard Server Architecture
Linux+ Linux OS proficiency
IT Project+ IT project management
e-Biz+ E-Business concepts and technologies
CTT+ (Certified Technical Trainer)
Security+ Security specialist
HTI+ (Home Technology Integrator)

Compliments of The Computer Desktop Encyclopedia

In the same way that a waterfall survives many hundreds of years, just like the image above, so “the waterfall process” of software development survives generations of software development and technological change. Essentially, in my fifteen years of software development experience, there are four “tiers” which a software program much pass on its journey to the market (like water falling over a falls into the river below). First, there is the level of “business analysis”. Here, an application is created with an emphasis on its utility and how the customer is going to use it. Once this is completed, architects and programmers create the code that enables the business model to come to life within the parameters of the technology at hand. It could be a desktop or laptop computer. It could be a web service. It could be a Wikipedia. It could be an iPhone application. Next, once coding is finished (no pun intended, really), then Quality Assurance makes sure the application lives up to its initial business goals and objectives and that it really works from both the interface and internal logic aspects. Finally, Technical Writers like myself write the User Guide and any necessary Training Presentations to help users get the most out of the program. Today, there is a big push toward processes like Agile and Scrum, but let us remember that no matter the generation, basic laws of development apply. Even though we have Google today, still, if you venture to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, you will see nature unchanged and waterfalls that have been there for centuries. The Waterfall method of turning an idea into a market product is a timeless methodology. That is why I say that Waterfall = True. Regardless of whether you have a Toyota Yaris or a BMW, you have four tires, a motor, and a vehicle that abides by the same laws of motion. The same holds true with software development

Today’s Technical Daily Word (Term): Hardware Profile

Definition: Settings that define a specific configuration of peripherals and drivers. Multiple profiles let you set up more than one hardware configuration, which is commonly done when a laptop also serves as a desktop computer. The desktop profile activates one set of peripherals, the laptop profile another. A separate hardware profile is also used as a last resort when an application conflicts with one of the drivers that is routinely loaded. A special profile is created that boots the computer without the problem driver so the application can run. In order to run the rest of the programs, the machine must be rebooted with the regular profile.

Source: The Computer Desktop Encyclopedia

As I mentioned in a previous post, I will be covering, this summer, a great book released by Microsoft Press. It is entitled “Windows 7: Step by Step”. For those of you who have decided to go with Microsoft Windows 7 for your computer’s operating system (OS), this is a book that will help you immensely. Before I dive into the chapters and content therein, here is a summary (the TOC) of how the authors have approached Windows 7 in this well-written book. Notice how the authors guide you slowly from superficial concepts to the last chapter which deals with hardware that interfaces with W7 (Windows 7, I will be using this abbreviation from now on).

Windows 7 Step by Step Table of Contents (TOC)

Chapter 1: Explore W7
Chapter 2: Manage User Accounts
Chapter 3: Manage Your Network
Chapter 4: Navigate Windows and Folders
Chapter 5: Manage Folder and Files
Chapter 6: Connect to the Web
Chapter 7: Work with Web Pages and Sites
Chapter 8: Manage Internet Explorer (IE)
Chapter 9: Change Visual Elements
Chapter 10: Change System Settings
Chapter 11: Work with Programs
Chapter 12: Set Up Hardware Devices

Regards,

Keith

Click here to visit Minty White for more about Windows 7
Click here to visit O’Reilly Publishers featuring W7 Step by Step

Documentation is always considered important by organizations. At the same time, few people enjoy spending time to actually create meaningful and helpful documentation. Our world today is on the move. However, like the age-old expression goes “haste makes waste”, the very same holds true for documentation. There are many people creating, developing, testing, and implementing systems of all kinds. Yet, the glue that holds developers, testers, business analysts, users, and investors is the documentation. So, as a Technical Writer, I encourage everyone in the business word to adopt these four simple words into their everyday vocabulary “make time for documentation”. To create a product and have erroneous or no documentation makes no sense. It is like going on a long trip and not making sure you have ample brake fluid, oil, gasoline, and other vital liquids for your car. Take care of your car, right? So, do the same for your product or service. Spend some time verifying your documentation. You just might discover something important in this process of review. You might even discover ways to better your product and/or service and realize just how documentation has kept you in the game

For those of you who are always trying to improve your technical vocabulary, there is a website that I recommend. It is PC Magazine’s website. Specifically, visit their own encyclopedia. It is quite impressive.

Here is the URL.

http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/

Wishing everyone in the USA a restful and relaxing Memorial Day Weekend.

Regards,

Keith

Dear Readers:

Right now, I am reading a book written by Jeff Jarvis called What Would Google Do?. It is a really interesting book because, unlike other books that discuss the actual functionality of a software program, this book discusses Google’s business approach to everything that they do. Basically, Google has redefined the rules of business such that they are empowering anybody that uses Google, for whatever reason, whether it is a simple search or Google AdSense. Just when you thought Bill Gates was a man of power, put that thought into check. The founders of Google are more than brilliant mathematicians able to create flawless algorithms for searches. They are brilliant businessmen who really understand how to get people to begin and remain Google-centric. Google is truly dedicated to learning as much as it can about you so that it can work with you and empower you in new ways. Like Jeff Jarvis says, and like Google says “think distributed”. So true. Here are the main points of the Google Rules that Jeff Jarvis discusses in this book. Thanks for all the hard research, Jeff, and for sharing these insights with the rest of us. Indeed, Google is leading us all into a new generation of business and e-commerce, to say the least.

Google Rules

1. New Relationship (between Google and you)
2. New Architecture (dynamic, to say the least)
3. New Publicness (hopefully, Google will value your privacy more than Facebook)
4. New Society (Google redefines the idea of society, here)
5. New Economy (It is indeed a virtual economy now)
6. New Business Reality (the playing field is leveled now via the web)
7. New Attitude (with a new business reality comes a new attitude)
8. New Ethic (yes, we still need to be good people, even on the web)
9. New Speed (Motley Crue said it first “too fast for love”)
10. New Imperatives (Google will only reveal this to us in small doses)

You can get your copy of this book at Amazon by clicking here.

All The Best,

Keith

Dear Readers:

Positive thinking is the source of success. This is the conclusion of not only great philosophers and motivational speakers, but also by great spiritual leaders and even doctors. Recently, I wrote a book called The Power of OM, which is an ancient Sanskrit-language word affirming health, love, compassion, wisdom, success, and all that is good. This book is now available at Lulu Publishers for you to check out. At the same time, not everybody is ready to embrace a mystical word or something that is not yet totally endorsed by the scientific community. BTW, many doctors are studying monks from Hindu and Tibetan traditions and are finding fascinating results from their OM meditation practice. I will keep you posted on this. So, for those of you who believe in positive thinking on more of a purely mental platform, check out my book 365 Great Affirmations. I wrote this book back in 2008 and it is still a great book to read. It has sold many copies and there are thousands of people around the globe using this book and are receiving benefits from its included affirmations. Here are the links to these two books I have written. Wishing you success as always

The Power of OM
The Power of Affirmation