Windows 7: The Missing Manual

Original manual for Windows 7.

Product Description

In early reviews, geeks raved about Windows 7. But if you're an ordinary mortal, learning what this new system is all about will be challenging. Fear not: David Pogue's Windows 7: The Missing Manual comes to the rescue. Like its predecessors, this book illuminates its subject with reader-friendly insight, plenty of wit, and hardnosed objectivity for beginners as well as veteran PC users.

Windows 7 fixes many of Vista's most painful shortcomings. It's speedier, has fewer intrusive and nagging screens, and is more compatible with peripherals. Plus, Windows 7 introduces a slew of new features, including better organization tools, easier WiFi connections and home networking setup, and even touchscreen computing for those lucky enough to own the latest hardware.

With this book, you'll learn how to:

• Navigate the desktop, including the fast and powerful search function
  
• Take advantage of Window's apps and gadgets, and tap into 40 free programs
  
• Breeze the Web with Internet Explorer 8, and learn the email, chat, and videoconferencing programs
  
• Record TV and radio, display photos, play music, and record any of these to DVD using the Media Center
  
• Use your printer, fax, laptop, tablet PC, or smartphone with Windows 7
  
• Beef up your system and back up your files
  
• Collaborate and share documents and other files by setting up a workgroup network

Review:

The book is written in Pogue's clear, easy-to-read, and entertaining style. Through it all, he maintains his sense of humor. It covers most everyone from the most basic beginner to the the advanced super user, although the most sophisticated users won't need much from this book. But even for them, it includes some handy pointers and reference material.

It provides a complete Windows 7 manual, with everything from how to install (Appendix A), to Windows basics (using Windows, file management and search, and setting your desktop) to finding and installing programs, to connecting to and using the Internet, to advanced features like joining a domain and VPN. And it covers everything else in between.

New features like Libraries and Jump Lists are covered nicely. He even describes the Library problems where you can't add a network location to a Library without making that folder available off-line. He correctly points out that this copies that entire folder onto the local hard drive, so you probably don't want to do this.

I especially liked that when features were missing from a particular version of Windows 7, Pogue points that out. He also points out when a feature is available only on certain versions. For example, Aero is not available in Windows 7 Starter Edition, and he points that out when talking about Aero.

The book provides special help for people transitioning from XP and Vista. When he can, Pogue compares things to the way they used to be in XP and/or Vista. For example, he explains how the Start menu and taskbar have changed from both earlier versions.

He also offers handy sidebars with tips and other related information throughout the book. For example, in the section that teaches you about faxing, he has a sidebar on how to create your own fax cover page.

One of my favorite features of the book are the extraordinarily useful keyboard shortcuts. He provides shortcuts for every situation that has one. In addition, he provides a full keyboard reference in Appendix D.

This is truly the Missing Manual for Windows 7. It is not, however, a reference manual. It's designed to be read like a book. And it's a really good book.

Price: $39.99 Click here to buy

Windows 7 For Dummies Book + DVD Bundle

A terrific value-a full-size book plus video demonstrations of key Windows 7 tasks

Windows 7 is Microsoft's much-anticipated new release of the operating system that powers nearly 90% of the world's computers. This two-for-one package provides the step-by-step guidance that will get you up and running with all the exciting new features.

This bundle includes the complete Windows 7 For Dummies book plus a DVD with two hours of video training. Featuring the expert advice you get in the book, the DVD shows you how to accomplish various Windows tasks and displays the screens you'll see as you proceed.

• A two-for-one value - the full-size Windows 7 For Dummies book plus two hours of video training on DVD
  
• Windows 7 has new features, an interface with more graphical elements, better interactivitiy with other devices, and faster speed
  
• Whether you're new to computers or just to Windows 7, this handy package provides a simple, easy-to-use guide plus video illustration to help you accomplish basic tasks in Windows
  
• Covers the things most books assume you already know, as well as how to work with files and programs, get things done online, and customize Windows 7
  
• Shows you how to use movie, music, and photo management features, how to upgrade your system, and how to fix common problems you'll encounter
  
• DVD shows you what you'll see on the screen as you master each step

This great book-and-DVD package will have you comfortably using Windows 7 faster than you can say 1-2-3!

Price: $27.99 Click here to buy

Why Do Are Need To Buy a Windows Phone 7 Phone?

We will be cheering for Microsoft on this one. They need a good mobile device in their lineup. But if you're ready to buy a Windows Phone 7 device on day one... why?

There are plenty of reasons to avoid a Windows Phone 7 unit—it's a first-generation product; it lacks some basic features like cut-and-paste (although that's coming); other mobile operating systems are more advanced—but we think we understand those differences pretty well.

What we are curious about is why those of you who are getting ready to plunk down some real money for a Windows Phone 7 unit are excited about. Help us relieve some of our own ignorance.

If it were us, we'd guess the integration of Xbox Live could be a big selling point. We are a little too much of a cross-platform gamer for that to be a tipping point, but for hard core XBL players, We can see the connection. But we are putting words in your mouth.

Via Gizmodo

HTC HD7 Review Nothing Comes In Small

No smartphone platform is complete without a phone big enough to double as an ice scraper. The hulking HD7 is that phone for Windows Phone 7.

Specs
Price: $199 w/ 2-year contract on T-Mobile
Display: 4.3 inches @ 800x480
Processor: 1GHz Snapdragon
Memory and Storage: 512MB RAM, 16GB built-in storage
Camera: 5MP stills, 720p video

There's a small army of Windows phones to choose from which all more or less look, work and feel the same. The HD7 is simply the biggest, with a massive, 4.3-inch screen. It's also essentially a greatest hits edition phone for HTC, mixing up various bits of its past steroidal slabs, the HD2 and Evo 4G. It's got a kickstand. It should be a slam dunk.

Before you go any further, you should read our Windows Phone 7 review, which'll tell you all about the software.

In a phone that's all about the screen, it should be using a good screen, and the one here is middling, with some seriously crummy viewing angles. A slight tilt off-axis and colors get shimmery and washed out—it's particularly noticeable with Windows Phone's in-your-face primary colors. The color temp's really warm, so the stark white backgrounds of Outlook makes you think "peeeeee." Still, having all that space is a small luxury, particularly when you're web browsing, watching videos, typing or with certain information-dense apps, like Facebook.

The best photo I managed to take with the HD7.

The five-megapixel camera is disappointing. Sometimes it'll shoot perfectly acceptable pictures. Sometimes it'll shoot totally washed out crap, rather than exposing it properly. The number of camera settings you're allowed to tweak pales in comparison to the laundry list you're able to adjust on Samsung's Focus. (Though since a nasty Windows Phone bug resets all of them to the default settings anyway, maybe it doesn't matter that much.) And while all of the buttons on the HD7 are a little too flush with the body, it's most annoying with the camera button, since half the time you're just trying to focus, it ends up taking a shot.

It runs Windows Phone 7 as excellently as it can be run, but it's not breaking any new ground in the same way that HTC phones have pushed phone specs in the past. Since Microsoft's calling the shots here, that's mostly on them. (As are the times when apps take forever to load, since epic load and resume times are common to all Windows Phones right now.) In their limited capacity to add on to Windows Phone, some of what T-Mobile and HTC have tacked on is good (Netflix, Slacker Radio, Flashlight) and some of it's useless. HTC's tried to make the phone's sound stand out by etching speakers into the top and bottom of the face and boasting that it's got Dolby Mobile and SRS surround sound, but what warbles forth is harsh and tinny.

Maybe I've just used too many gigant-o-phones at this point and gotten used to them, but the HD7 seems less obnoxiously large than other phones this size, and simply natural. The screen's bigness, which is the whole reason to buy this phone. Kickstand!

Poor viewing angle on the display. The battery life is weak, pulling me only through 2/3 of a day, thanks to a wussy-sized 1230 mAh pack. The headphone jack's on the bottom of the phone, instead of the top.

This could be a much better phone than it is, the Windows Phone to get, simply by flawlessly delivering on technical excellence. But its headline feature—the neverending display—is compromised by being less-than-stellar in other respects. And, like my ex-girlfriend told me until she dumped me, size ain't everything. Overall, the HD7 is not a bad phone, and it's a perfect serviceable vehicle for Windows Phone 7. It's just not a great phone.

Via Gizmodo

Windows Phone 7 Essential Apps Launch

The Windows Phone 7 section of the Zune Marketplace looks a bit like a barren wasteland at the moment, but there'll be worthy apps aplenty ready for next month's launch. Here are your first priority downloads.

There are still more apps to be announced before launch, and obviously the huge ramp-up will continue as the devices gain popularity. But as of right now, this is your must list. Not surprisingly—given the Xbox Live connection—it's relatively game-heavy.

Bye Bye:

You might be tired of tower defense games by this point. Don't be. Because as you can see, this one's 3D animations and perspective-shifting use of accelerometer make it a must-try.

Fruit Ninja: One of our favorites for the iPhone and iPad will be on WP7 at launch, so limber up those fingers for some pineapple-slicing action.

The Harvest:

It's a cool-looking, graphics intensive RPG Microsoft's got on its hands. But more importantly, it's an exclusive cool-looking, graphics intensive RPG. Meaning your only chance to slay this particular alien horde is on WP7.

Sims 3: EA played coy for a while when it came to WP7 development, but thank goodness they're along for the ride—and bringing the venerable Sims franchise with them.

Three Zombie Games: What can I say? I'm a sucker for all things BRAINS. And between Zombie Attack!, Zombies!!!!, and Age of Zombies it looks like I should be getting my fill.

Netflix: Netflix will be there from the start, along with Watch Instantly functionality—which is going to look pretty sweet on those WP7 displays. Even more ways to clear out my queue!

Slacker: Don't worry; Pandora's on its way. But in the meantime, it's worth giving Slacker a try—especially if you don't want to bother with a Zune Pass.

AT&T U-Verse Mobile:

Here's a neat trick: even if you're not a U-Verse customer, you'll have full access to U-Verse TV content for $10 a month. And if you are a U-Verse customer, you get all the same viewing options along with the ability to manage your DVR.

Twitter:

We were a little worried about Twitter when it didn't show up on our WP7 in-depth look in July, but it'll be there on November 8th, complete with the ability to locate nearby tweets with GPS and the ability to poke around without signing in to a Twitter account.

GoVoice
Windows Phone 7 doesn't have an official Google Voice app, but third-party enabler GoVoice is already in the Zune Marketplace. In any incarnation—even for three bucks, as in this case—Google Voice is downright crucial.

IMDb:
Want to know why Windows Phone 7 has a real shot? Look no further than the WP7 IMDb treatment. Matt's assessment—that it's "holy crap nice lookin'"—gets a strong second from me.

eBay:

Microsoft's been stressing that what they lack in quantity of apps they'll make up for in quality. That's good news for auction fanatics, who are going to be treated to a very slick-looking interface that lets you search, bid, and buy from your device.

Fandango: Fandango feels like one of those apps that's table stakes at this point, so it's good to see it here—although the clock's still ticking on Foursquare, Pandora, Amazon, and other essentials.

Via Gizmodo

Windows 7 Family Upgrade Pack Returns For a Limited Time Only

A few months prior to the launch of Windows 7 Microsoft tried to entice early adopters with a killer deal on a three pack of Home Premium licenses, and as far as we can tell it was a huge success. Windows 7 was the most quickly adopted operating system in the company’s history, but like all good things it came it came to an unfortunate and abrupt end in early December 2009.

Anyone who waited too long was stuck paying nearly the same amount for a single copy, but if you missed the first offer we have good news for you, it’s back! Starting today you can order the Windows 7 Family pack which includes three copies of Home Premium for a mere $149.99. Anyone interested can pick up a copy at the Microsoft Online Store, or from what we can tell just about every common retailer that normally carries the SKU.

If you haven’t jumped over to Windows 7 yet, there has never been a better time to hop on the bandwagon. Still not convinced? I’m guessing that’s because you haven’t checked out our comprehensive review & benchmark comparison. Maybe you’re worried about the obstacles you might face while upgrading? We have a Guide for that too.

The family pack deal is just for US citizens at the moment but dozens of other countries will see the offer go live on October 22nd. Want to see if your homeland made the cut?

Countries where Family Pack will be available are:

United States, Canada, UK, France, Germany, China, Russia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Australia, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Romania, and Ukraine.

Buy Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade Pack

Windows Phone 7 Launches on October 11th 2010

There has been quite a bit of confusion over when exactly Microsoft [MSFT] will actually officially launch their new mobile operating system, Windows Phone 7.

It seems that they will be holding a special event next Monday, the 11th of October in New York, when they will finally launch Windows Phone 7.

And whilst the official launch date may be the 11th of October, it looks like they will start selling Windows Phone 7 smartphones from the 8th of November 2010.

The event will be a worldwide launch, and at the US event in New York, T-Mobile will be showing off some Windows Phone 7 devices.

Microsoft via Geek

Samsung Omnia 7 with Windows Phone 7 leaks

Samsung GT-i8700 in both photo and video form, but this is the first we’ve seen of the next in their Omnia line.

Taking a page from HTC’s playbook, Samsung have decided to honour Microsoft’s latest mobile OS by skipping digits 3 through 6, and naming the follow-up to the Omnia 2 the Omnia 7.

Now, IntoMobile broke the story, and believe that this is the previously spotted GT-i8700 that I mentioned above, but I think I’m going to agree with SlashGear here and say that this is a different device. The curved top is definitely un-GT-i8700 like.

Unfortunately, there are no specs available right now, but I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say it’ll have somewhere around a 1GHz processor, 256MB RAM, 8GB storage, and at least a 5MP camera.

Of course, as more details come to light, I’ll be here tapping ‘em out on my keyboard, just for you.