Ask
Ask Mr. Modem! – December 2009
www.MrModem.com
Windows 7 Tips
Q. Now that Windows 7 has been released, what’s your
impression of it and do you have any new-user tips?
A. I’ve been
using Windows 7 since its initial beta version and I remain impressed. I would
characterize it as Vista, but without the quirks. (I’m being diplomatic.) Bottom
line, Windows 7 is a good, solid operating system and at least at this stage,
Microsoft appears to have redeemed itself from its V-word debacle.
If
you are using Windows 7, or if it’s in your future, I added a new Windows 7
section to my weekly “Ask Mr. Modem!” newsletter (www.MrModem.com).
Heading into its tenth year of publication, each week I deliver helpful,
easy-to-understand tips for all versions of Windows, as well as prompt, personal
responses to subscribers’ questions by email.
As far as Windows 7 tips,
here are four little “teaser tips” from my newsletter:
1. The Show
Desktop feature that was used to minimize all open windows in XP and Vista has
been replaced by Aero Peek. Peek is enabled by mousing over a “glass”
rectangular area in the lower right-hand corner of the screen, to the right of
the time display. When you mouse over this little panel, all open windows are
hidden and replaced by window outlines. If you prefer the older style “Show
Desktop” effect, click the little panel instead of mousing over it and all open
windows will minimize.
2. Gone, too, is the Quick Launch bar in Windows
7, but the new Taskbar effectively serves the same function. If your Win 7
Taskbar is taking up too much room because of its large icons, right-click the
Start orb, click Properties > Taskbar > Use small icons > OK.
3. If you
drag one window to the left side of the screen and another to the right, the
windows will instantly resize, each filling half the screen, so you can easily
use them side by side. Love it!
4. Windows 7 includes a number of new
keyboard shortcuts. A few of my favorites include: The Windows (Logo) Key + G
displays gadgets in front of other windows. The Windows Key + Up maximizes the
current window, while the WinKey + Down minimizes the current window. The WinKey
+ Spacebar causes all windows to become transparent so you can see through to
the Desktop, and the WinKey + (+ or -) will zoom in or out.
Q.
I downloaded a font that I like, but I can't figure out how to install it in my
word processor. I followed instructions, but the font doesn't appear in the list
of available fonts. Can you help, Mr. M?
A. In this instance, don’t
install your new font into the word processor itself, install it in Windows
where other programs can then access it. To do this, using Windows Explorer, for
example, copy the font file into your C:\Windows\Fonts folder, or whatever
folder is appropriate for your system if it's configured other than in this
manner, which is typical.
Then go to Control Panel > Fonts > File >
Install New Fonts. In the Add Fonts dialog box, navigate to the C:\Windows\Fonts
folder, or whatever folder is appropriate on your system. Double-click to open
the folder.
Under "List of Fonts," click to select your new font, then
click OK. Restart your computer and the font will then be available for use in
all Windows programs, including your word processor.
Q. I
understand there are methods and devices that can transfer 35mm slides to a hard
drive or CD. What can you tell me about them and where can they be purchased?
A. There are a number of methods for converting slides to digital images
that are described in detail in the following articles: “Converting Your 35mm
Slides to Digital Format,” at
http://tinyurl.com/tze8j, and “How to Convert 35mm Slides to Digital,” at
http://tinyurl.com/yjofg6j.
There are also devices that can perform the conversion (http://tinyurl.com/yl6oedl),
or you can use any number of professional services, such as Larsen Digital Slide
Scanning at
www.slidescanning.com/slides.
Mr. Modem’s DME (Don’t
Miss ‘Em) Sites of the Month
Roadside Peek
Get comfy and enjoy an
open-road journey back through time. Travel old routes (including the legendary
Route 66) across America. See the old motels, bowling alleys, drive-in theatres
(remember drive-ins?), neon signs, petrol pumps, tacky tiki villages, and other
roadside treasures. The site’s default font is a bit small for my trifocals, so
if you want to enlarge the font, click View > Text or Zoom in your browser or
press CTRL and the + sign.
www.roadsidepeek.com
Shakespeare Insult Kit
Shakespeare was, of course, a brilliant writer,
but he also had a cutting wit that could skewer an adversary faster than you can
retort, “Says who, thou fobbing, earth-vexing dewberry?" Use this site to create
your own Shakespearean insults. Choose an entry from each of three columns,
string them together, precede the phrase with "thou," and you've got an insult
worthy of a 17th century poet, thou calumnious, muddy-mettled mumblemews.
http://tinyurl.com/yez5m9v
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