Internet Explorer 10 is for Windows 7 too

And a good upgrade. If you have not upgraded from IE 9 or previous versions you are missing not only on features but on improved security as it is always the case when a new Internet Explorer version arrives. Though this new version is hardly the latest news, I decided to post about IE 10 for Windows 7 only after having used it for several months now. It's a worthy upgrade for a browser that is more standards-compliant than ever. Try some showcase videos here.

Another way to quickly access essential information about your PC

There are several ways to get information about your computer system. One of them is the "computer management" tool (right click on "My Computer" icon and choose "Manage") using an Administrator account. However, if all you need is to quickly access part of that information, like hardware components, open Devices and Printers (press the Windows Key and start typing "Devices and..." to get there) then localize your computer and right click to see the menu shown here. The menu choices are self-explanatory and from there you can control major PC settings but if you want to get a closer look at the hardware settings and drivers, select "Properties" and then the hardware tab. In general, the Devices and Printers utility can show you a bird's eye view of your entire computer ecosystem.

Year of the Dragon as your Windows 7 theme

According to the Chinese (and Mongolian) zodiac this is the Year of the Dragon, and to top it off a leap year. So what luckiest could it get? I, for one, declare my inclination to believe in signs, stars, "angels" and the Universe. If you want to wear this sort of amulet in your PC you can download the Year of the Dragon theme, in the Windows 7 themes page. Good Luck. Buona Fortuna. Bonne Chance. Buena Suerte.

More wonderful Windows 7 themes

It's a very nice surprise to find more and more Windows 7 themes in the Microsoft website. The last time I visited for this purpose, to be honest, it was a few months ago. But now, lo and behold! a great assortment of subjects is right there ready to download. No need to install, just "Open" and voilà! Change the mood of your computer and perhaps yours too. All sorts of animals, art, automobiles, games, holidays, seasons, movies, landscapes and places are waiting for you. Wishing you a great weekend, with of without hurricane Irene...

Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE)

This is but one of the many nice and useful features of Windows 7. The Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE), which is a new Windows command-line shell designed especially for system administrators. And that's in addition to the Powershell that replaces the old black window console (from the times of DOS). The Windows PowerShell ISE enables IT professionals to develop scripts without installing additional tools. To know more and give it a try yourself visit, for example, this blog entry: Windows PowerShell ISE Color Objects.

Good accessories: Paint

Windows 7, like other great OSes, has now built-in decent accessories and not just plain vanilla applications. Paint is one of them, sporting the Microsoft Office 2007 Ribbon, more graphic tools, more formats, and in general more usefulness. Bravo.

Good accessories: WordPad

Windows 7 includes a revamped WordPad, which is more a simplified version of Word 2007 than just an upgrade of the WordPad version of 2001. It can handle other formats and not just text and rtf, includes a rich variety of fonts and sports the ubiquitous Microsoft Office 2007 Ribbon. Nice.

Burn ISO images directly from Windows 7

Burning ISO images used to require the installation of additional third-party software in previous versions of Windows, including Vista, but now with Windows 7 you can create your DVD from an ISO image right there in the Windows Explorer (see left). Another of the niceties of Windows 7!

Administrator and Standard User accounts in Windows 7

When you install Windows 7 you are asked to create an account (it does not tell which type) with a user name and a password. This account is by default an Administrator account and is part of one of the 15 default account groups. There is, on the other hand, an "Administrator" account (that is, user name "Administrator"), which is disabled, like the Guest account, and you can enable it so it will show on the opening screen with your other accounts. In Vista, in order to see the "Administrator" account at the beginning of a session, you have to run a special script. In XP, when you have other accounts, you can access the Administrator account by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL twice. It is advisable that you create a "Standard User" account, with which you can change system settings that do not affect other users or don't compromise the security of the system. Surf the Web as a Standard User.

Windows 7 is "version 6.1.7000" but for a reason

When you go to the traditional DOS console, using the command "cmd", and type the command "ver" at the prompt, you find out that Windows 7 is actually "version 6.1.700" and the main reason being compatibility issues. In other words, if you want to run in Windows 7 a program, which is compatible with Vista (i.e. Windows 6.0 version) it may not run. Some applications did not run in Vista simply because they were designed for Windows 5.x and perhaps other reasons. However, as Mike Nash explains in his excellent blog, there's been some fodder about whether using 6.1 in the code is an indicator of the relevance of Windows 7. It is not. Windows 7 is a significant and evolutionary advancement of the client operating system. It is in every way a major effort in design, engineering and innovation.