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*Keyboards & Mice Now Obsolete?

*Disk Defrag - Never Easier

*Ask the Pros - Windows Mail

*Windows 7 Beta Update

*Bits from Bill: Please Release Windows 7

*TechBite: Magic Jack Review

*Technologizer: A Tour of Gadget History

*Money Saving Tips

*New Survey - Technology & The Economy

*Tip #1: 76 Vista Keyboard Shortcuts

*Tip #2: User Account on a Different Drive

Starting Monday Feb. 24th 2009, updates are available for those lucky souls using Windows 7 Beta. The updates can be found by going to Start/All Programs/Windows Updates, as they are not being announced or installed via Automatic Updates. It must be done manually.

Reports that the updates don’t change anything and are only a “pseudo-refresh” seemed somewhat inaccurate. ”Starting February 24, we will be releasing up to 5 test updates to PCs running the Windows 7 Beta (Build 7000) via Windows Update. These updates allow us to test and verify our ability to deliver and manage the updating of Windows 7. We typically verify servicing scenarios during a beta”, said Brandon LeBlanc. Instead of the “up to 5” announced updates, I was presented with 35 suggested updates which downloaded and installed in approximately 25 minutes.

So far, over 20,000 of you have responded to our current survey about the economy. Along with the responses have come some great money saving ideas - that we have decided to share.

We will continue to add to this list as we receive more responses.

If you have yet to complete the survey for a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Certificate - you still have time (the survey ends on February 28, 2009). Please keep in mind all responses selected to be shared on this site are done so anonymously.

GMail, HotMail, WindowsMail, Whose got Mail?

We all do, so see what's going to be the next big deal in the battle to control your e-mail. Microsoft in, all it’s wisdom, is pushing to integrate e-mail, instant messaging, photo sharing, blog publishing, and a host of other applications into a neat and tidy package called Windows Live Services. Although not included as a part of the new Windows 7 operating system it is available for download from Windows Live Download and integrates seamlessly.

Is it a tool or a toy? It's certainly possible to open some programs and "Drill Sargent" a Word Document into existence but is it cost effective. Does it accomplish the task easily and professionally? Start listening.... Open Word.....OpenWord.....Open Word Document.....Open....Word....Close it....Open Word....Select Word..... Select Document... Numbers.... Numbers..... Number Grid....

February 2009 Newsletter
*Windows 7 Beta Put to the Test
*Ask the Pros - Drivers
*Time to Kick IE8 to the Curb?
*Billions for Broadband on the Way
*Bits from Bill: Protection for Win32/Conficker.A
*TechBite: Cardinal Rules of Email
*Technologizer: 10 of 10,000 MSFT Patents
*New Survey - Technology & The Economy
*Research - Men are Still Smarter
*Survey Results - PC & Cell Phone Usage
*Tip #1: Getting Rid Of Thumbs.db Files
*Tip #2: Little, miscellanies, but powerful
*Tip #3: Scheduled and Hidden Scheduled Tasks

The US House and Senate will soon begin final negotiations on the Economic Stimulus package. Given the massive size of this legislation, it may be easy to overlook the nearly $7 billion dollars included for broadband built out. However, as with many parts of the stimulus package - questions remain.

Getting tried of confusion over drivers? Drivers 101 is included in this edition and it's going to be a big help to a lot of people. Simple, concise information to remove all those questions and get you on track to understanding drivers. Ever have problems opening a link in Outlook Express? Are the BIG BOYS giving you the run around? Let them know what you want and get help before your out of warranty.

Q. Becky asks: I have a HP Pavilion a1700n running Windows Vista Home Premium. After 9 months or so all of the USB ports stopped working. I've never even plugged anything into the one on the back of the tower. I've tried different flash drives but it doesn't recognize them. Printers plugged into any USB port do not work. I tried to follow the steps given on

IE8 Beta is gone and hopefully replaced by an improved RC1. A browser capable of remembering passwords doesn't seem like too much to ask. With any luck at all the tabbed browsing and other improvements will be worth while because the browser will be able to render pages and do the small things that so far have escaped recent Internet Explorer releases.