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Post by Chicago Jake on Dec 27, 2010 17:45:09 GMT -6
My trusty old Toshiba laptop running XP finally bit the dust. Well, not totally, but it's coughing up blood and needs to be put out of its misery. So I went out and got me a spanking new Toshiba laptop with all the latest hardware.
Unfortunately, it's running Windows 7. I've heard mostly good stuff about Win7, but I'm having a few growing pains figuring out how to do all my favorite things on it.
Has anyone else gone through the transition and figure out what I need to know? For example, how do I:
- create a taskbar icon to minimize all open programs and take me to the desktop? - create a taskbar icon to take me to "My Documents"?
and any other handy shortcuts that an XP dinosaur really needs to understand? Thanks!........Jake
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Post by Chicago Jake on Dec 27, 2010 18:48:29 GMT -6
A ha! Already answered one of my own questions. At the extreme bottom right corner of the screen is a little unlabeled rectangular icon. Clicking this minimizes all programs and shows the desktop!
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Post by Merlot Joe on Dec 28, 2010 0:42:09 GMT -6
I bought the Windows 7 upgrade from Windows Vista to 7 but haven't had the balls to load it yet. Don't want to fuck up what I have already.
Denice bought a new lap top last summer with 7 in it. I have used it a couple of times and it seems okay.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Dec 28, 2010 7:50:25 GMT -6
Joe Dont wait on that upgrade, you arent doing yourself any favors sticking with Vista
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Post by Chicago Jake on Dec 28, 2010 9:28:38 GMT -6
Hazel's computer runs Vista, and it always baffles me. Win 7 looks like it is operating with a pretty similar interface, but at least I'm starting to get used to it. Not having an "up" button in the file browser is a bit disconcerting after all these years, but the new method works, I suppose.
I imagine I'll have to buy the latest version of Office eventually, and get used to that damned "ribbon" interface!
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Dec 28, 2010 12:20:41 GMT -6
The "ribbon" wasnt much of a problem to transition to for me. I did do it when I decided to cave to peer pressure from the rest of the world and leave Word Perfect behind (though I still have it on my computer, there are some tasks for which it is still far superior to Word).
One thing though Jake, if you can get a copy of the 07 version of Microsoft Office cheap, go with it, everything that I have heard is that the 10 version was a step backwards in some aspects. Online reviews should provide more details
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Post by Chicago Jake on Dec 28, 2010 12:40:59 GMT -6
Actually, Gordon, I've read that the 2010 version is easier to use than the 2007 version, as it is a step slightly backwards toward earlier versions in terms of style. Not being familiar with either, I won't venture an opinion at this point.
My new computer came with "Microsoft Word Starter 2010" and "Microsoft Excel Starter 2010." I suspect this is a new strategy that MS is using, replacing its old "Works" software. These are lobotomized "lite" versions of the full 2010 software, and don't expire. If I can get used to them, I'll spring for the new version.
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Post by Chicago Jake on Dec 28, 2010 13:54:59 GMT -6
Ah, another lesson learned the hard way: How to port Thunderbird email to a new computer.
I used to use Eudora, which stored everything in one directory. All you had to do was copy the entire directory and you were good to go. But Thunderbird scatters your data in various places. I read a bunch of web pages with various baroque procedures for finding it all, none of which made sense.
But fortunately, I finally found a program called MozBackup that does it all for you! Mighty slick......Jake
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