Technology and Innovation

Notebook And Wifi Standards

2007-06-11T16:54:00.001+07:00

Every modern notebook is Wi-Fi enabled, allowing internet access from any part of the globe. But while using your wireless notebook, you should be aware of Wi-Fi standards, hotspots, and how to effectively use this technology to make the optimum use of your notebook.

The 802.11g Wi-Fi standard is the latest standard, which your notebook follows when you are online. The Wi-Fi alphabet spaghetti consists of protocols like 802.11, 802.15, 802.16, and 802.20. However, for most notebook users 802.11 would be sufficient with added `a`, `b`, or `g`.

There are protocols like `e`, `h`, `i`, and `n` that are waiting in the wings to make their entry. Nevertheless, as of now, 802.11g is the only protocol that one needs to think when it comes to wireless connectivity. The latest Wi-Fi standard is the 802.11g and offers connection speeds up to 54 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz radio bands, which is five times more than the previous standard 802.11b. It is more stable, more secure, and backward compatible.

Almost all notebooks that are manufactured today are 802.11g Wi-Fi standard ready. This standard is also designed to replace the older Wired Equivalent Privacy or WEP by specifying the Wi-Fi Protected Access or WPA. The WPA will function as an interim solution, until the next standard, the 802.11i network security standard is implemented with a new algorithm called Temporal Key Integrity Protocol, which shall be much more secure and reliable.

However, until the new standard is implemented, the 802.11g is to be followed. There are only two disadvantages with this notebook Wi-Fi standard, that firstly, since it is a new standard, it may not perform as promised; and secondly, with fast emerging latest technologies, it may become obsolete by newer standards before you have the time to benefit from it.

Few tips for a secure Wi-Fi experience:

1 - You should raise the level of your laptop settings. Raise the security settings of software applications like Microsoft Outlook and Internet Explorer. Update them frequently to ensure latest protection from hackers and viruses. You should keep the encryption feature always on to ensure safest browsing with Wi-Fi.

2 - Along with the software, you should also consider updating to better hardware. Hackers have always found 802.11a and 802.11b very easy to hack. However, 802.11g is harder to crack and you should consider upgrading your hardware to a `g` card. An 802.11g is backward compatible with IEEE 802.11b, thus 802.11g can leverage the widespread, international adoption of IEEE 802.11b in products from laptops to PDAs. A personal firewall, such as ZoneAlarm or BlackICE can significantly add up to the security level of your notebook.

3 - Whenever you are using your notebook at a Wi-Fi hotspot, make it a point not to send data. While you are surfing, do not type your credit-card number, expiration date, passwords, bank account numbers, etc. Sensitive data are the goldmines for hackers, and they will swipe your bank account before you can finish saying, ` I have been a victim of online identity theft!`

4 - Consider not staying online while working. If the risks outweigh the benefits, then it would be better to stay offline; at least until the new 802.11i standard is not implemented. Even then, the security can be breached, albeit with difficulty. If you do not need Wi-Fi to implement your work, then stay switched off. If you need the Wi-Fi just to send and receive files, then stay connected for only that period. Rest of the time, stay offline.

Precautions to take at a public Wi-Fi hotspot:

Whenever you are in public domain, you need to take precautions, as it is free for all. The Wi-Fi hotspots are available to any and every person, and anybody can be connected. Besides online thefts, there is also the risk of offline thefts.

While in a public hotspot, do not be so absorbed with your notebook, that you fail to notice the people around you. There are persons who are in the business of stealing notebooks, from public hotspots. And they do not operate as individuals but as a gang.

Also, while you are online at a public hotspot, follow simple rules like encrypting files before transferring or emailing them; making sure you are connected to a legitimate access point; and file sharing is turned off. Basic precautions like password protecting your notebook, updating your system regularly, and using anti-virus software should be strictly followed. For further online security, consider using a personal firewall, a virtual private network (VPN), and web-based email with secure http (https).

Having a good Wi-Fi experience directly translates into a satisfying Internet experience. With the above suggestions being implemented, you are guaranteed to have a pleasant online time with your notebook.

Dell Dimension C521

2007-06-10T05:03:00.001+07:00

CPU: 2-GHz Athlon 64 X2 3800+ • Graphics Adapter: ATI Radeon X1300 • Monitor Model: Dell E177FP • Total HD Size (GB): 160 • Price When Reviewed: $729

Pros :

Case mounts horizontally or vertically
Reasonable performance for the price

Cons :

Limited internal expansion room

Moderately priced, slim-line Dell combines attractive looks and a balance of performance and expandability.

The Dell Dimension C521 sacrifices some expansion room to keep its case skinnier than a typical midsize tower PC. Even so, the $729 (as of November 6, 2006) C521 is a good choice if you seek a space-conscious, low-cost system that retains some expansion options.

Set up vertically, the well-designed case has a width of just 4.5 inches (you can also situate it horizontally). Even so, it retains a modicum of expansion room, including three open expansion-card slots--one each for PCI, PCI Express x1, and PCI Express x16. The thin chassis limits you to half-height PCI cards, however. The system's other expansion options are limited to one 5.25-inch externally accessible bay (which a dual-layer DVD burner occupies) and two 3.5-inch bays (claimed by a 160GB hard drive and a five-in-one memory card reader).

Our test system came with Windows XP Media Center Edition installed, but it lacked a TV tuner. In fact, Dell doesn't offer a TV tuner as an option for this model, but you can buy a third-party TV tuner card for about $80.

The C521 configuration we tested packed a 2-GHz Athlon 64 X2 3800+ dual-core processor and 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a combination that powered the C521 to a creditable WorldBench 5 score of 95--more than adequate for tasks like word processing, Web browsing, and even video and image editing. Thanks in part to its ATI Radeon X1300 graphics card with 256MB of memory, the C521 did reasonably well in our games tests, too, managing about 24 frames per second on Doom 3 at a resolution of 1280 by 1024 pixels on the included 17-inch E177FP LCD monitor. We consider Doom 3 barely playable at that frame rate, but the PC would adequately handle less graphically demanding games.

Dell bills the C521 as Vista-capable and offers Vista upgrade information on its site.

Though its performance trails far behind that of more-expensive systems, it's fast enough to make the C521 a realistic choice as a casual gaming system for the kids or as a versatile second PC.

Keep your Email Secure While on the Go!

2007-06-10T03:40:00.000+07:00

If you are a frequent business traveler, you probably carry a notebook computer with you all the time. But what if you just take a vacation, or simply don't want to carry those extra pounds of electronics around?

If you are like most casual travelers, you'll probably end up in an Internet cafe in a country of destination. You'll open a Web browser, type your Web mail address, and enter your password. By this time, you've probably got the feeling there might be something wrong with this. And indeed there is.

Far destinations and exotic places often have unreliable internet connections, even in public places such as Internet cafes. What is much worse, these cafes often have unreliable owners and even less reliable visitors. Can you be sure your password will not be captured when you type it into webmail login form? Technically, that can be done easily by the owner of the computer, or by any prior visitor who's been using the same computer. A small and invisible keyboard logger, once it is installed, cannot be easily detected, let alone disabled. It may steal your password and send it to a crook, who will then gain full access to all your private messaging.

Is there a way to protect your privacy and your data from malicious persons and key logging software? For one, you should not type anything sensitive, like your passwords or credit card data, on any shared computers. This is especially true for poor, third world countries that are well known among the experienced travelers for this kind of activities.

But what if you still want or need to access your email messages? Is there a really safe way to check your email while on the go?

There definitely is! Smart PC Solutions has developed a secure, portable email client that you can always keep with you on a Flash memory card. Reach-a-Mail is just the right tool for traveling individuals!

Install it on an inexpensive, disposable USB memory stick, and carry that light and compact stick with you while traveling. When you need to check your email, find a working computer with an Internet connection, plug the USB stick, and run Reach-a-Mail. No need to configure email accounts on every new PC, and no need to type any passwords! All passwords are securely stored on your very own Flash card. If you don't type anything, there's no way to capture your account password with a key logger.

Of course, sniffing intrenet traffic can still get your account login and password, but this is a much more complex task to do than simply installing a keyboard logger. You can easily protect yourself from this kind of an attack completely by simply configuring Reach-a-Mail to access your email server via a secure protocol. Secure connections are encrypted and cannot, under any circumstances, be decrypted and used by a malicious person.

Reach-a-Mail is a compact, secure and easy to use mobile email solution for traveling. Get your free copy now at http://www.smartpctools.com/portable_email.html

What can you do with Morphing Software?

2007-06-10T02:47:00.001+07:00

Morphing software programs provide the tools to add exciting and unique visual effects to web graphics, advertisements, screen savers, music videos, education software and movies, emails, presentations, greeting cards, and many other types of electronic documents. Use your amazing morph pictures and movies in numerous ways. You won't be disappointed with the professional quality of your Morphing software program projects.

What is morphing software? Image morphing is a great visualization process. It can be used for entertainment and to educate. Morphing software programs are used regularly to create special effect for music videos, television commercials and movies.

Image morphing is used to compute a transformation, a metamorphosis, from one image to another. This procedure is called "morph". The whole concept is to display a series of images, that when they are put together with the first images, will show the transition from one image to the other.

In a morphing series of two faces, the middle image will look incredibly life-like, as a real person, but one can easily see it is neither the person in the first or second image. The image in the middle is half influenced by the left and half influenced by the right image.

It will cost you a lot less to purchase and use Morphing software than complex animation software. But the results will be very similar. Your first morph will make you feel like a professional comedian and artist all in one when you complete your first morph.

Morphing Software benefits: You can experiment with your morphing software for free without any repercussions.

Age your child’s photos year by year using a morphing software program.

Morph yourself into a shapely new figure, wearing the latest fashions and create the latest and greatest hair style for yourself or others.

Have fun expressing yourself shaping reality your way.

Morph funny greeting cards to keep your family and friends rolling with laughter.

Morphing software is a great way to show the world your creative style.

You can be dramatic or funny by using morphing Video software.

Make your dog a cat, you and your husband can be children again for unforgettable footage.

Morphing software allows you to spend an hour or just a few minutes depending on the details you create morphing your own masterpiece that will show your family and friends your dramatic flair or that will keep them laughing or deeply touched.

A simplistic morph only takes a few precious minutes but the laughter and ther memories can be everlasting.

Important Features of Morphing Software

First decide exactly how you would like to use your morphing software then look for these features

Feature Set – This is the toolbox for the morphing software. A bigger tool set does not always mean it is a better. Look for morphing software that meets your specific needs and allows you to create the types of morphs that you want.

Setup and Installation- simple setup and installation is a must. Shop for easy exports and imports these are a must. Remember if you purchase a technically difficult morphing software you will not end up using it.

Ease of Use- Remember that morphing software uses a multi-step process and it requires your attention and time being paid to the details if you would like to have the best results.

Real Time Playing- Real Time Playing allows you to view your results right away as you are editing your morph. Beware that not all morphing software has this feature. With most morphing software you will have to save your morph to a file then open the file and load it to another program in order to view your morph.

Customer Support – It is important to purchase a morphing software program that offers good sound manufacturers support. Look for a help index, FAQ’s, email, tutorials and other support forums.

With morphing software you can have a grand ole time discovering your imagination all over again by trying new effects. You will enjoy using your new creations to make your family and friends roll with laughter or cry with the tenderness of your morphs.

Top Morphing Software can be seen here

Resolve your Printing Problems With Printer Setup Utility

2007-06-10T01:57:00.000+07:00

Wherever there is a hardware tool there can be a problem. Wherever there is a problem, there are new updated software to deal with it. If printing problems are plaguing you, what you need is a utility that can improve your printer performance or save your valuable time by organizing the printing tasks. For your information, print utility setup is a shareware. A shareware is a software that is easily available on the net and something you can download whenever you want to enhance user-experience, in this case, printing. Print setup utility can make your task easier and printing experience a joy. This is done by the various functionality features afforded by it.

Printers are items of daily use, an essential part of office supplies. However, printers are also the source of the printing problems and the headaches you have to bear by way of the long duration of time it takes to do simple printing tasks. Such simple tasks can be as simple as laying out different document formats and styles. Yet so often it happens that many of us are not able to work at it out in as smooth and suave manner as we would like to, especially when the printing requirements are high. Not that it is our fault. The folly lies in the ignorance that there are so many high-end software utilities available as sharewares on the internet that can enhance printer performance, and in the process, saving countless hours of useless toil.

Manual setups of different desired document profiles each time printing in a particular format is done can be tedious. It requires a lot of adjustments time and again, when all you have to do is to set upto six printer profiles together and print them one by one on the sly, seamlessly.

This utility gives you an easy and economical access to a valuable resource. So if you think it's high time to get rid of your printing problems, you have got to go for the right software such as printer setup utility.

Adware And Spyware Such A Pain

2007-06-10T01:44:00.000+07:00

Spywares and adwares are not only annoying but more often than not tend to damage your Computer software and sometimes can even cause some damage to your hardware too. These annoying bugs have become a bane for internet browsers worldwide. They have become a normal occurrence that we sometimes tend to ignore but God forbid we should never accept.

Spyware is computer software that spies on your internet usage. It collects highly personal and confidential information like credit card numbers, IPs and even addresses. The spyware program gets the credit card entries as the user logs them on a web form or an online application. Some spyware are even programmed to record your usage of the internet, what sites you visit, what files you download and how long you stay online http://www.setting1.com

The information are then sent or sold to advertisers which make good use of them for advertising campaigns that targets specific markets or audience. Usually, Spyware records IP addresses and shopping habits covertly or without the knowledge or consent of users. They do that in a number of ways. Some uses logging keystrokes to get information while some access the documents found in your computer's hard disk.

The term spyware first came to use in 1995 but the adoption of its present meaning came five years later. Spyware has been identified as the top security threats to computers using the Microsoft Windows operating systems. And Internet Explorer users were found to be the ones more susceptible to spyware attacks. Because of the popularity of IE and Windows, spyware programs were created to specifically attack and find its way from the internet into IE and into the important parts of the Windows operating system.

The threats are real and that's why the anti-spyware industry is flourishing. For every new spyware discovered, an anti-spyware program or update is created. These anti-spyware products usually disable or remove the existing spyware from the user's computer system. Once installed, they also provide protection preventing a variety of spyware programs from installing themselves in your computer.

However, there's a need to update these anti-spyware programs regularly. The World Wide Web is a fast pace medium. Everything in there changes quickly and even sporadically. The same goes with spyware. You never know when advertisers, web developers or even the government will come out with newer versions of spyware or adware that have improved ways of accessing your files and personal information. Some spyware program offer an uninstall option together with the program.

Most of the time, however, these uninstall options don't work. Some even installs more spyware instead of removing that particular one. So, it is best that you rely on services of anti-spyware programs to fully remove them from your operating system.

But while it is good that there are various anti-spyware programs at your disposal, it is better that you prevent the installation of these spyware in the first place. Some of the techniques that you could use are to disable the automatic installations of programs in your internet browsers and to install pop-up blockers.

Spy ware and adware attaches themselves more frequently on those rather annoying advertising pop-ups. When accessing your email, it is a good practice to ignore mails that came from persons that you do not know or those that contain a vague subject. It is best that you delete these emails without opening them. It is quite cumbersome, but you really need to take time doing these things to make sure that your computers are free from spyware.

To Remove the Worse You Need the Best (best free spyware adware removal)

Imagine yourself walking along a busy street, minding your own business. You stop by a men's clothing store. You look at the window display, point at a new pair of shoes. After a few minutes of gawking at the window display you move on home.

As you go inside your house, you noticed a flyer on your porch. The flyer is on the exact pair of shoes that you saw in the men's store. How did they know? Was it coincidence? If this all happened in the internet, then it's probably not a coincidence. Your computer has been watched and your "movement" in the Web has been recorded. Your operating system has some spyware in it.

Spyware are computer programs that attach themselves in whatever things you download online. They are designed to track you wherever you go online. Spyware is a little different from adware. Adware are also referred to as freeware and are basically ads that pop-up when you open a website or webpage or open a program.

Spyware are similar in that they are also freeware, however, spyware programs have embedded tracking programs which reports your activity in the internet to the spyware agent which in turn provides the information to advertisers and web developers. With this information, advertisers and web developers and even the government can feed your computers with any information they want without your consent and even without you noticing it.

It is best, therefore that you employ some precautionary measures yourselves to stay free from spyware and adware attacks. First you need to disable auto installation of software programs in your internet browsers and you need use pop-up blockers and firewall protection.

This is your first line of defense against such spyware programs. The next thing to do is to get decent anti-spyware programs. It shouldn't be too hard, there are a lot of them nowadays and most of them are free or at the very least have free trial accounts.

Among the most popular free anti-spyware and adware programs are Ad Aware and Active Shield. Ad Aware offers advanced protection against Data-mining, Parasites, aggressive advertising, Scumware and some traditional viruses and tracking systems like Trojans, Dialers, Malware and Browser hijackers. Active Shield on the other hand targets trojans and spyware.

Other popular anti-spyware software include Spy-Ad Exterminator Free which searches the computer's memory, hard drives, and registry for spyware, adware, worms, hijacks, keyloggers, among others; Spy Cleaner Lite which identifies and removes programs that has been covertly installed in your systems; Spyware Doctor is an advanced adware and spyware removal program; Free Spyware Scanner tells the user how their computer got infected and the best solution for spyware removal; Doctor Alex Antispyware; Spyware Begone; 1-2-3 Spyware Free; and Easy Spyware Scanner.

Most of the time, these anti-spyware scanners and removal utilities will locate spyware and adware in your computer and will delete, ignore, or quarantine each and every one of them. Some anti-spyware programs will remove spyware automatically while other provides a user interface option where you can customize specific actions the anti-spyware would perform.

Some other popular spyware removal software includes Anti-Hijacker, Spyware & Adware Removal, Max Secure Spyware Detector, and Deluxe Spy-Kill utilities. These are just some of the more popular spyware removal software. It's up to you which one you choose, but try to look for reputable ones. Look at reviews and ask for referrals from friends.

Talking CCTV Cameras: Protection Or Intrusion?

2007-06-10T01:15:00.000+07:00

Today our world is hung in a very delicate balance between good and evil. Since the start of the new millennium, we have been gripped by a very fearful and powerful force; Fear- itself. It is the general belief that there are people who are fighting to eradicate this fear and those fighting to embed it deeper and deeper in to the human psyche.

Governments around the globe are making efforts to somehow eliminate this element of fear from our daily lives. Whether the attempts are successful or not is yet to be seen. One such step taken to guard the people against not only the more serious dangers, but also the little things like vandalism, unsocial and unruly behavior is the Talking CCTV camera, predominantly being installed in the United Kingdom. These cameras will not only enable the operators to notice bad or dangerous activities, but will also enable them to speak to the offenders right there and then, in a bid to dissuade them from carrying out their actions.

Like everything else, these cameras will have some positives and a few negatives as well. They are already being used in a few areas of Britain and have, reportedly, helped in checking things like littering, street violence, vandalism against businesses and public properties and have also helped locate a few missing people to the joy of their loved ones. The promoters argue that the Talking CCTV cameras will enable people to breath easy, knowing that not only they, but the prospective offenders are also being watched. They are almost never alone on the streets and someone somewhere is keeping an eye on them and can also help, if the need may arise.

On the other hand, how much intrusion do we really want in our lives? Do we really want to be watched wherever we are and whatever we do?

There are an estimated 4.2 million CCTV cameras working in Britain, which is about 20% of the total number around the world at present. At a ratio of one camera for every fourteen people, you are likely to be caught on tape almost 300 times a day. With people looking at you from far-off places and, as it will be with the talking cameras, shouting orders like walk straight and don't look back ( which feels more like a scene from a futuristic science fiction movie), would you feel comfortable and safe or will you regard it as a violation of civil liberties?

Even though we all would like to feel protected and the governments, by and large, are trying to do their duty by us, how much and to what degree will this type of surveillance be acceptable and more importantly be effective? That my friends...time will only tell.

A school without borders

2007-06-08T14:34:00.000+07:00

Blackboard and National Defense University team to provide training anywhere

Whether stationed in Washington or deployed in the Middle East, students at the National Defense University need class times that are flexible and courses that can be delivered anywhere.

Online learning is the only solution for the university’s mission, and it is a big reason NDU is a trailblazer with the technology, which it has used since 1994.

Now, rather than focusing on online distance learning, the university is moving to a blended learning model that supplements or replaces traditional classroom instruction by using a Web-based solution from Washington-based Blackboard Inc.

“For the last three or four years, the resident students have enjoyed using Blackboard to access our online library resources,” said Michael Miller, NDU’s chief information offi- cer. “Now all the resident courses are going to move into having online course sites, not just to support the classroom teaching but in the case of a continuity-of-operations situation. When, for whatever reasons, students might not be able to come to the university, we would use the online system to continue to support learning.”

Blackboard is an e-learning technology that focuses on course management, content distribution and community. Organizations use it to put courses online, measure outcomes, and manage massive amounts of the content typical in any kind of learning environment.

Online learning has been available for years, but the newer versions of the technology better integrate with a wider array of file formats, such as streaming video, interactive 3-D modeling and gaming technology. Blackboard manages that content, so much of it is off-line and does not clog an institution’s servers.

NDU is a graduate institution that is part of the Defense Department. Its students cover a spectrum of the federal government, including both DOD military and civilian employees, as well as students from other federal agencies, countries and the private sector.

As is the case at most universities, the courses and curriculum at NDU have focused on classroom learning for years. To meet the needs of its students, the organization is quickly shifting from its physical classroom focus.

“The federal government has seen it makes a lot more sense to deliver that instruction, that certification, that training via courses online,” said Tim Hill, Blackboard’s president of professional education solutions. “So our technology allows the instructor to put her syllabus, course content, tests, discussion boards, projects, streaming media and all kinds of other content online.”

Blackboard enables students to work at their own pace, within the prescribed limits of the instructor.

Various DOD entities are using it for officer training, war strategy training and training for specific pieces of equipment, for example.

Blackboard is Web-based for both instructors and students. When an instructor builds an online course, it’s all done with a drag-and-drop interface.

“It can be a syllabus in Microsoft Word, photographs of charts in Adobe Photoshop, or you could author something yourself right on the system,” Hill said. “Instructors can drag in a streaming video clip from the DOD, or you can also incorporate textbook content that you would use to teach a class if you were in front of students.”

Military and intelligence agencies continue to adopt the technology because it allows them to augment the classroom experience with an online component. That is especially helpful for people in the armed forces and intelligence officials, because their jobs do not allow them to be in a classroom 100 percent of the time.

“A good example is if somebody is stationed in Iraq and she’s an officer continuing her training, she can still continue that coursework while they’re in the field serving the country because they can do it online,” Hill said. “And then when she comes back to her regular post in the United States, she can go right back to the classroom.”

Blackboard offers online learning technology via an application service provider platform. The company will also host the applications, or institutions can host it themselves.

“Some prefer to host it themselves because they get better integration with their back-office systems,” Hill said. “Others don’t want to be in the IT business, so they’d rather have someone else host it.”

NDU’s Information Resources Management College and the Joint Forces Staff College are two of the major adopters of online learning. In both of those cases, there are many students who cannot come to the Washington area for classes. Some students are civilians assigned worldwide or service members who are in reserve units living in their home areas. Others are deployed soldiers.

“We have people that cannot come to the campus who need the benefit of the educational experiences that we provide,” Miller said. “Some students have taken the entire program for the Chief Information Officer and information assurance [certificates] and they have never had to step foot in the university. They’ve been able to do that online.”

The biggest challenge in making the transition to online learning has been determining what elements make for a good course.

“The online learning wave has challenged us to examine our teaching and learning model, and it’s helping us improve what’s in the classroom as well as what’s online,” Miller said. “So introducing this at the university has really made us sit back and [ask], ‘What does quality teaching and learning mean, regardless of where it is?’”

Microsoft Word Shortcut Keys (part 1)

2007-06-07T10:41:00.000+07:00

Microsoft Office Word is Microsoft's flagship word processing software. It was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Versions were later written for several other platforms including IBM PCs running DOS (1983), the Apple Macintosh (1984), SCO UNIX, OS/2 and Microsoft Windows (1989). It is a component of the Microsoft Office system; however, it is also sold as a standalone product and included in Microsoft Works Suite. Beginning with the 2003 version, the branding was revised to emphasize Word's identity as a component within the Office suite: Microsoft began calling it Microsoft Office Word instead of merely Microsoft Word. Nomenclature usage in the wild is currently in flux, with both names being commonly used. The latest release is Word 2007. But did you know there are a lot of shortcut keys in Microsoft word that make us quicker when using Microsoft word we can access all menu with Keyboard.

Here is the shortcut, feel free to brows.

Category	Description	Keystrokes
special chars	A column break	CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER
fields	A DATE field	ALT+SHIFT+D
special chars	A field	CTRL+F9
special chars	A line break	SHIFT+ENTER
fields	A LISTNUM field	ALT+CTRL+L
special chars	A nonbreaking hyphen	CTRL+SHIFT+HYPHEN
special chars	A nonbreaking space	CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR
special chars	A page break	CTRL+ENTER
fields	A PAGE field	ALT+SHIFT+P
fields	A TIME field	ALT+SHIFT+T
help/topics	Activate a selected hyperlink	ENTER
FuncKeys	Activate the menu bar	F10
Create View	Activate the ruler	CTRL+SHIFT+F10
line spacing	Add or remove one line space preceding a paragraph	CTRL+0 (zero)
special chars	An AutoText entry	ENTER (after typing the first few characters of the AutoText entry name and when the ScreenTip appears)
special chars	An ellipsis	ALT+CTRL+period
fields	An empty field	CTRL+F9
special chars	An optional hyphen	CTRL+HYPHEN
styles	Apply a style	CTRL+SHIFT+S
Char Format	Apply an underline	CTRL+U
Char Format	Apply bold formatting	CTRL+B
Char Format	Apply hidden text formatting	CTRL+SHIFT+H
Char Format	Apply italic formatting	CTRL+I
Char Format	Apply subscript formatting (automatic spacing)	CTRL+EQUAL SIGN
Char Format	Apply superscript formatting (automatic spacing)	CTRL+SHIFT+PLUS SIGN
styles	Apply the Heading 1 style	ALT+CTRL+1
styles	Apply the Heading 2 style	ALT+CTRL+2
styles	Apply the Heading 3 style	ALT+CTRL+3
styles	Apply the List style	CTRL+SHIFT+L
styles	Apply the Normal style	CTRL+SHIFT+N
Browse Text	Browse through a document	ALT+CTRL+HOME
find replace and browse text (dup?)	Browse through a document	ALT+CTRL+HOME
Do/Undo	Cancel an action	ESC
undo/redo	Cancel an action	ESC
Dialogs	Cancel the command and close the dialog box	ESC
windows	Carry out the Move command when the document window isn't maximized (document icon menu, menu bar)	CTRL+F7, press arrow keys, and then press ENTER
windows	Carry out the Size command when the document window isn't maximized (document icon menu, menu bar)	CTRL+F8, press arrow keys, and then press ENTER
Align Paras	Center a paragraph	CTRL+E
Char Format	Change the case of letters	SHIFT+F3
shft/func	Change the case of letters	SHIFT+F3
fonts	Change the font	CTRL+SHIFT+F
fonts	Change the font size	CTRL+SHIFT+P
Char Format	Change the formatting of characters (Font command, Format menu)	CTRL+D
Char Format	Change the selection to the Symbol font	CTRL+SHIFT+Q
word email	Check the names on the To, Cc and Bcc lines against the Address Book	ALT+K
FuncKeys	Choose the Go To command (Edit menu)	F5
Ctrl/func	Choose the Move command (Control menu)	CTRL+F7
Documents	Choose the Open command (File menu)	CTRL+F12
Documents	Choose the Print command (File menu)	CTRL+SHIFT+F12
Documents	Choose the Print Preview command (File menu)	CTRL+F2
FuncKeys	Choose the Save As command (File menu)	F12
shft/func	Choose the Save command (File menu)	SHIFT+F12
Ctrl/func	Choose the Size command (document Control menu)	CTRL+F8
FuncKeys	Choose the Spelling command (Tools menu)	F7
shft/func	Choose the Thesaurus command (Tools menu, Language submenu)	SHIFT+F7
Docs	Close a document	CTRL+W
Documents	Close a document	CTRL+W
help/topics	Close a pop-up window	ESC
help/asst	Close an Assistant message or a tip.	ESC
windows	Close the active document window	CTRL+W
help	Close the active Help window	ALT+F4
Dialogs	Close the selected list	ESC (when a list is selected)

Microsoft Windows shortcut keys (part 2)

2007-06-03T15:32:00.000+07:00

Windows key keyboard shortcuts

Below is a listing of Windows keys that can be used on computers running a Microsoft Windows operating system and using a keyboard with a Windows key. In the below list of shortcuts, the Windows key is represented by "WINKEY".

Shortcut Keys	Description
WINKEY	Pressing the Windows key alone will open Start.
WINKEY + F1	Opens the Microsoft Windows help and support center.
WINKEY + F3	Opens the Advanced find window in Microsoft Outlook.
WINKEY + D	Brings the desktop to the top of all other windows.
WINKEY + M	Minimizes all windows.
WINKEY + SHIFT + M	Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and WINKEY + D.
WINKEY + E	Open Microsoft Explorer.
WINKEY + Tab	Cycle through open programs through the taskbar.
WINKEY + F	Display the Windows Search / Find feature.
WINKEY + CTRL + F	Display the search for computers window.
WINKEY + F1	Display the Microsoft Windows help.
WINKEY + R	Open the run window.
WINKEY + Pause / Break key	Open the system properties window.
WINKEY + U	Open Utility Manager.
WINKEY + L	Lock the computer (Windows XP and above only).

Microsoft Windows shortcut keys (part 1)

2007-06-03T14:59:00.000+07:00

Major keyboard shortcuts

Nowadays computer is being the “must have” thing. It is very useful in our life it makes our life more effective and efficient. Youngster, teenager, adult, even half age man they use computer. And Microsoft Windows® is one of operating system that quite familiar for computer user. And if you're looking for shortcut keys used in Microsoft Windows®, below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft Windows as well as the versions of Microsoft Windows they're supported in.

Shortcut Keys	3.x	95	98	ME	NT	2000	XP	Vista	Description
Alt + Tab	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Switch between open applications.
Alt + Shift + Tab	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Switch backwards between open applications.
Alt + double-click		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Display the properties of the object you double-click on. For example, doing this on a file would display its properties.
Ctrl + Tab	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Switches between program groups or document windows in applications that support this feature.
Ctrl + Shift + Tab	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Same as above but backwards.
Alt + Print Screen	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Create a screen shot only for the program you are currently in.
Ctrl + Alt + Del	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Reboot the computer and/or bring up the Windows task manager.
Ctrl + Esc	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Bring up the Windows Start menu. In Windows 3.x this would bring up the Task Manager.
Alt + Esc		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Switch Between open applications on taskbar.
F1	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Activates help for current open application.
F2	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Renames selected Icon.
F3		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Starts find from desktop.
F4		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Opens the drive selection when browsing.
F5		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Refresh Contents.
F10	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Activates menu bar.
Shift + F10		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Simulates right-click on selected item.
F4		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Select a different location to browse in the Windows Explorer toolbar.
Alt + F4	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Closes Current open program.
Ctrl + F4	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Closes Window in Program.
F6		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Move cursor to different Windows Explorer pane.
Ctrl + Space bar	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Drops down the window control menu.
Ctrl + (the '+' key on the keypad)			X	X	X	X	X	X	Automatically adjust the widths of all the columns in Windows explorer
Alt + Enter		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Opens properties window of selected icon or program.
Shift + Del		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Delete programs/files without throwing them into the recycle bin.
Holding Shift	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Boot safe mode or by pass system files as the computer is booting.
Holding Shift		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	When putting in an audio CD, will prevent CD Player from playing.
Enter	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Activates the highlighted program.
Alt + Down arrow		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Display all available options on drop down menu.
* (on the keypad)		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Expands all folders on the currently selected folder or drive in Windows Explorer.
+ (on the keypad)		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Expands only the currently selected folder in Windows Explorer.
- (on the keypad)		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Collapses the currently selected folder in Windows Explorer.

Ps: The X sign show you the availability of shortcut key in some OS.