Opera was the first web browser to offer its users multiple tabs, so that we could have multiple web pages open within one browser window. Well, I think it was the first — it was certainly the first one I found. I loved that feature.

The latest browser to add tabs is Internet Explorer 7, which has implemented tab functions similar to those of Opera, and only a small portion of the functionality that Firefox has.

In IE7, if you hover over a link or bookmark and click your mouse’s scroll button, the new link will open in a new tab. That’s the same thing that happens in Opera. It also happens in Firefox, but Firefox can do more, too.

Continue reading Using Multiple Tabs in Firefox

Sponsored Advertisement VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Tired of old antivirus software that makes your PC slow down to a crawl? Try High-Performance VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Multi-computer discounts Unlimited Home Site License available, too.

If you don’t already have a home computer network and want to set up one, it’s easy. In fact, it’s so easy that I recommend that ANYONE using a high-speed Internet connection should use a router for the added security that it gives their computer.

A wired or wireless router (wireless routers normally have 4 wired Ethernet ports, also, in addition to being able to communicate wirelesly) is pretty much a plug-and-play device.

Most of the time, you don’t really need the directions provided with the cable/dsl wired or wireless router, except for configuring wireless security settings — or if you have a DSL connection.

If you have a cable Internet connection (at home) or an Ethernet connection (at home in some areas…

Continue reading Creating a Home Computer Network

Sunbelt Software’s VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware does Windows Vista — not just Vista home, not just Vista 32-bit. VIPRE does Vista!

According to the VIPRE requirements page, it supports the following operating systems:
# Windows 2000 SP4 RollUp 1
# Windows Server 2003
# Windows Server 2008
# Windows XP SP1, SP2, SP3 (Home, Pro, Media Center, Tablet) 32 and 64-bit
# Windows Vista+ (All flavors) 32 and 64-bit

Read my review of VIPRE or click here for more information

I recently made some boot changes to a notebook computer that resulted in a remarkable increase in the boot speed.

It was a small, light Sony — one of the 12-inch monitor models.

Tech Humor
With notebooks, you can get small, light, fast and cheap.
Pick any two…

In this particular case, the notebook took 4.5 minutes to boot, and it’s owner wanted it to be much faster.

I referred to my favorite tool to get his boot process under control — Winpatrol Plus.

Continue reading Speeding Up the Windows Boot Process

Sunbelt Software released a new version of their Sunbelt Personal Firewall, which is my choice for my compute and my family’s computers, on July 7th. The new version supports Windows Vista, which Sunbelt has been promising.

Why do I use the Sunbelt Personal Firewall and not just the Windows XP firewall? The Windows XP Firewall would only stops attempts by other computers to access my computer. The Sunbelt Personal Firewall is a two-way firewall to control inbound and outbound communications. That way, I can control programs that want to "call home" or otherwise access other computers.

Why would I use the Sunbelt Personal Firewall and not the Windows Vista firewall? Microsoft finally woke up and made the Windows Vista firewall a two-wa firewall. However, I expect that it, like the firewalls from some of SPF’s competitors, allows Microsoft’s products to freely communicate with the Internet. I like the Advanced installation setting of SPF because it does not pre-authorize any programs.

For those who want free software, Sunbelt Personal Firewall has a free license for home non-business computers. Of course, like many of its competitors, the paid version has more features than the free version. Either way, the program you download is the same — it’s a fully-functional trial for 30-days.

After 30 days, you can purchase a license for the paid version. If you don’t purchase a license, or after your license expires if you don’t renew it, if you qualify, you can use the free license for the reduced-function free version. The web site clearly shows which functions are included with the paid license that are not available with the free version.

I have the "paid version" on my Windows computers and my family’s computers.

The 1-year license pricing options are: $19.95 for one license, $24.96 for two computers, $29.94 for 3 computers, or $39.95 for the 1-year Unlimited Home Site License (which lets you put it on all your home non-business computers. They have similar discounts for 2- and 3-year options, too.

Download the full-function 30-day trial of Sunbelt Personal Firewall

Or, read my review of Sunbelt Personal Firewall

Plus, now you can try a 15-day fully-functional free trial of Sunbelt’s new VIPRE Antivirus+Antispyware

I’ve found a great tool that examines my computer to make sure that it has the latest updates of the most common software packages — not all the updates, but the security updates for the versions I’m runninng.

It’s called Secunia Software Inspector, from the Danish security firm Secunia (www.secunia.com).

Secunia offers three versions of its software inspectors:

* Secunia Software Inspector — scan on-line (free)
* Secunia PSI — download version for personal use (free)
* Secunia Network Software Inspector — the full-featured product.

Quoting Secunia’s FAQ:

# What’s the difference between the Secunia PSI and the Secunia Software Inspector (the online version)?

The Secunia Software Inspector identifies about 40 of the most common applications, while the Secunia PSI can identify over 4,200.

Contine reading A Look Inside Secunia Software Inspector

The Google Screensaver is one of the amazing free applications that is part of Google’s free Google Pack software package.

The Google Screensaver is optional as part of Google Pack, but it’s one component that you should not miss. With it, you can have a screensaver that uses your own photos that you’ve accumulated and edited in Google Picasa, from Picasa Web Albums, from your own photos from folders on your computer that you specify (so you can use some photos as screensaver images, but not others), and from photo feeds (which defaults to “Default Google Photo Feed.”)

You can control how often the picture changes. You can also control the type of transition from one image to the next. The Visual Effect lets you choose Pan and Zoom, Collage, Wipe and Cross-Fade.

You can access the control panel for Google Screensaver in either of two ways:

Continue reading Using the free Google Photo Screensaver