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Five Secrets to Windows 7 Success

By Fei on August 4, 2010

By Tony Bradley
August 4, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO – According to Net Applications, it’s been a good month for Microsoft. Internet Explorer 8 gained more market share to continue dominating the browser market, and Windows 7 surpassed its predecessor–Windows Vista–in market share for the first time. So, what exactly is driving the success of Windows 7?

1. Management. With integrated support for PowerShell 2.0, Windows 7 provides a superior infrastructure for IT admins to be able to automate common tasks and manage the desktops more efficiently.

IT admins can create powerful scripts with PowerShell 2.0. PowerShell uses the Windows Management Interface (WMI), and can call command-line tools–making it a very versatile tool for IT admins.

2. Troubleshooting. For some IT admins, helping users troubleshoot problems takes up a significant amount of time and gets in the way of other tasks that might improve the network for everyone. Troubleshooting problems remotely can be a uniquely difficult task challenging the patience of both the user and the IT technician.

Windows 7 provides Troubleshooting Packs that enable users to conduct their own troubleshooting for many common issues. IT admins can also create custom Troubleshooting Packs for recurring issues or internal applications.

For remote troubleshooting, Windows 7 has the Problem Steps Recorder feature. The Problem Steps Recorder lets users record the screenshots illustrating–click-by-click–the steps they are performing that seem to be causing the problem. The ability to replay the exact problem scenario greatly enhances the ability of remote IT technicians to identify and resolve the issue.

3. Security. Windows XP–which is still by far the most used operating system–is far behind Windows 7 when it comes to security controls. Windows 7 has security controls–like ASLR (address space layout randomization), DEP (data execution prevention), and UAC (user account control), and PMIE (Protected Mode IE)– that don’t exist in Windows XP.

Windows 7 also has AppLocker which lets IT admins set policies restricting which applications or scripts are allowed to run on the PC. Controlling which software can run on the desktop provides better security, as well as simpler system management.
BitLocker and BitLocker to Go enable IT admins to ensure that sensitive data is protected with encryption, and it can be easily managed via Group Policy.

4. It’s Not Vista. The reputation of Vista is more a Microsoft marketing failure than the result of any real issues with Vista. While Windows 7 is not “Windows Vista R2″ as some have suggested, but it is does have many of the same core elements that Vista has.

The launch of Windows Vista was marred by a lack of drivers and vendor-support–something Microsoft should have proactively addressed prior to launching a major new OS. Many of the other issues of Windows Vista, though, were actually misunderstood features that Microsoft allowed competitors like Apple to exploit in attacking Vista in marketing.

5. It’s Still Supported. Although Windows 7 has surpassed Windows Vista, Windows XP still has more than twice the market share of both Windows 7 and Windows Vista combined. Those that have applied Windows XP SP3 are still being supported by Microsoft, but Microsoft no longer supports Windows XP SP2, or earlier OS versions such as Windows 2000.

Windows XP was a phenomenal success. The familiarity and comfort level of Windows XP, combined with tighter budgets and the fumbled launch of Windows Vista have all contributed to the extended success of the legacy OS.

Now that Windows 7 is in town, though, most companies are looking at finally refreshing hardware and upgrading the operating system to catch up with this decade and take advantage of the benefits listed here, as well as the hardware and software technologies that have come along that the archaic Windows XP is simply not compatible with.

Microsoft Needs a Tablet Strategy, Not a Tablet

By Fei on August 2, 2010

By Tony Bradley
August 2, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO – Ballmer promised the world that a Windows 7 tablet is coming. Maybe it is, or maybe it’s just a pipedream, but Microsoft doesn’t need to focus on developing a Windows 7 tablet. Microsoft does need to focus on having a strategy for taking advantage of the changing mobile computing market–but it doesn’t have to include a Windows 7 tablet.
The assurance of a Microsoft tablet from Ballmer seemed more like a macho reaction to a triple-dog dare than a legitimate Microsoft project. It’s as if the analysts and media challenged Ballmer’s manhood, and Ballmer couldn’t accept that Apple and Google have tablets without throwing Microsoft’s hat into the ring as well.

Here is what I have noticed, though: Exxon-Mobil does not build cars, and Coca Cola does not involve itself in manufacturing refrigerators. Exxon-Mobil wants to continue to ensure that its fuel is used in as many different vehicles as possible, and Coca-Cola would like to have its beverages in every refrigerator, but each focuses on how to adapt and improve its own products, and how to better market existing products, rather than trying to sell the cow and the milk at the same time.

Microsoft has strengths, and it has weaknesses. Rather than trying to overcome its weaknesses to flounder about in a futile attempt to compete in markets that aren’t its core business, Microsoft should focus on its strengths, and how to continue to evolve and adapt them to meet the changing needs of its customers.

At one point, mobility was about putting a Windows desktop into a more portable form factor, and supplying the world with Windows laptops, but the game has changed. That means that Microsoft does need to recognize that mobility is rapidly changing and determine where it fits in the new equation, but it doesn’t need to build the mobile platforms.
The rise of increasingly powerful and capable smartphones, and the introduction of the tablet revolution have shifted mobility away from Windows. The next generation of mobile computing relies on a mobile OS that is uniquely suited for mobile devices. Microsoft will shoot itself in the foot if it continues to try to make mobile computing about putting its Windows desktop operating system into new gadgets.

Most of the world relies on Microsoft Office for essential productivity software. Microsoft’s customers are heavily invested in Microsoft server technologies like Exchange, SharePoint, and Office Communications Server, and they want tools to allow them to access the Microsoft backend while on the go.

Rather than wasting time and money pursuing a Microsoft-centric platform that would probably only capture 10 percent of the market anyway, Microsoft should be building its mobility strategy on developing cross-platform solutions, or platform-specific apps that enable the 90 percent of the market to continue using Microsoft software no matter what smartphone or tablet they choose.

Windows, Mac, or Linux: it’s not the OS, it’s the user

By Fei on June 4, 2010

By Jeff Bertolucci
June 4, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO – Who’s got the safest operating system? Apple, Google, Microsoft? According to one security expert, what really matters is who’s using the OS.

“Microsoft doesn’t have a monopoly on all the technical vulnerabilities that are out there,” Zulfikar Ramzan, technical director of Symantec Security Response, said Tuesday in a phone interview with PCWorld.

Today’s online criminals are far more likely to target user behavior rather than a technical flaw in the OS. “It’s a lot easier to do that,” said Zulfikar. “You don’t need as many technical skills to find one person who might be willing, in a moment of weakness, to open up an attachment that contains malicious content.”

This trend has been rising rapidly over the past two years. Currently, only about 3 percent of the malicious software that Symantec encounters exploits a technical vulnerability. The other 97 percent of malware is either “piggybacking on that 3 percent,” or more likely trying to trick a user through some type of “social engineering” scheme, according to Zulfikar.

Tricking the User

In other words, most attackers now target human, not technical, vulnerabilities. The key is to trick someone, usually via psychological manipulation, into compromising their own security by installing malware, for instance.

One such attack is when an organization’s chief financial officer (CFO) receives an email claiming to be from the IRS. “It says you haven’t paid your taxes, and if don’t open up this attachment and fill out this form, we’re going to fine you,” Zulfiker said.

A similar scheme involves a bogus inquiry from the “Better Business Bureau.” The attacker(s), claiming to be the BBB, email a company’s CEO and say they’ve opened a complaint file against the firm. The email then instructs the CEO to open the attachment to find out more about the complaint.

Of course, in each case, the attachment propagates malicious software onto the recipient’s system.

So what’s a business to do? First, treat any inbound inquiry with a healthy degree of skepticism. “That should apply through all forms of communication–not just email, but even phone calls and things of that nature,” said Zulfiker. And make sure that all of your employees are aware of these risks. “It’s important to educate people, even on the front lines, to be careful what you divulge to the outside world about the company,” he added.

Microsoft: Still the Biggest Target

No computer or operating system is 100-percent secure, of course, and different types of systems are vulnerable to different exploits.

“Microsoft, being the biggest company in the software space, has attracted the most attention,” Zulfiker said. “People have tried to attack Microsoft’s products because of the (huge) market share. If I’m an attacker, and I want to make the most profit from my attacks, I’m better off going for the company with the most machines out there. That tends to be Microsoft.”

And if Google’s upcoming Chrome OS takes off in the business and consumer market, it’ll have a big target on its back too.

Chrome OS strives to replace desktop culture

By Fei on June 4, 2010

By Tony Bradley
June 4, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO – Google’s Chrome OS is coming to a netbook near you sometime later this year. The Web-centric, Linux-based, open source platform will offer a lightweight, cost-effective alternative operating system for portable computing. Eventually, Google plans to expand the scope of Chrome OS to take on Windows on the desktop as well–a goal that requires both a solid operating system and a significant culture shift.

Chrome is essentially a Web browser as an operating system. A media player app will be included that will facilitate offline music play and photo viewing, but aside from that the platform is designed to operate exclusively in the cloud and take advantage of the vast portfolio of services from Google.

The operating system seems ideal for the netbook crowd, or possibly even as a platform for tablet devices to compete with Apple’s iPad. Netbooks and tablets generally lack CD or DVD drives and the smaller hard drive sizes of the diminutive portable laptops seem geared for storing only the core OS components. An open source operating system that can reduce costs and make the hardware into more of instant-on, cloud-based device might be welcome among the netbook crowd.

The Chrome OS might also provide a solid alternative for a tablet OS. Apple has built the iPad on the iPhone mobile OS, HP is building the Hurricane on Palm’s WebOS mobile OS, and the Dell Streak is built on Google’s Android mobile OS. There is demand, though, for a tablet that is more like a desktop and less like a smartphone. It remains to be seen if Windows 7 can be nimble enough to satisfy in the tablet market, but the Chrome OS seems to comfortably straddle between mobile OS and desktop OS–a potentially ideal position for a tablet OS.

But, what of Google’s aspirations to usurp the crown of desktop dominance from Microsoft? Assuming that the Chrome OS lives up to expectations and provides a polished, capable experience, there is still a long way to go before a Web-centric OS can even begin to replace the traditional desktop operating system (a.k.a. Windows).
Look, the Mac operating system has been available since 1984 and has only five percent of the OS market. Linux has been around since 1991–or 1994 if you want to start counting from the 1.0 release, yet Linux in all of its varieties has barely more than one percent of the operating system market. Can we really expect Chrome to knock Microsoft off its pedestal any time soon when two very capable operating systems have been barely able to scratch the surface after 20 years?

At its heart, Chrome is just another version of Linux. However, the Google brand carries a lot of consumer clout. It is respected. It is trusted. Businesses and consumers alike are much more likely to adopt a Linux variant with the Google stamp of approval, so it has that going for it. But, Apple is also respected, and trusted, and has a strong and loyal following…and five percent of the market.

Many small and medium businesses are already invested in Google. They rely on Gmail for messaging, Google Docs for office productivity, Google Voice for communicating, and Google Wave and/or Google Buzz for collaborating and social networking. Chrome will work nicely for them.

Many organizations, though, are reluctant to put that much faith in the cloud. There are availability and security concerns. Many companies will need to address the compliance issues associated with trusting personal information, and sensitive or confidential data to third-party providers such as Google. There are some hurdles to overcome before the desktop culture can be abandoned completely.

What Chrome needs in order to compete with, or replace Windows as the desktop standard is a complete culture shift. Chrome most likely won’t be any more successful than Mac or Linux in fighting Windows on its own turf, but as the culture continues to evolve to a more mobile, more cloud-based model, it plays to Chrome’s strengths and arguably puts Windows on the defensive to scramble and adapt.

PC Market Rebound Reflects Success of Windows 7

By Fei on May 28, 2010

By Tony Bradley
May 28, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO – Gartner is predicting a 22 percent growth of global PC sales for 2010, following years of declining volume. The rebound is reflective of the general economic recovery, but also illustrates the pent up demand created by companies and consumers avoiding Windows Vista, and the shift to embrace Windows 7.

Microsoft hit a homerun with Windows 7. As of early March the operating system had already sold more than 90 million copies, making it the fastest-selling operating system ever. Businesses and consumers are aggressively adopting the new operating system after shunning its predecessor, Windows Vista.

I can’t give all of the credit for the turnaround of the PC market to Windows 7, but I can give a lot of it. The general improvement of the global economy certainly helps, but the fact that so many businesses and consumers are still running Windows XP on older hardware means that in many cases an upgrade to newer PC hardware is required in order to make the switch to Windows 7.

Perhaps even more significant than the forecast itself is the fact that Gartner claims that consumer demand is more than twice as strong as business demand. Gartner estimates that consumer demand for home PC’s will jump nearly 30 percent this year, while business PC volume will increase less than 15 percent.

Of course, businesses–predominantly relying on the antiquated Windows XP desktop operating system–will also embrace Windows 7 and invest in new PC hardware, but the ebb and flow of hardware and software lifecycles, combined with the lethargic pace of budget approvals and PC refresh project execution in larger corporations simply means it will take longer. The release of Office 2010 may provide additional incentive for IT departments to green light PC refresh projects as well.

“In the professional PC market, the aging life of PCs will drive replacements. Organizations will find it tougher to further extend PC life cycles without incurring more costs,” Gartner analyst Ranjit Atwal said in a statement from Gartner. “This, together with the adoption of Windows 7, will generate robust demand in the professional market. Larger businesses expect to start replacements in the second half of 2010, with the majority replaced in 2011. We now expect Windows 7 migration to last through 2012.”

Interestingly, the predicted spike in PC volume does not include devices like the Apple iPad. Gartner describes a media tablet as “a device that has a screen size of 5 inches or larger and is outfitted with a restricted-function OS, such as iPhone, Android and Chrome,” and Gartner does not include media tablets in its PC figures. By Gartner standards, apparently the Dell Streak is a tablet after all.

In the statement, Gartner analyst Raphael Vasquez says “Media tablets will not impact the mini-notebook segment this year. However, media tablets, such as the iPad and similar devices, will significantly detract from mini-notebook shipments in 2013 and onward, when we expect their prices to be lower and, more importantly, their functionality to be more similar to mini-notebooks.”

Apparently Mr. Vasquez hasn’t seen the results of the Retrevo survey. That survey found that 30 percent of those considering a netbook earlier this year held off once the iPad was announced and instead purchased the media tablet. A startling 78 percent of those currently in the market for a portable computing device reported leaning toward the iPad over a netbook.

The new line of processors from Intel should yield a new class of portable computers, though–combining the size, weight, and battery life of netbooks, with the stronger performance of a full-sized notebook. Once those systems hit the street business professionals will have a more compelling alternative to media tablets like the iPad.

Media tablets aside, the symbiotic relationship between the Windows 7 operating system and new PC hardware will continue to drive sales for both for sometime.

Windows 7 tarnished by notebook battery issues

By Jon on February 5, 2010

By Tony Bradley
February 5, 2010

Microsoft is investigating reported issues with Windows 7 and notebook battery life. The issue seems sporadic, but fairly widespread. It is unclear whether affected systems are simply misreporting the battery life, or if the battery capacity is actually being permanently affected.

Long before Windows 7 was released for general availability in October of 2009, users were reporting suspicious behavior with battery life, or at least reported battery life, when running the Windows 7 RC (release candidate) version. The Microsoft TechNet Forums thread on the matter dates back to June of 2009.

While some issues seem to be a simple matter of Windows 7 not reporting the remaining battery life correctly, or prematurely warning that the battery is nearly dead, there are users who have reported switching operating systems back to Windows Vista, or even a non-Windows operating system, and still experiencing drastically reduced battery life.

Brian Ehlert, a Microsoft MVP, reported in November of 2009:
“Now, Win7 does include the ability to use Vista drivers – that is built on purpose so hardware manufacturers would not have to turn around and immediately write new drivers.

I am using all stock Win7 drivers. So that tells me that it is a core deficiency / bug – not a driver specific bug. Rather a software interacting with hardware bug.

My battery life went from 8 hours to 15 minutes, with only an fdisk, format, and install in between. Yes, totally unacceptable.”

I have been using Windows 7 since before it was available for public beta testing and I have never experienced any battery issues. Granted, my notebook is plugged in at my desk 90 percent of the time. However, I occasionally do roam about and have taken it on road trips and I have been impressed with the power management features of Windows 7, and more than satisfied with the battery life on my Dell XPS notebook.

I asked my colleague, veteran Microsoft guru Mark Minasi, about his experience. Minasi replied “I’ve been running Windows 7 on my Lenovo since May and haven’t noticed any difference in battery consumption.”

Microsoft released an official statement on the matter, saying “We are investigating this issue in conjunction with our hardware partners. The warning received in Windows 7 uses firmware information to determine if battery replacement is needed. We are working with our partners to determine the root cause and will update with information and guidance as it becomes available.”
The implication is that the issue is related to an error between Windows 7 and certain hardware firmware versions. That theory may or may not support the fact that some users claim the battery itself is being permanently affected.

Do business users need to be concerned? The jury is still out. It all depends on what the actual root cause of the issue is, and whether it is simply a miscommunication between the firmware and Windows 7 resulting in misreporting the remaining battery life, or if there is something more insidious going on that actually causing the battery capacity to dwindle permanently.

Obviously, if notebook battery life is being permanently impacted so that it lasts a meager 15 or 30 minutes rather than the six to eight hours you might expect, there is reason to be concerned. Once the dust settles on Microsoft’s investigation into the issue, business users may need to look to Microsoft or notebook vendors to replace batteries if it is determined that the issue is more than simple mis-reporting.

Chrome Web Browser Inches Past Safari

By Fei on January 5, 2010

By Tony Bradley
January 6, 2009

google-chrome SAN FRANCISCO – In the most recent Web browser market share statistics from Net Applications, Google’s Chrome Web browser sneaked past Apple’s Safari to claim third place. The ascent up the market share ladder is more impressive when you consider that Chrome has only been around a little over a year.

Chrome’s 0.7 percent jump from November to December can probably be attributed to the beta versions of the Chrome Web browser for Mac OS X and Linux finally being released. Google also gave Windows users more reason to switch to Chrome with the release of expanded features and functionality for the Windows version of Chrome.

Chrome was marching pretty steadily up the chart even before the recent releases, though. Since January of 2009, Internet Explorer’s share of the pie has dropped just over seven percent. That seven percent has been snapped up primarily by Firefox and Chrome, with Chrome making the biggest jump of them all. Chrome has increased over three percent since January, more than tripling its share of the Web browser market in under a year.

Google is virtually synonymous with Web surfing, so it stands to reason that Google should know a thing or two about how to optimize the Web surfing experience. The Chrome Web browser is not a revolutionary shift from other browsers like Internet Explorer or Firefox, but the incremental improvements are enough to make it worth taking a look at.

The one thing Chrome offers that all users want is speed. Time after time since its release Chrome has come out on top in tests that compare the speed at which the different Web browsers are able to load pages. The difference in time may be mere milliseconds, but for hardcore Web surfers those milliseconds add up, and faster page loading equates to less frustration and stress.

As with all statistics, these can be taken with a grain of salt. Finnish tech site Afterdawn.com claims that recent statistics for users that visit its sites put Firefox on top with just over 42 percent, Internet Explorer in second place just under 40 percent, and Chrome strongly in third with almost nine percent. That is a more tech-oriented site with a much smaller sampling, though, than the statistics compiled by Net Applications.

What does all of this mean to you? Well, nothing really. At nearly 63 percent of the browser market, Internet Explorer still holds a dominant position even though it has lost a significant chunk in 2009. The real battle is still between Internet Explorer and Firefox–a distant second with less than half of Internet Explorer’s stake…at least for now.

The success of Windows 7, which comes with Internet Explorer 8 pre-installed as the default browser (except within the European Union where Microsoft is providing users with a choice of browsers as part of a settlement to avoid antitrust litigation) may help curb Microsoft’s eroding share of the browser market.

As I mentioned above, though, Chrome is a rapidly rising competitor. Google’s reputation and presence on the Web will contribute to the continued growth of the Chrome Web browser, as will Google’s various endeavors, including the Chrome operating system expected to be released before the 2010 holiday shopping season.

Firefox has been climbing as well, and has five times the share of the Chrome Web browser, but Firefox has also been around for more than five years. Odds are fair that Chrome will pass Firefox and steal second place long before either of them threaten to pass Internet Explorer.

Three tips to avoid the Windows black screen of death

By Jon on December 3, 2009

By Tony Bradley
December 3, 2009

It doesn’t take much to ignite FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) against Microsoft– especially with news of a critical flaw affecting Windows 7. News that a Microsoft update is causing “millions” of PC’s to experience a “black screen of death” is both exaggerated and wrong. Apparently, its much ado about nothing.

Originally reported by security firm Prevx, the black screen of death issue was believed to have been caused by updates issued by Microsoft on the November Patch Tuesday. The combination of a headline like “Black Screen woes could affect millions on Windows 7, Vista and XP” and the fact that Prevx didn’t bother to contact Microsoft about the issue suggest that Prevx was primarily interested in sensational publicity for itself.

Microsoft investigated the issue and determined that its patches are not to blame. Prevx followed up with a post apologizing to Microsoft for the inconvenience, and admitting that the root cause that triggers the black screen of death is, in fact, not related to Microsoft’s patches. The prevailing theory now is that it is related to a malware infection, most likely something from the Daonol family of Trojans.

All FUD aside, there does seem to be an actual black screen of death issue, it just isn’t impacting “millions” of Windows 7, Vista, and XP systems. More like thousands. Maybe hundreds. Here are three tips to help ensure your Windows PC doesn’t become one of the afflicted:

1.Keep It Updated. I have a secret for you–most malware exploits known vulnerabilities for which patches already exist. Sure, there are zero-day vulnerabilities as well, but one of the best defenses against malware of all kinds is to simply ensure that your operating system and the applications you use have all of the latest patches applied.

2.Protect Against Malware. If its true that the black screen of death is caused by some variant of the Daonol family of Trojans, then it makes sense that anti-malware software could protect your PC from it.

There is a vast array of security products for Windows PC’s–both free and commercial. Microsoft offers its anti-malware security software, Microsoft Security Essentials, for free.

3.Run the Fix. While Prevx was mistaken about the Microsoft updates being guilty for causing the black screen of death, it still has a pretty solid reputation as a security vendor and its research into the root cause that triggers the issue seems to be accurate.

Prevx has stated that its fix does not work in all cases, but running the fix has a fair chance of fixing the issues within Windows that have been determined to trigger the black screen of death. Download the Prevx fix and give it a shot.

If you are one of the “millions” already struck down by the black screen of death, downloading and running the Prevx fix can be problematic. Prevx has already thought of that and has provided step-by-step instructions for how to download and run the fix from an affected system.

What should I do with Windows.old

By Jon on December 1, 2009

By Lincoln Spector
December 1, 2009

Upgraded to Windows 7? Can you safely move Windows.old to another drive?

When you upgrade XP or Vista to Windows 7 with the Custom (Advanced) option, the installation program puts all of your data and settings into the C:Windows.old folder. That folder therefore has some very important stuff in it.

But no programs expect to find their files in Windows.old, so it does no harm to move the folder and its many subfolders elsewhere.

But not immediately. The first thing you should do with Windows.old is move your data out of it and back into Users where it belongs. See the third page of How to Upgrade to Windows 7 for details. Once you’ve moved those files out, there’s no harm in moving what’s left in Windows.old to an external hard drive, or even burn it to DVDs.

Favorite Windows 7 features

By Jon on November 25, 2009

By Rick Broida
November 25, 2009

Now that I’ve finally finished migrating to Windows 7, I’m enjoying it. This week I’ll talk about three new features that I find really useful: Aero Snap, Sticky Notes, and thumbnail previews–and I’ll tell you how to get the most from them.

Use Aero Snap to Simplify File Management
In my early computing days (I’m talking Commodore Amiga here), I grew accustomed to file managers that used a side-by-side approach: Your complete file system was represented in two adjoining windows. That made it very easy to move or copy files and folders.

Consequently, I’ve never liked Windows Explorer, which uses a single file-tree structure. To me that complicates something as simple as moving a file from one folder to another. It’s not intuitive.

If you’re a Windows 7 user, you can take advantage of two new additions to make file management much easier: addition #1: Windows Explorer’s new home on the taskbar; addition #2: Aero Snap.

See where I’m going with this? All you have to do is open two instances of Explorer, then drag one to the left edge of the screen and the other to the right. Aero Snap will “dock” them on the left and right halves of the screen, respectively.

Now you’ve got a side-by-side file manager! By the way, if you’re not sure how to open that second instance of Explorer, right-click its icon in the taskbar, then click Windows Explorer.

Create Sticky Notes in Windows 7
Forget pasting paper sticky notes to the sides of your monitor. They look terrible there, and they always fall off anyway. Instead, paste digital stickies to your Windows desktop. If you’re a Windows 7 user, it’s a snap: Just run the new Sticky Notes app.

You might recognize it from the ol’ Vista Sidebar. In Windows 7, Microsoft ditched the Sidebar but kept the gadgets, allowing the latter to reside anywhere on your desktop.

To run the app, just click Start, type sticky, and press Enter. You’ll immediately see a new note; just start typing whatever it is you need to remember.

Need another note? Click the plus sign on the first one. Want to delete it? Click the x in the opposite corner. Prefer a different color. Right-click in the body of the note and choose from six options.

Remember that Sticky Notes is an app, so your notes will stay on your desktop only as long as the app is running. If you close it (by right-clicking the taskbar icon and choosing Close window), Sticky Notes will restore your notes the next time you run it.

This is a decidedly barebones program. You can’t change the font size, adjust transparency, or force notes to stay on top of other programs. If you want that kind of functionality, try Stickies for Windows.

Still, Sticky Notes can really come in handy when you need, well, a note that sticks to your desktop.

Control iTunes from the Windows 7 Taskbar
One of my favorite Windows 7 amenities is thumbnail previews, which appear when you mouse over any running program in the taskbar.

In fact, each thumbnail has a little red x in the upper-right corner, meaning you can close that program without first having to maximize it.

Apple’s iTunes takes this a step further by adding player controls. The thumbnail sports three little icons: Previous Track, Play/Pause, and Next Track.

These buttons work just like the controls in iTunes proper, but they save you from having to actually switch to the program whenever you want to, say, skip to the next song or temporarily pause playback.

Of course, savvy users know that you can add an entire iTunes toolbar to the taskbar in both Windows 7 and Vista, but that just adds clutter. Here you get basic playback controls without consuming extra space. Nice!

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