Better Faster PC

Want to know what the next version of Microsoft Office will look like? Then head over to this page here and check out a couple of screenshots of Microsoft Office 2010, due for public beta testing this year.

Though it may already be unofficially available on torrent trackers like Mininova (just click here) build 7100 (or the Release Candidate -  RC - release) will only officially be available for download by the general public on 5th May. You can read more about it at the Windows Team Blog here. If you want to check out some screenshots of Windows 7 RC (build 7100) then you can check out this page here giving 50 screenshots of the latest Windows 7 release. Some more good news regarding Windows 7 is that an XP compatibilty feature will be built in. According to Microsoft this feature should make Windows 7 completely (100%) backwards compatible with older Windows XP software. This is great news for users and businesses still using legacy software, forcing them to stick with Windows XP, whether they wanted to or not.

And finally, if you haven’t seen them, Windows 7 RC has included the most funky, cool wallpapers I have probably ever seen! Really worth checking out! The Flickr photo pool is here and you can download the entire wallpaper pack here.

1. Need to format a USB Flash Drive in the NTFS file system format - Learn How To - HERE

2. If you still use Windows XP or 2000 and need a Virtual Drive Program (to mount .ISO files as usable drives without burning them) I found this TINY program, from Microsoft itself. Simple to use and is only a 59KB download. Well worth the 10 seconds it will take to download it. Go HERE

If you are a user of Outlook 2007 you will be interested to know that there is a new hotfix available from Microsoft that, “will improve hard disk usage, startup and shutdown times, and help those with smaller, cached mailbox storage”.

This cumulative update will apparently be included in Service Pack 2 but as this is not available at the moment and if you are a regular user of Outlook 2007 then you might want to install it.

The post at Lifehacker is HERE and the Microsoft download page is HERE.

Here is a nice list of some options available to you for docking on your desktop. If you are not sure what a docking application is or does then read the Wikipedia entry HERE. Basically it is a type of user interface that groups application icons for lauching and task switching. Below is a list of some docking options you might also want to check out along with Sliderdock.

• Sliderdock - You can get it HERE
• Circle Dock - Another circular docking option - is HERE
• RK Launcher - is HERE
• MobyDock -  is HERE
• RocketDock - A popular docking option is HERE
• Appetizer - is HERE
• ObjectDock - By Stardock, note there are two versions, one is FREE the other is NOT - get it HERE
• Y’z Dock - By Oxygen-X - is HERE
• Though not strictly a Dock, check out Fences as well, great for organising desktop icons - HERE

If you use Microsoft Windows XP or Office 2003 and contact Microsoft for (now) FREE support you will want to know that this FREE support is soon to be ending. The products will continue to be supported by Microsoft, though support will have to be paid for.

To read the full details check out this post HERE at ZDNet which also give dates for end of support of other Microsoft products. Worth reading if you or your company makes use of the Microsoft support network.

This is a great desktop customization featured recently on Lifehacker that I thought I would share with you. Check out the picture below.

If you want to get this desktop (or use it as inspiration for something similar) then here is what you are going to need:

• The deviantART page for this desktop is HERE and the Flickr page is HERE
• The original post on Lifehacker is HERE

Then you are going to have to download some programs as well to enable this level of customization:

• Rainmeter which is HERE
• Samurize which is HERE
• Launchy which is HERE
• ObjectDock which is HERE
• CD Art Display which is HERE

And there you go everything you need to have a really ‘pimped‘ desktop…

If you have always wanted to be able to rearrange the order of the open program buttons on the taskbar in Windows but didn’t know how, I am here to help. Here are two small programs that will do just that, allowing you to freely order the buttons of the programs in your taskbar to whatever order you would like.

• Taskix is a TINY program (only 60 KB) that allows you to rearrange your taskbar buttons, simple but effective. Check it out HERE
• Taskbar Shuffle is the more well known alternative and you can get it HERE
• Otherwise check out this page giving links to some other alternatives HERE

Microsoft has just released Internet Explorer 8 and for many it may be a good idea to upgrade. Newer browsers generally mean better security, apart from any new features or speed increases they may incorporate. Tighter security measures mean a safer browsing experience and are just plain a better idea. So, let’s get into the good stuff, the software.

• The official Microsoft Download Page for Internet Explorer 8 is HERE
• If you DON’T want Internet Explorer delivered via Windows Update then you will need the Official Internet Explorer 8 Blocker Toolkit from Microsoft which will prevent the Automatic Delivery of Internet Explorer 8 via Windows Upate. You can get it HERE
• Download Squad has two great posts detailing how to “Pimp” Internet Explorer 8 which basically give a good run down of add-ons and other goodies for Internet Explorer 8. Really worth checking out. Pimp Internet Explorer 8 Part 1 is HERE and Part 2 is HERE
• Microsoft has it’s own add-ons gallery which has a large number of add-ons which you can sort by category etc. Also worth checking out - right HERE
• Want to find out a bit more about Internet Explorer 8 before installing it, then you can check out the Wikipedia entry right HERE. Also check out the official Internet Explorer 8 Blog which is HERE
• PCMag.com has a list of their favourite add-ons for Internet Explorer 8 which you can check out HERE. Simple Thoughts has their list of 20 Internet Explorer 8 add-ons which you can check out HERE
• If you have not installed Microsoft Silverlight yet, then you might want to do that as well, to enhance your browsing experience, though it is not essential. The Official Silverlight Site is HERE
• You will also need .NET (as far as I know) though you should have it. If you don’t, which is unlikely, you can get it HERE

If you have Windows Vista and are not keen to install a Beta version of Windows 7 but would like a similar visual style to Windows 7 in Windows Vista then check out some of the options below:

• Windows Seven(7) Transformation Pack is HERE
• Windows Se7en (Vienna) Transformation Pack is HERE 
• Winmatrix lists 5 different options HERE
• Technoworld also lists their Top 5 HERE
• AskVG has a How To Guide for converting without the use of a transformation pack. The instructions are HERE