Useful Windows, Making Windows Useful, Tips and Tricks

As of May 2011 here are the electronic devices and services I use and suggest.  I will state that I am not employed by any of the companies listed below and that these things were not given to me by these companies either, rather I have purchased them.  I do not use counterfeit software.

Computers

1. An Acer Aspire 5534 Laptop (Model NAL10).  It has 4 Gb of DDR2 PC2-6400 RAM, an AMD Athlon 64 X2 L310 running at 1.2 Ghz, a 320 Gb hard drive, a 15.6″ LED display, and has ATI Radeon HD3200 Graphics.  This is a very light laptop perfect for someone on the go that wants something more capable than a Netbook.

2.  A Lenovo B560 Laptop (Model Name 4330)  It has 2 GB of DDR3 PC3-10700 RAM, an Intel Pentium P6200 2.13 Ghz Processor, 15.6″ LED display, and a 320 Gb 5400 RPM Hard Drive.  It also has a Finger Print reader.  This is a nice light weight laptop.  The machine is rather quick and I am impressed with it over all.  I have to admit I prefer it to my Asus above.

3.  A home-built machine with an Intel Core i5 661 runing at 3.33 Ghz with 4 Gb of ram, a 160Gb Western Digital hard drive Sata II 7200 RPM.

4. A Compaq laptop, Compaq Presario CQ60 (CQ60-615DX)  It has 2 Gb of ram with an Intel Celeron 900 running at 2.2 Ghz and a 250 Gb hard drive Running at 7200 RPM. This laptop is a sweet deal for the price.

5. An E-Machines  ET1831-03 with 4 Gb or ram an Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300 running at 2.6 Ghz a 750 Gb hard drive and an Nvidia GeForce GTS 250 Graphic Card.  We use this computer for Flight Simulator and other games.

Printers

We have an HP Officejet 6500 E709a  All in One printer, scanner, fax, copier. I also have a HP Laserjet 4050 for every day printing.

Phone

I do not like AT&T’s service .  I use Verizon Wireless and love them, they are the best cellphone company I have used in a long time.  My phone is a Samsung Omnia II running Windows Mobile Professional 6.5.  I also have an LG Fathom running Windows Mobile Professional 6.5.3

Windows Mobile 6.5 is a lot better than 6.1 and I highly suggest it.

Internet

I use Qwest high-speed DSL runs about 12Mb a second.  Overall I think Cox is a better bang for the buck.

TV

I have a 32in Samsung LCD tv that will do 1080i and a 25in Samsung LCD tv that will do 1080p, also a 32in Vizio LCD that does 1080P.

Entertainment

I have a Xbox 360 Elite and my favorite games on there have to be Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band

I also have a Nintendo Wii and my favorite games on there are Mario Kart Wii, Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles, and Game Party.

I have a 80Gb iPod that I want to replace with a Zune HD which I feel is better than any of Apple’s offerings, I don’t want to play games on my mp3 player, I want to listen to music and watch video.  I would like to get the 64Gb Zune HD.

Software

I have Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit and Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit  in a dual-boot configuration on the home-built machine also I run Windows XP Professional and Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit in a virtual enviroment on this machine.  Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit is installed on the Acer, Lenovo, Compaq, and e-Machines

I use Windows Live Mail for my personal mail on my computer.

For antivirus I use Microsoft Security Essentials for Free antivirus solutions and Norton Antivirus or Kaspersky Antivirus for paid solutions,  Only get regular Norton Antivirus, don’t bother for Internet Security or Norton 360.

For testing operating systems I use Windows Virtual PC, Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 and Virtual Box, all are free to use.

Appliances

I have a Whirlpool Microwave Range and Stove/Oven from about 1998 that are working great to this day.

I also have a Kenmore Elite Washer, Dryer, Refrigerator, and Dishwasher.

I also have a Hoover Elite Rewind vacume cleaner.

The refrigerator is the only one we have had any issues with.