UP

Productivity

What does it mean to use technology productively? Which apps and gadgets make your work easier? How to personalize the computers and other gadgets you’re using?

tutorial Introducing Windows 8.1: How Does Search Work & How to Use It?

Introducing Windows 8.1: How Does Search Work & How to Use It?

Search in Windows 8.1 has been completely redeveloped. It is so different from Windows 8 and Windows 7 that some users might have trouble understanding how it works. That's why I decided to create this complete guide on Search, filled with screenshots and examples. As you will see, the integration of Bing into Windows 8.1 is both very powerful and scary. Here's how it
tutorial How to Set Up and Use Work Folders in Windows 8.1

How to Set Up and Use Work Folders in Windows 8.1

One of the many new enterprise-friendly features in Windows 8.1 is named Work Folders. Folders? Work? Sounds boring, doesn't it? :) But, to some people this feature will be very useful. Especially to people that have many devices and need to work also on their personal PCs and devices. Here's how to set up Work Folders on the client side and how to use
tutorial How to Upgrade Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 through the Windows Store

How to Upgrade Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 through the Windows Store

Microsoft has made available Windows 8.1 as a free upgrade for Windows 8 users. The procedure is performed through the Windows Store and, even though it is not very complicated, there are some important requirements and steps you should keep in mind. For the complete upgrade guide, with screenshots and detailed instructions, read this tutorial. What to do Before the Upgrade Begins There
review Reviewing the Microsoft Wedge Mobile Keyboard

Reviewing the Microsoft Wedge Mobile Keyboard

Nowadays, tablets are becoming more and more popular, and rightly so. They're versatile, and most are a lot more easily portable than even a netbook. However, typing on a tablet screen is not something that comes naturally to many people, and even the widest tablets have only so much screen real estate on which to display the keyboard. Only people with small hands have
article How to Boot to the Desktop in Windows 8 & Windows 8.1

How to Boot to the Desktop in Windows 8 & Windows 8.1

Microsoft did not provide any support for setting Windows 8 to boot straight to the Desktop and skip the new Start screen. There was no registry setting available, no group policy and most of the hacks that worked with the test versions of Windows 8 do not work in the final version. Since many people want this feature in Windows 8, Microsoft gave in
tutorial How to Install Windows 8.1 RTM On Your Computer

How to Install Windows 8.1 RTM On Your Computer

If you have gotten your hands on Windows 8.1, the final version (build 9600) or on any of the leaked builds, you can install it using this step by step guide. We will cover each step of the process and share useful information regarding more special installation scenarios. What to Expect from Windows 8.1 There are many new things in Windows 8.1. Some
review Book Review - Microsoft Office Professional 2013 Step By Step

Book Review - Microsoft Office Professional 2013 Step By Step

Years ago, when I bought Microsoft Word for DOS 5.0, it came with three manuals in the box: One to explain the program, one to walk the user through creating printer drivers, and one for the built-in programming language. And some people think that those old DOS programs weren't sophisticated. :) Now, of course, there is the Microsoft Office suite of programs, all of
article What's New in Windows 8.1 Public Preview (codename

What's New in Windows 8.1 Public Preview (codename "Blue")?

Windows 8.1 Public Preview is now available for download and it brings many changes to Windows 8. There's lots of new stuff coming in this update and all of it is good. While many of you would think that Windows 8.1 is mostly about touch and tablets, you would be very wrong to think so. Windows 8.1 packs lots of upgrades for traditional PC
tutorial Introducing Windows 8: Customize the Look of the Start & Lock Screens

Introducing Windows 8: Customize the Look of the Start & Lock Screens

Changing your Desktop wallpaper in Windows 8 is exactly the same procedure you've seen in Windows 7. While the choice to customize your Desktop is a given, Windows 8 goes farther than previous versions of Windows by giving you two more things to customize: the Lock Screen and Start screen. These settings aren't accessible by right-clicking the Desktop, which is what most new users
tutorial The Windows Experience Index - How to Use it & Interpret the Results

The Windows Experience Index - How to Use it & Interpret the Results

Starting with Windows Vista, Microsoft includes the Windows Experience Index in its Windows operating systems. According to Microsoft, "the Windows Experience Index measures the capability of your computer's hardware and software configuration and expresses this measurement as a number called a base score". Wonder what that really means? This article will explain how Windows calculates the Windows Experience Index score and its correlation to