Have you heard of CCleaner? CCleaner is a free application for Windows that optimizes your system. It removes unused files from your system – allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. It also has a really good registry cleaner that works really good. I have fixed many customer computers just by using CCleaner, you wouldn’t believe how much crap that builds up after time that just causes your computer to be slower and generate more errors. That’s why it’s called CCleaner, AKA “Crap Cleaner” It’s cleans the crap out of your computer. For more information about CCleaner, other applications they make and other stuff, check out their website at ccleaner.com.
Download Now
The screen capture utility built into Vista didn’t make it into all versions of the OS. Here’s how to turn on if you have it how to upgrade if you don’t have it. 
After I wrote Vista’s Snipping Tool, I noticed when I reinstalled my computer and went to go use the Snipping Tool, it wasn’t there! On another note, If you have Windows Vista Basic, you do not have the snipping tool. Vista Basic is basically Windows XP with a pretty face, It didn’t even come with Windows aero! and many other features that are featured in other versions of vista. So if you have Vista Basic, just upgrade to Vista Home Premium, Vista Business, or Vista Ultimate (Vista Ultimate is the one I use). If you want to do more comparison, check out Paul Thurrott’s SuperSite for Windows.
So as long as you don’t have Vista Basic, you already have the Snipping Tool. (Choose Start, All Programs, Accessories, Snipping Tool) If you don’t see it there, it may not be activated. Which was my problem and I figured out how to activate the Snipping Tool. Go to Control Panel and Open Programs and Features (You will or may have to click Programs first). In the task pane on the left click Turn Windows features on or off. If Necessary click Continue when prompted by UAC (User Account Control).
Once you have the screen above visible, you may have to wait a few seconds for it load. Scroll through the lists of features, check the box next to Tablet PC Optional Components, and click OK. Turning on these features gives you not only the Snipping Tool, but also the Tablet PC input panel, Windows Journal and other stylus-related features.
Sony is calling their new eBook reader the Daily Edition. As in, newspapers.
The Daily is at the high end of the price range at $400. More significantly, the Daily throws another punch in the match against the Kindle from Amazon, like the Kindle DX, although the Daily only has a 7inch screen, which doesn’t match up to the Kindles 9.7inch screen.
However, Sony added a 3G Modem to provide free 3G wireless connectivity to the Sony eBook Store. Users will be able to buy and download books, newspapers and magazines, with no monthly fees or charges for basic wireless connectivity, assuming they can get connected to the AT&T service. Sony is expecting to have other ways of access.
The highlight of the Daily is the introduction of a Library Finder application. Sony is working with a e-book distributor OverDrive and over thousands of libraries in the OverDrive network, users will be able to enter their ZIP codes into the application and download electronic books with a valid library card. At the end of the lending period, the books just vanish from the reader. Though book selection will most likely be limited.
Physically, the Daily — which won’t go on sale until later in the year — will have a display housed in an aluminum shell that can be read in either portrait or landscape mode. In portrait mode, about 30 to 35 lines of text will visible, making the experience very similar to that of a printed paperback book, Sony says.
You remember the Powertoy “Image Resizer?” Well it was a very handy tool to have because it could resize a large batch of images. I used it so much when I had Windows XP and that Powertoy was only for Windows XP and when Vista rolled out, Microsoft didn’t update the code on that application so it wouldn’t run on Vista. I thought that was just awful and I couldn’t find a decent Powertoy like that at the time Vista came out. There were other tools sort of like that but you had to buy them and they had ton of ads on them. A few weeks ago I came across the Image Resizer Powertoy Clone for Windows Vista. It’s a life saver!
You can grab the Powertoy here
To use it, all you have to do is highlight the images you want to resize, right-click, and select Resize Pictures. You will then receive a dialogue window prompting you to choose a size from the most common, or you can click Advanced for more control.
It will not overwrite the images. Instead, it will rename the copy to have the image size after the original file name, how ever you can overwrite the file you want to do. If you do something wrong there is no way in recovering the image. So make sure you backed it up and or know what you are doing first.
If you used Mac OSX before and wanted to take a screen shot, there is a program that comes with OSX called “Grab” I used it a lot when I was in graphic design class to take screen shots of certain pieces on the website I was developing and man did that make life easier. Now if your a Windows user, like if you use any version under Vista your stuck with the print screen button and paint. We all done it, even the pros do it.
When Vista was released Microsoft included a tool or Windows application called “Snipping Tool” it is just like the program on OSX called “Grab” Now when I found this out I was so happy it wasn’t even funny (ok, hypothetically speaking of course.) I was glad to use this application because it made life so much easier on the windows side of the world. No more Paint and less use of the print screen button. Lets take a minute and show you how to find the application and how to use it, trust me its very simple!
Remember that this is only on Vista, not sure if its on Windows 7 or not, But I’m pretty sure it is!
Location: Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > Snipping Tool
What does it look like?
As you can tell, its pleasant and easy to look at. They also give tips right below to show you how to use it. Once you know how to use it, you can remove those tips so the interface is even more cleaner! now isn’t that awesome?
Amanda on 
