This week’s challenge is a bit different. Instead of solving a problem, let’s have some PowerPoint fun. Take the following slide and improve it—do whatever you’d like to it. The audience is a mixed group of ordinary people, with no […]
Office 2010 annoyances that I can no longer ignore
In some ways, it might seem that I’m the wrong person to write this article. I’ve been working with Office 2010 every day since the early betas, and I like it a lot. In fact, way back before it was […]
Five tips for dealing with high maintenance clients
If you are consultant, the phrase “high maintenance clients” probably sends you into a shivering, fetal coma or a beast-mode rage. These clients are at best hard to deal with and at worst insufferable. The problem is… they are your […]
Linux and Open Source: Best of 2010
In 2010 we saw the usual upgrades to popular distributions and applications, big steps forward for Ubuntu, and all sorts of tips and how-tos from our writers. Below are some of the top posts of the year, based on a […]
Software downloads: Most popular of 2010
Check out TechRepublic’s top 10 software downloads of 2010. Featured topics include file recovery, registry cleaning and repair, antivirus, and maintenance software. (Notes: This list is based on number of downloads. Also, I link to the latest version of the […]
Five tips for speeding up Windows boot time
If you get impatient waiting for Windows to boot, you can take a few steps to speed things up. The changes I suggest are not momentous, but they will shorten the time required to boot. If that appeals to you, […]
Will Microsoft Vista/Longhorn Server Deliver?
The trend for Microsoft releases lately has been lots of glamour and very little content. Many of us in the IT community are likely expecting more of the same of Longhorn, Microsoft’s next major operating system (OS) release. Well, this […]
Microsoft releases five critical security bulletins for July
For July’s Patch Tuesday, Microsoft released seven security bulletins, five of which it has rated critical. (The remaining two are important threats.) The vulnerabilities apply to virtually every Office component in current use, including Macintosh applications and even Microsoft Works. […]
How does Microsoft’s new exam retirement policy strike you?
Earlier this month, Microsoft announced updates to its exam retirement policy. In the past, exam retirements often took certified Microsoft professionals by surprise. No more. At least, that’s the plan. Redmond has updated its retirement policy in an attempt to […]
Can Sun and AOL team up to take on Microsoft’s ‘fat desktop’ dominance?
Sun’s third major post-Java software initiative won’t just go head-to-head with the MS juggernaut; it also will run into major competition from several entrenched players. But one rival, consumer powerhouse AOL, may turn out to be the partner that Sun […]