Microsoft Office 2010 includes slimmed-down versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote – under the term Office Web Apps.  The Office Web Apps is a good new feature and allows users to view, edit and share documents online.

Microsoft has also priced Office 2010 aggressively – you can download the basic Home and Student version, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, for $149 (£110 in the UK), or buy it loaded on a new PC for as little as $119 (£90).

There is just one big interface change in the latest version: the inclusion of the ribbon on Outlook, Microsoft’s e-mail, contact management and calendar desktop app, making it feel much more integrated into the Office suite. Office 2010 users can now customise the menu ribbon in all the desktop apps to assemble the commands they use most often – which should help satisfy critics who felt the ribbon lacked the simplicity of the old Office menu bar.

Overall, Office 2010 will feel familiar to anyone who uses Office 2007, and the version of the software available on Tuesday is very similar to the beta version, which was Microsoft’s most extensive software trial to date. More than 5.5m users downloaded the beta code, which expires in October. 

I like the new feature, the Backstage view, which includes several new options for creating, printing, saving and sharing a document as well as information about recent versions of the document and the “permissions” (who can do what) associated with it .

Outlook that has undergone the most dramatic – and long overdue – changes.

Some, such as the option to view all messages in an e-mail thread, rather than in purely chronological order, match those already available in Google’s Gmail. Others make it easier to manage, delete and organise messages (including deleting a whole e-mail thread), add new e-mail accounts and configure automatic “Out of Office” replies.

Overall, these changes transform Outlook from an ageing desktop e-mail app into a modern communications-management tool that can compete with the best of the rest, including applications such as Mozilla Thunderbird and Gmail.

Microsoft has said that Morrow, remember this is only the rumoured name, will offer protection against viruses, spyware, rootkits and Trojans.  The release of Morrow is seen as a strategic move by Microsoft against anti-virus providers  such as Symantec and McAfee who both generate billions of dollars each year with their anti-virus products.  McAfee and Symantec are said to make most of their revenue from full security suite software that features encryption, password protection, a firewall, parental controls and data backup features in addition to basic anti-virus protection functionality.

Apparently Symantec and McAfee have indicated that they don’t see Microsoft’s entry into the ant-virus market as a threat, but this seems a bit strange to me, Microsoft not a threat?  However, it is also rumoured that Morrow is said to be a basic product and and will not offer the same type of protection as Symantec and McAfee products.  We will wait to see what happens but it’s a very interesting development.

It’s expected that Windows 7 will become the dominant Operating System for Laptops and Netbooks.  As the processors that usually run netbooks are roughly equivalent in power to a typical processor found inside laptops bought five years ago.  It’s possible that your old Windows XP laptop will be able to run Windows 7  too.  So it’s expected that Windows 7 will become the dominant OS for Laptops.

Windows 7 removes the need to load up separate software when you’re connecting through mobile broadband.

With Windows 7, there is the option to connect a second screen or projector, where you simply attach it to your Windows 7 laptop and press <Windows-P>.  you’ll be offered four choices that can either click or cycle through using the cursor keys.

Microsoft has made much of the the multitouch features within Windows 7.  These range from the friendly taskbar buttons to the ability to zoom in and out.  If you are reading a web page this means that if you want to zoom in , you can put two fingers to the screen and move the section you want to zoom to apart, this functionality is similar to that offered by the iPhone.  It’s also possible to quickly bring up the right-click menu – press and hold until a circle animation appears and the menu will pop up.

The standby and hibernate mode on Windows 7 is also much improved.  By default, your laptop will go into sleep mode when you close the lid and within a second or two of being re-opened you should be greeted by your login screen.

Windows 7 offers improved battery life, by reducing background activities when on battery power and also by shutting off power to unused Ethernet ports.

Windows 7 also offers an enhanced ability to tweak your settings further.  Not only can you take control over basic settinggs such as how quickly the display switches off after a period of inactivity,  you can also xcreate your own power plan that controls how much power the system uses in different occassions.

The software section provides pratical advice on Software Features and functionality and includes articles such as….Windows 7 for laptops…Windows 7 Home….Anti virus software FAQ’s….Firewall buying guide….What is firewall software?….Benefits of Business Software?….Buying business software

The good news is that once you’ve set up a HomeGroup, it will show up on other Windows 7 PCs, but not XP or Vista machines, as being available to join in the Network and Sharing Centre.  Once you’ve joined up, an icon for the group appears in the left-hand pane of Explorer, containing default library categories that mirror those of local document libraries and you can add files and folders in the same way.  This feature is simple and user friendly.

HomeGroup also avaoids the hassle and need to install printer drivers on every machine in the home.  Once the printer has been installed on the first PC in the HomeGroup, the drivers are automatically installed on any subsequent Windows 7 PC that joins the network.

The document libraries in Windows 7  are in some ways an extension of the file shortcuts that have been around since Windows 95 – they allow you to organise files from different locations via a link, without the need for multiple copies of the file.  There are huge benefits to the use of libraries.  A large media collection o can be housed on an external hard disk, and doesn’t have to be tied to the system disk.  This makes organisation and backup easier.  You can also create as many custom libraries as you want.

Once you’ve associated two Windows 7 PCs with an online ID, you can sign in and stream media from your home PC across the internet to the other PC.  The second streaming option is to allow remote control of the Media Player.  Once that’s activated you can push media from one PC to another on the home network.  So if you have a PC connected to your hi-fi, you can push music from your laptop to it, instead of playing it through the laptop’s speakers.

There are plenty of backdrop images to choose from with Windows 7.  You get six themes by default, Architecture, Characters, Landscapes, Nature, Scenes and a local theme for the UK, which gives you views of heritage sites such as Stone Henge.  The themes seem to be much improved than the equivalents on Vista.  There’s also a good desktop background sideshow option with a configurable time delay.

Windows 7 is heavily based on Vista, so if a program fails to install and run, a dialog box pops up automatically and offers to try and run it in a special compatibility mode.  The Program Compatibility wizard then starts up and attempts to identify problems automatically.  Windows 7 will then try to launch the application in an environment resembling close to an old Operating System as possible.  If it doesn’t work it offers to try again, giving you the chance to simulate a different operating system.

Most viruses are comparatively harmless, and may be present for years with no noticeable effect: some, however, may cause random damage to data files or attempt to destroy files and disks. Others cause unintended damage. The virus can cause significant damage by occupying disk space and/or main memory. Many viruses are disguised in e-mail attachments with an interesting name. When a curious computer user receives the mail and opens the attachment, the virus attacks. The virus attempts to modify the registry in order to copy itself into the Windows directory. The virus will then attempt to send infected mail messages to the addresses in the Windows Address Book. By causing congestion through self-propagation, the virus can also cause mail server performance problems. The subject line and attachment name may change as the virus spreads.

How should I protect myself?

• Install virus-protection software. Make sure to update the product at least once a week. Because an increasing number of viruses cannot be “cleaned” by simply running the “latest” virus checker if you are already infected, preventing infection is the wise course of action.
• Beware of e-mail attachments. Do not open any e-mail attachment unless you are expecting the file and know it is from a reliable source, especially if you are using Windows.
• Back up your files. On a regular basis, back up your files (somewhere other than on your machine). This can save hours, days, even years of work should you lose data because of a virus problem.
• Make a rescue disk. If you own an IBM-type system create a bootable floppy disk, put the antivirus software on it, and set the write-lock tab. This may be useful later.

Stay informed. Keep up with the latest news about viruses

What is anti virus software?

Antivirus software is a program that either comes installed on your computer or that you purchase and install yourself. It helps protect your computer against most viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and other unwanted invaders that can make your computer “sick.” Viruses, worms, and the like often perform malicious acts, such as deleting files, accessing personal data, or using your computer to attack other computers.

Why should I use anti-virus software?

You can help keep your computer healthy by using antivirus software. Remember to update your antivirus software regularly. These updates are generally available through a subscription from your antivirus vendor. The first is when a computer virus is reported, the virus is examined and a file is created to clean up or inoculation of the virus, this is called a signature file. The inoculation is added to the antivirus software database, a .dat file, and is used when scanning to identify and destroy viruses. The other way of identifying viruses is called heuristics. Heuristics monitors all activity on the computer and if a program is acting like a virus then it is destroyed or contained.

How does anti virus software work?

Antivirus software works in two ways. The first and the staple of the industry is based on signature files. When a computer virus is reported, the virus is examined and a signature file is created for inoculating the virus. This inoculation is added to the antivirus software database (.dat file) and is used when scanning computers to identify and destroy viruses. Unfortunately this is a reactive process so someone has to be the guinea pig and get infected. The other more progressive way of identifying viruses is called heuristics. This method will be the future of the industry and is basically the only hope we have in eliminating computer viruses. Heuristics monitor all activity on your computer and if a program is “acting” like a virus, then a red flag is raised and it is destroyed or contained and reported. The biggest hurdle for advancement in this area is the difficulty of determining what constitutes virus-like activity. For instance, replication is a common attribute of virus activity, but there can also be valid replication, like in program association. During program association, programs check to see whether or not they are the default. If they are not and you want them to be, then the program will change all of the files, which is akin to replication.

What should I look out for when purchasing anti virus software?

There are many different vendors of Antivirus software, and you are probably wondering which one is the best. There is unfortunately no simple answer to that question. Whatever solution you choose for your computer, make sure of the following specifications:

• The software can automatically update itself
• The software can integrate into your email program and scheduled to run automatically
• Virus scans can be scheduled to run automatically
• The software has a proven track record
• The software provider eleases timely and accurate information about new viruses

Is anti virus and anti-spy software the same thing?

No. Antivirus software helps protects against viruses. Antispyware software helps protect against spyware and other unwanted software. Some security services help protect against viruses and spyware.

Do I need a firewall if I use anti virus software?

Yes. You should use a firewall in addition to antivirus software to help protect your computer.

How can I find out if I already have antivirus software on my computer?

Check the Programs list on the Start menu and look for an antivirus program, such as McAfee or Symantec which is often provided on a trial basis by the computer manufacturers.

How can I make sure my anti virus software remains effective?

Purchase an annual subscription of your antivirus software to make sure your antivirus software stays current and effective. If you have purchased a subscription, most antivirus software will update itself when you are connected to the Internet. To ensure your software is up to date, open your antivirus program from the Start menu or the taskbar notification area and look for update status. When I want to install a new software programme, the installation process is telling me to turn off my anti virus software. Is this safe? Sometimes when you install new software, you may need to turn off your anti virus software during installation. Make sure that you that you turn your anti virus software back on again when you are finished.

I disabled some settings on my antivirus software, and now I’m not sure I should have done that. What are the most important settings to enable?

A number of settings should be enabled when you install the software and shouldn’t be disabled. If you have to, disable these settings to install new software or for any other reason, be sure to re-enable them as soon as possible. “On-access” or “real-time” scanning should be enabled. You should not disable this option as it will leave you vulnerable to threats. An icon should appear in the notification area of the taskbar to indicate that this setting is enabled. Clicking on Programs list in the Start menu should give you the same information.

• Anti-virus software should be configured to scan emails for viruses by default.
• Antivirus software should be set to perform a scheduled scan of your hard disk.

The software section provides pratical advice on Software Features and functionality and includes articles such as….Windows 7 for laptops…Windows 7 Home….Anti virus software FAQ’s….Firewall buying guide….What is firewall software?….Benefits of Business Software?….Buying business software

If you don’t have a good idea of what kind of access you want to allow or deny, a firewall won’t help you. Firewalls alone are not a solution to the problem of securing a computer network. Users need to be informed and educated to see see security as a vital part of their computer use. Firewalls are important since they can provide a single point where security and audit can be imposed, this point is often known as a choke point. The choke point acts as a security gate allowing and denying access. This means that anytime you have a change the levels of trust the choke point can allow more are less access to your private network according to change in the levels of trust you defined in your firewall.

Types of Firewalls

Firewalls can be divided into 2 main categories; hardware and software;

1. Hardware firewalls block access to your computer/network using electronics to filter all incoming/outgoing traffic.
2. Software firewalls, are commonly included in Internet Security Software and filter inbound connection attempts using a database of known tricks hackers will use to gain access into your computer/network.

The further categories of firewalls are; Packet Layer. This analyses traffic on your network at your transport protocol layer. The Transport Layer is responsible for delivering data to the appropriate application process on the host computer. Circuit level. This validates that packets are either connection or data packets. Application layer. This ensures valid data at the application level before connecting. Proxy Server. This intercepts all messages entering or leaving the network.

The software section provides pratical advice on Software Features and functionality and includes articles such as….Windows 7 for laptops…Windows 7 Home….Anti virus software FAQ’s….Firewall buying guide….What is firewall software?….Benefits of Business Software?….Buying business software

A firewall’s basic task is to regulate some of the flow of traffic between computer networks of different trust levels. Typical examples are the Internet which is a zone with no trust and an internal network which has a higher level of trust. The function of a firewall is to prevent intrusion on the private network.

Probably the most important thing about a firewall is that it implements an access control policy. If you don’t have a good idea of what kind of access you want to allow or deny, a firewall won’t help you. Firewalls alone are not a solution to the problem of securing a computer network. Users need to be informed and educated to see see security as a vital part of their computer use. Firewalls are important since they can provide a single point where security and audit can be imposed, this point is often known as a choke point. The choke point acts as a security gate allowing and denying access. This means that anytime you have a change the levels of trust the choke point can allow more are less access to your private network according to change in the levels of trust you defined in your firewall.

Types of Firewalls

Firewalls can be divided into 2 main categories; hardware and software;

1. Hardware firewalls block access to your computer/network using electronics to filter all incoming/outgoing traffic.
2. Software firewalls, are commonly included in Internet Security Software and filter inbound connection attempts using a database of known tricks hackers will use to gain access into your computer/network.

The further categories of firewalls are; Packet Layer. This analyses traffic on your network at your transport protocol layer. The Transport Layer is responsible for delivering data to the appropriate application process on the host computer. Circuit level. This validates that packets are either connection or data packets. Application layer. This ensures valid data at the application level before connecting. Proxy Server. This intercepts all messages entering or leaving the network.

The software section provides pratical advice on Software Features and functionality and includes articles such as….Windows 7 for laptops…Windows 7 Home….Anti virus software FAQ’s….Firewall buying guide….What is firewall software?….Benefits of Business Software?….Buying business software

Backups save time in restoring your data, files or system and ensures that you are up and going as soon as possible as to a pre computer failure state.

Backup software is computer software that performs a complete backup of your data, files and system resources. The backup software saves time in backing up these resources and may also help you to perform a recovery of data.

Not all backup software will support every data storage media. It is therefore important to check that your Backup software can save to USB memory sticks, floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, hard disk or network drive.

Before you back backup software make sure you know the maximum file size that your software will backup. Verification This is the functionality which ensures that a backup is in progress when the PC or computer network is in use. This function can also verify if files are corrupted during the backup process. Encryption If you have sensitive data it may be important to you that you encrypt the data in order to ensure that it is unreadable.

By backing up your data to a supported media such as a USB stick or a CD, you may be making it easier for someone to steal your data secrets, therefore, the encryption functionality is an important consideration when purchasing your backup software.

When purchasing backup software it is important to check the support options available. Some backup software may provide help files and FAQ sections, but other backup software packages may provide additional support options such as telephone support.

Depending on which software packages you choose there will be significant benefits to implementing small business software packages.

These benefits will include:

• Reduced employee hours working on routine and complicated daily tasks
• Easy integration with other office computers. Easy bank reconciliation processes
• Easy manipulation of data using different formats such as Charts, Graphs and Tables
• Accurate and easy reports on a variety of different business areas such as VAT, tax, clients and profits
• Cost effective and time saving.

The software section provides pratical advice on Software Features and functionality and includes articles such as….Windows 7 for laptops…Windows 7 Home….Anti virus software FAQ’s….Firewall buying guide….What is firewall software?….Benefits of Business Software?….Buying business software

There are two kinds of office suite on the market; one aimed at professionals and the other designed for home users. They make producing a smart, professional looking document with the minimum amount of fuss easy. They allow you to create Presentations, Spreadsheet and allow you to word process letters and memos. Save time, stay organized, and focus efforts on sales, marketing, and customers Microsoft Office Small Business 2007 is a powerful and easy-to-use suite of productivity and contact management software with new tools to help you save time, stay organized, and deliver better customer service. Easily manage your prospect and customer information in one place. Microsoft Store: Buy Office Small Business here