Tip #4320 - Three Quick Vista Tips
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Three
Quick Vista Tips
Quick
Tip #1: Make Text Easier to Read
There's a strong
correlation between high display resolutions and eye strain. All that
small text can give anyone a headache. The solution is not to reduce
your screen resolution, but rather to increase the text size intelligently.
In Vista, go to Start, Control Panel and
type "adjust font size" in the search box
in the top right corner, which will take you directly to the link
for the DPI Scaling utility shown below. The preset value of 120 DPI
is too big for my taste, so I clicked the Custom DPI button
and used the slider control to bump the size up to a more restrained
110 DPI. Feel free to experiment with what works best for you!
Quick
Tip #2: Master the Quick Launch Bar
The Quick Launch
bar has been around forever, but it's a little more useful in Windows
Vista. For starters, it's much easier to add programs to the Quick
Launch bar, thanks to the new Add to Quick Launch shortcut menu. First
things first though. Make sure the Quick Launch bar isn't hidden.
If you can't see it, right click on any empty space on your taskbar
and then choose Toolbars, Quick Launch.
Don't feel like
aiming at those tiny icons with the mouse pointer? Then use the shortcut
keys instead! Each of the first 10 shortcuts on the Quick Launch bar
have their own custom keyboard shortcut. Press the Windows
key on your keyboard plus the number 1 (Win
+ 1) to launch or switch to the first item on the Quick Launch
bar. Press Win + 2 for the second and so on. For
shortcut number 10, use Win + 0.
Quick
Tip #3: Create a Log On Message
Windows Vista
supports a local security policy that includes many options for securing
your computer. One of the security options included allows you to
create a message text that will appear when users attempt to log on
to your computer. Your message text may say something like, “The
local policy of this computer logs all unsuccessful log on attempts.”
Of course, there is no guarantee that once an attacker sees this message,
they are going to turn and walk away, however, each security precaution
you take helps in the end.
If you want to
create a message text, here is what you have to do:
1.) Click Start,
All Programs, Administrative Tools
and then Local Security Policy.
2.) Expand Local
Policies and then select Security options.
3.) In the
Details pane, double click on "Interactive log
on: Message text for users attempting to log on."
4.) Type in the
message you want to appear.
5.) Click OK.
There you go.
I hope these have been helpful for you!
~ Ramachandran
Kumaraswami
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