You are here: Home / Archives for Windows 7

Setting Real and Virtual Boundaries for Children Windows 7 & Windows Live

October 7, 2011 By 26 Comments

My husband and I were just talking about our kids and how they are getting close to that age where we need to let them have some time on the computer. Yes, kids are getting on the computer younger and younger, my three and four year old have computer class once a week in preschool. So where does that leave parents and how do we protect our children?

One you have to know what they are doing. Be sure to put the computer in a common area in the house. The kitchen, the study, somewhere where you all hang out together. For us, we haven’t picked a spot yet. We might have to put it in the living room where all the toys are currently stacked.

Two, limit what they can search on the internet. You have the ability to preview what they are looking at or checking on what they did look at after the face. Me, I’m more about being proactive and setting up limits first. Windows 7 and Windows Live already have some safety features already built into them.

SafeSearch is locked for Bing, Google, Yahoo! and other popular search engines to prevent your child from seeing adult content in search results.

Contact management, this provides parents control to monitor or restrict the contact list for their child in Windows Live Hotmail, Messenger and Spaces.

Taking advantage of Family Safety, parents can download the latest Windows Live Essentials and set up Family Safety in order to customize how they want to set various protections and safeguards to get their student safe while online.

Filtering images, which is helpful if your child visits websites that allow other users to upload images. This feature works best on Windows 7 machines with faster processing power.

Restricts ads, which means children’s Live IDs that are added through Family Safety and logged into the Windows Live network, will not see advertisements when using Windows Live services.

For even more great information on family safety check out my friend Kristina’s blog post on the Windows Experience blogand as always let me know if you have any questions. I can ask the experts for you!!!

 

I am not being compensated for this post but I am a Microsoft Windows 7 Champion and have been asked to share things with you throughout the year.

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: , , , , ,

How is Your Inbox doing? Twitter Conversation #win7tech 12-1pm PST 8/23

August 22, 2011 By 24 Comments

I had an interesting conversation with Hotmail and using Hotmail to help me with all my organizational issues and I was quite impressed. Hotmail is a lot more like Outlook than when I used it YEARS ago. Hotmail said there are three categories that people fall into, deleters, filers and pilers. I find that I’m a sick combination of all three. I need help, I need LOTS of help. As I’m sitting here trying to go through my e-mail I’m trying to consider which classification I really fall into

Do I Delete?

Yes I delete as much as I can but I don’t delete it all.

Do I file my e-mail?

Yes, I just found myself creating a new folder so I could file everything that I’m working on under the tweet drive charity event coming up. So I can clean out my inbox a little. It’s e-mail that I want to keep, but I need it all together and it’s not all in the same conversation so I just created a folder for it.

Do I Pile?

Well that one is an emphatic yes. I would love more than anything for my inbox to be empty and everything to be filed or gone, but since I get hundreds of e-mails a day, I just can’t get through it all and I have good intentions of responding to everything. Uh yea, I need to change my intentions and get on that delete button.

hotmail logo

The features on Hotmail are pretty amazing be sure to visit the Hotmail Sign-up Page if you’re in need of a robust email service. You can sort, you can search, you can create folders, rules, and organize to your heart’s content. I was quite impressed with the ability to delete all e-mail from a particular sender. Let’s say you don’t need to look at the 1,000 groupon deals in your inbox, well just delete all. I look forward to sharing more with you guys as I learn more and let me know if you have any questions. As a Windows 7 Champion I have lots of information at my disposal.

You can determine which category you fall into as well at What’s Your Inbox Like.

Join the #win7tech hashtag from 12-1pm on Tuesday August 23rd for a conversation about your inbox and how Hotmail can help. You could win $500 worth of Merry Maids cleaning services just for participating.

I’m a Windows 7 Champion and was not compensated for this post.

Filed Under: Announcement, personal Tagged With: , , , , ,

Back To School Computers With Microsoft Windows 7 & Free Xbox 360

July 28, 2011 By 4 Comments

Feels like summer just started for us and is halfway over for everyone else so of course it’s time to start thinking about back to school shopping. Stores everywhere have already started putting out fall clothes and advertising is running rampant for back to school sales and Microsoft Windows 7 is right there with everyone else which is great for families in need of  a new computer in time for school.

To help make finding the right computer easier, Microsoft is showcasing some great Windows 7 PCs and accessories for families on any budget. A Windows PC is the perfect tool to help kids manage class work, stay in touch with family and friends and simply have fun in a way that is unique as they are, and at a price point that won’t break the bank.

toshiba_satellite_e305_1The Toshiba Satellite E305 is a thin light and affordable Blue Label laptop, a Best Buy exclusive PC that retails for $1089. It’s a great choice for students looking for a PC that’s portable enough to carry with them all day, powerful enough to work and play, and stylish enough to impress their friends. Equipped with Intel Wireless Display technology that turns any TV into a wireless monitor, a backlit keyboard and a huge 640 GB hard drive, this laptop makes it easy to stay productive and connected.

 

 

94977-sony-vaio-s-blancThe Sony Vaio SB is great if you’re in the market for a premium PC that looks great, and won’t empty your bank account. This laptop retails for $999. It’s crafted in black or white aluminum and has premium features like USB 3., a backlit keyboard, and switchable graphics. And, with the optional super-slim “sheet” battery, the VAIO SB can stay powered for over 15 hours. WOW that’s amazing.

 

Gateway-ID49C07u-Road-Warrior-Notebook-Half-OpenThe Gateway ID47 is a great value without sacrifice. In Gateway you’ll find style and the latest technology with two beautiful finishes, brushed platinum and ice blue for under $700. And with new technology that packs a 14” screen into a 13” inch body, you get the advantages of a big laptop in a small, portable package.

 

 

Touchsmart-610-left-viewAnd finally, the HP TouchSmart 610 is an all-in-one that takes touch fun to a whole new level. The HP TouchSmart retails for $1099 with the ability to be sued upright like a normal PC, or “recline” it to use the touch. You can browse the web and play games with ease.

Microsoft is offering even more bang for your buck with a limited offer: Purchasing any new Windows PC priced at $699 or more at participating retailers and get a free Xbox 360 console!  An Xbox 360 is more than just game console; it’s a one-stop entertainment hub that’s perfect for any living room – or dorm room – and it makes an excellent companion to a new Windows PC.  For more information check out www.windows.com/freexbox!

I’m a member of the Windows Champions program with Microsoft. I was not compensated to post this information.

Filed Under: Announcement, Tech Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Upgrade to a New Windows 7 PC and Get Free PC Setup

March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I’ve been using Windows 7 for, I dunno, forever! Windows 7 PC has been the most stable of Windows yet, I haven’t had to format my computer and it’s been WONDERFUL. Plus, all of the great features that come with Windows 7 PC make my blogging life a whole lot easier. Microsoft also has all of the free downloads, like Movie Maker, and Live Writer. Both I use daily with my blog. If you haven’t upgraded yet, now is the time!

You know with all the Spring Cleaning going on it’s time to spring clean your office and that includes your computer. It’s the perfect time to ditch the old and bring on the new…especially when it comes to your technology! I had a newsflash sent to me, did you know that Windows 7 is the fastest selling operating system in history?????. But the newsflash also said that some people are still holding on to those Windows XP machines (which is a technology over 10 years old by the way!). WHAT???

Why don’t they upgrade? Well, with loads of files, music and photos living on your hard drive, it seems like transferring all the data isn’t always as easy as cleaning out your closet. Which I have to agree with, backing up everything on your computer can be a nightmare! Did I get everything? I always worry we missed something

Newsflash: It IS that easy thanks to Windows and Staples this spring!

Windows and Staples are helping customers by bringing you the “Windows Easy Tech Offer.” For a limited time, when you buy any new Windows 7 PC online or in stores at Staples a PC technician will transfer all your data and setup your PC with the new Windows Live Essentials (including tools such as Photo Gallery and Movie Maker)—all for free! You even get a free Microsoft online training valued at $300 as part of the deal!

Staples will make sure all of your special photos, files, music, e-mail browser settings and favorites go with you to your new PC. Take all your data with you and get a new PC that will bring you into the modern age. And with so many great PCs available for less than $600, it would be silly not to.  Now wasn’t that easy?

For more information on the offer, visit windowsstreamblog.com or staples.com/windows

 

 

I received this information and felt it was worth sharing. I’m part of a Windows PC blogger test program and I can choose to write about things they send me or not.

Filed Under: Announcement Tagged With: , , , , ,

Save Money with Windows 7 Family Pack

October 7, 2010 By 1 Comment

Windows 7 has quite a few package options. I was asking my husband about it last night and he listed quite a few options and after looking at all of them, I know that families can save by purchasing the Family Pack at the Microsoft Store.

The Family Pack was introduced last year as a limited time offer and while supplies last in select geographies. As I was talking to my husband he said he had heard that the Family Pack was coming back and it is. Starting on October 22nd (already out in the US, October 22 for the rest of the world in some markets), you will be able to buy the Windows 7  Family Pack, which allows you to install Windows 7 Home Premium on up to three PCs for $149.99 in the US. That is a huge savings. Retailer prices may vary by geographic location but will still be a great savings. You might want to act quickly as it quickly sold out last year.

All of this is a way for Microsoft to celebrate reaching the one year anniversary of Windows 7 and a way to make it easier for families. That is why they are bringing the offer back. It’s an easy and cost effective way to get an entire household’s PCs running Windows 7. When you run Windows 7 on more than one PC, you can use HomeGroup to quickly connect PCs (just a few clicks) and instantly share files, music, and photos across all the PCs in the family. You can also easily share a printer with all the PCs in your home. We have our entire house networked, all of our computers can see each other and the printer. It’s nice to be able to do everything from one computer. HomeGroup only works with other Windows 7 PCs. It’s not available on Windows Vista or Windows XP. It looks like if you need any help or have questions bloggers are answering questions at the Windows Experience blog.

 

I will be participating in a WIndows 7 test group as Microsoft is sending me a laptop on loan for one year with Windows 7. Of course, I’m already using Windows 7 and have been enjoying all of the benefits for a while now anyways!

Filed Under: savings Tagged With: , , ,