One of the biggest time-savers in Mac OS X Leopard is the Quick Look, which gives you an instant preview of any file. It’s great for finding the right document, image, or mp3 when you’re not sure which is which, or choosing the correct version from a series of files with similar names.

To use Quick Look, simply select an item in the Finder and press the Space bar, or type Command-Y. An image of the selected item appears. (In the case of mp3s, the sound file also plays.) You don’t even need to open the document’s usual application. If it’s a photo, for example, you can see it without waiting for iPhoto or Preview to open.

To close the Quick Look preview, simply press the Space bar again, or click the x in the preview window’s upper-left corner. Alternately, you can type Command-Y or Command-W to close the image.

A few more tips to help you get the most from this amazing feature:
If you want to preview additional items, don’t close the preview window. Just highlight a new file in the Finder, and the open preview window displays the newly selected object.

Quick Look lets you view multiple-page documents. For longer files, a navigation scroll bar appears along the preview window’s right margin. It even works with PDFs and Keynote presentations.

You can preview multiple items simultaneously. Just select several items in the Finder by lassoing them with your cursor. Or open one item in Quick Look, then use the up- and down-arrow keys to display other files in the same folder.

You can combine searches and Quick Look. Simply type keywords into a Finder window’s Search Box to reveal files whose names or contents match the search terms. Select some or all of the results, open Quick Look via space bar or Command-Y, and use your up- and down-arrow keys to switch between the selected previews.

To help your form best use the available screen space, use the Anchoring gallery on the Layout tab. From there you can anchor a control to the right or bottom of your form, or even stretch it. In seconds, you can make your forms automatically resize as your window size varies.

I’ve been working on building a stronger online presence. Working with Google to increase hits, as well a submitting content daily to the site. I am also working hard at designing a better remote support network for all of you.

You’ll also notice a new live chat on the left of the site. This will allow you to chat directly with us (during business hours), so we may offer you instant help. I am working on a full time 24/7 remote support service that will help you get your computer working properly. This will also enable us to spread out beyond Casa Grande and Arizona City.

We’ll keep you posted!

Most printers are networked, primarily for efficient use of resources. There are three basic ways to add a printer. The first way is through Control Panel. The second way is to use Network Explorer as follows.

1. Click Start.
2. Click Network.
3. Click Add a printer at the top of the screen (do this when you are adding your network resources).

The third (and even quicker) way is to type printer in the Quick Search box.

One of the coolest new features of Mac OS X Leopard, lets you switch among multiple desktops. For example, you might create a communication workspace for Mail, iChat, and Address Book, another for media programs like iTunes and iPhoto, and a third for video games. Then, instead of hiding/showing programs or dragging them around onscreen, you’d simply switch desktops. If you’re the sort of user who tends to have many applications open at once, Spaces is a godsend.

In fact, Spaces and Expose share a control panel. To access it, select System Preferences from the Apple menu and choose Exposé & Spaces. Click the Spaces tab.

This is where you set the key commands for activating Spaces and switching between your desktops. You can also specify the number of desktops and how they’re arrayed in columns and rows. (If you check “Show Spaces in menu bar,” you can switch desktops using the menu bar icon as well as key commands.)

You also have the option of permanently assigning a program to a particular desktop. If, say, you always want iTunes to open in its own window, click the Add (+) button, navigate to the iTunes application, and click Add. Click-hold in the Spaces field to assign it to a desktop. Here, for example, whenever iTunes is opened, Space 4 will automatically be displayed.

Whenever you type your Spaces key commands, you’ll see a translucent overlay depicting the available desktops. Switch between them using the key commands you’ve assigned in the Preferences panel.
If you get confused about what’s assigned where, don’t panic — just press the Activate Spaces key command (the default assignment is F8). This opens a global view of all your desktops. Just click within any desktop to open it. You can also move items from one desktop to another simply by dragging them between windows.

By default, Word replaces straight quotes with smart quotes. To change this setting:
1. Click the Office button.
2. Click Word Options.
3. Click Proofing, and then click AutoCorrect Options.
4. Click the AutoFormat tab.
5. Clear the Straight quotes with smart quotes check box.
6. Click the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
7. Clear the Straight quotes with smart quotes check box.
8. Click OK twice.

Microsoft has a new password checker for you to test the strength of your password. It’s nice because you don’t have to submit any information to Microsoft for the check. So go see how strong your password really is.

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself/password/checker.mspx?WT.mc_id=Banner_Password_Checker

Best Buy $779 Gateway LX6810-01

This is a what you call “More bang for your buck”! This system is very fast and very affordable. Bought this with lower expectations for Gateway products, and immediately fell in love with this “power house”. Setup your Satellite or Cable with it and start recording live TV. Drop in a new 3d-Game and start “fragging”, or just get straight to work. This system is great! My only complaint was that it uses DDR2 instead of DDR3 Memory, but they made up for it by dropping in 8GBs. It runs Microsoft® Windows Vista x64 bit Edition.

This is a Gateway/Best Buy exclusive, and is unavailable on Gateways web site. So rush on down to your Casa Grande Best Buy to get yours now, and tell them you read about it on our blog!

[via CNET]
Product summary

The good:
Includes discreet graphics card; configuration includes TV tuner and remote control; chassis offers ample room for expansion; inexpensive.

The bad:
No Wi-Fi; smaller hard drive than the competition.

The bottom line:
The affordable Gateway LX6810-01 scores high points for offering high-end components right off the shelf. We recommend this system for multimedia editors and light gamers who can make use of its hard-working Nvidia 3D card and full 8GB of RAM. However, if you’re looking more at straightforward performance, Dell offers a system with a faster CPU and a similar feature set for about the same price.

Specifications:
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 (2.33 GHz) ; RAM installed: 8 GB DDR2 SDRAM ; Hard drive: 640 GB Standard ; See full specs

OpenDNS now has a Conficker testing tool…

http://blog.opendns.com/2009/04/02/do-you-have-conficker-find-out-in-your-opendns-account/

[Lifehacker Post]

Windows only: You’re about to do something to your computer and you know you should probably make a restore point, but who wants to dig around in some menus? Make one with a single click.
Single Click Restore Point is a tiny executable that does just that. While logged into an account with administrative privileges you simply click the .EXE and it creates a restore point for you. The only inconvenience is you lose the ability to individually name your restore points.

Every restore point created with Single Click Restore Point is labeled by the date and “Created With SCRP Tool” as seen in the screenshot at right, a more than acceptable compromise if it means you use the restore tool more frequently. Single Click Restore Point is freeware, Windows only.
Single Click Restore Point [via Life Rocks 2.0]