Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
July 18, 2005


Volume 1, Number 5 -- Monday, July 18, 2005
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3


4.  Changing your Windows Desktop Background
I frequently change the background picture that I use for my Windows Desktop.  Windows XP also has a quick-change method.  There is a longer procedure that works in all the Windows versions

If you are using Windows XP, you have a much quicker method that you can use to change your background picture.  First, find the picture you want to use.  Windows Explorer is a great way to do this -- right-click on the Start button and select Explore.  

By default, Windows Explorer will open up in a 2-pane view with your "Start Menu" folder selected.  Look in the left pane -- several lines above the selected "Start Menu" folder is "My Documents."  This is probably where you have your pictures stored, or in a sub-folder of it.  Double-click on My Documents and then find your pictures folder.

One of the neat features of Windows is the ability to display thumbnail images in Windows Explorer.  If you aren't showing the thumbnail images, look on the toolbar that has the "Back arrow", then look to the middle of that bar.  There is an icon that looks like a small Windows window.  Left-click on it and you will get a pulldown menu where you can select Thumbnails view (in earlier Windows versions, a left-click would cycle through the different views, but you could use the down-pointing arrow to the right to display the pulldown menu.)

With XP, all you have to do at this point is  right-click on the image you want to use, and select "Set as Desktop Background."

If you are not using XP, or if you are and want to do it the hard way, right-click on a blank part of the desktop (not on an icon) and select "Properties."  From the "Display Properties" window that comes up, select the "Desktop" tab.  Toward the right, there is a button labelled "Browse."  Click on it use it to find and select the picture you want to use for your desktop background.  In some earlier versions of Windows, you were limited to using .BMP files for your background.  Win98 could use .JPG files also, but only if you enabled "Active Desktop."  WinMe handles .JPG files automatically, as Active Desktop is enabled by default.

Tip:  The desktop may center, stretch or display multiple copies of the image (tile the image), depending on its size.  If you want to change from center to stretch or tile, right-click on a blank area of the desktop, select Properties, select the Desktop tab, and change the "Position" setting.


AllPosters.com offers over 300,000 different posters, stand-ups and related items, including framed prints.  Whether you want current movie posters, Fine Art prints, movie personality photos, science fiction film posters, photography prints, or even T-shirts, notecards, stand-ups, or magnets, you'll find a great selection at AllPosters.com.


5.  Shareware/Freeware Pick of the Week

Program:  Trillian Basic
Category:  Instant Messaging

My Shareware/Freeware Pick of the Week is an instant messaging program called Trillian.  The current version is 3.1.  It is available in the free Basic edition and a paid Pro edition.

I can imagine that you are wondering "why do we need another instant messaging program?"

The answer is pretty simple.  Whether your friends are using AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, IRC, MSN Messenger, and ICQ, you can use this one program to communicate with any and all of them.  Of course, you have to create your own instant messaging ID for any of these services that you want to use.  Trillian can guide you through the process of creating those IDs.

With Trillian, you can do the usual typing-type chat -- which is how most of us do instant messaging.  You can also do video chat, audio chat, file transfers and more.

Each messaging session will have a separate window, so you can keep track of your conversations with each of your buddies, even if the conversations are occurring at the same time.

Of course, the most effective feature of any instant messaging system is that users automatically log into the server when they start the programs.  You can see, at any time, the IM status of all your buddies -- whether they are online or not.  Just double-click on their name to start a session with them.

You can also choose not start Trillian automatically and only start it when you want to "talk" to someone.

Looking for a web host that gives you plenty of space and plenty of throughput?  I use Powweb for all my web hosting.  They even let you host multiple domains within your package -- one $93.24/year package hosts all my domains.

Powweb offers one package, and it's a great deal at an average $7.77 per month.  Powweb started a special offer on July 15th -- 6 extra free months with a 1-year web hosting purchase, or lock in the special and get even more - 14 extra free months with a 2-year purchase.  They also have a $5 off coupon code that is good now -- just type in 'take5' in the coupon code field in the sign-up order form. These specials bring the real, effective average price down to $4.90/month for a 1-year package and $4.78/month for a 2-year package -- less than $5 per month!

Web space -- 5 Gigabytes.  Throughput -- 10 Gigabytes PER DAY (not per month!).  FrontPage Extensions.  Email downsteam (POP3), email upstream (SMTP), webmail and more for your domain.  Visit Powweb to sign up or to read more about their great web hosting package.

Continued in Part 3



Volume 1, Number 5 -- Monday, July 18, 2005
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Copyright © 2005 Terry A. Stockdale.  All rights reserved.

 

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