It's always a bonus to uncover a shortcut or program enhancement, and here we bring you 100 tips and tricks that we hope will make your computing experience quicker, simpler or more rewarding.
Laptops
1 Consider laptop usage before purchase. A big screen and full functionality may look great in the catalogue, but will become a burden as you lug it to Gate 26 at the airport and annoying when you can't open the screen in a cramped cattle-class seat
2 Buy a specially-built case for your notebook, preferably one that doesn't look like a laptop carrier. Good backpacks not only protect both the PC and your neck and shoulder muscles, but also make it difficult for would-be thieves to target you as a notebook carrier.
3 Pay particular attention to security at airports. One popular scam involves the person in front of you going through security metal detectors with coins in their pockets. While you wait for them to be searched, an accomplice on the departures side collects your laptop from the X-ray machine. Toilet cubicles that have a gap round the bottom are also favourite snatch spots. While you're pulling your trousers up, the thief is making a getaway.
4 Be cautious about enabling file and print sharing, especially if you have wireless networking turned on. You can control sharing on a drive-by-drive or even folder-by-folder basis (Start | My Computer, then right click on a drive or folder and select Properties | Sharing) or by user (look for and click on your username in 'C:/Documents and Settings' to access file sharing).
5 If your laptop's equipped to work wirelessly, disable wireless networking when you're not using it. In the tool tray, right click on the LAN (Wireless) icon and choose Disable. This gains you an extra ten to 20 minutes of battery life and improves security.
6 If you want access to important Web pages on the go, save them to your Favorites list and check the box to make the item available offline. To make sure you have the latest information on your offline pages, use the Synchronize command on the Tools menu in the browser. You can also set a schedule to synchronise your offline favourites automatically.
7 Just because it's not your main computer doesn't mean your laptop data isn't important. Use a professional backup solution – like BrightStor Mobile Backup (www.ca.com) or LiveBackup (www.storactive.com) – to ensure data is protected in case of fault or theft.
8 Make sure you take regular breaks and pay attention to ergonomic issues when using a laptop for long periods. Wrist and neck problems arise from small keyboards and the fact the screen is inseparable from the keys.
9 If you own an AMD-powered notebook, make sure your PowerNow! settings are up to date and correct. If running Windows XP, visit http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com to install the latest driver. For older operating systems, your supplier should be able to provide an update (this will add a tab to the Control Panel's Power Options for AMD PowerNow!).
10 If using Windows XP, make sure your Power Options (in the Control Panel) match your situation. For instance, when on the move you should generally choose Portable/Laptop, as this makes the processor run at a lower voltage, while Always On forces it to run at full tilt.