Traffic Circle 2.0

It’s finally here! (And coming soon here!)

What is it? My newest book, Maximum PC Guide to Microsoft Windows Vista Exposed.

Read it to discover:

- How to perform a clean install using a Vista upgrade DVD

- Why Windows Vista Ultimate protects your data better than other editions

- How to protect your children from unsuitable websites and media (and how not to)

- What you need to make Windows Vista and Windows XP share nicely on the same network

… and much, much more!

It’s based on the final release of Windows Vista and Windows Vista Ultimate Extras, so it’s an up-to-date reference to what’s new, what’s improved, what’s great, and what needs work in Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate editions. Enjoy!

Check out Chapter 8 on Windows Media Player 11 free.

In an era in which operating system updates are delivered ‘to your door’ by Windows Update and similar online services, it’s fair to say that modern operating systems are truly ‘works in progress.’ Windows Vista is no exception.

Several recent updates are worth checking out. The first two are especially useful if you play PC games. You might have already received these updates via Windows Update, but if not, you can follow the links to install them manually:

• If you’re using two graphics cards with NVIDIA’s SLI or ATI’s CrossFire dual GPU configuration, Windows Vista might not be using the second graphics card. Fix this problem and get the 3D performance you paid for with the update discussed in Knowledge Base article 936710. You can request this update and receive a link to it via email. To learn how, see my Maximum PC blog posting Hotfixes by Email – Just What the Windows Doctor Ordered.
• 3D games based on DirectX 9 and earlier DirectX versions use a lot more virtual memory address space under Windows Vista than under Windows XP. As a result, you may experience crashes while playing your favorite games. Microsoft has updated the virtual memory manager for Windows Vista to solve this problem. See Knowledge Base article 940105 for details. To request a link to this update, see Hotfixes by Email – Just What the Windows Doctor Ordered.

Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or not, you’ll want to get your hands on the next two updates:

• Fix various performance and reliability headaches with the update discussed in Knowledge Base article 938979. The update can be downloaded directly from the article.
• Fix various compatibility headaches with the update discussed in Knowledge Base article 938194. The update can be downloaded directly from the article.

To find out if you’ve already received these updates, open the Windows Update icon in Control Panel and review your system’s update history. If you still need some of these updates, fire up your browser and get downloading!

I’ve been blogging regularly for several months at Amazon.com as well as elsewhere. If you haven’t caught my Amazon.com blog yet, here’s what you’ve been missing:

• How to use the Windows Vista Recovery Environment (unlike Windows XP’s Recovery Console, it works – and you will understand what it’s doing)
• How to help Windows XP and Windows Vista share folders with each other
• How to find out how much working RAM Windows has, and why you may need to add more than you think for adequate performance
• Coverage of Windows Vista Ultimate Extras: useful added features, tools, and (let’s be fair) a bit of additional eye candy as well especially for Vista Ultimate users

Thankfully, it’s not too late to dive in. Enjoy!

… I have digital imaging in Windows Vista covered.

• Learn how to use the Photo Gallery feature in Windows Vista to edit your photos without overwriting your originals.
• Tired of waiting, waiting, and waiting for the Importing Pictures and Videos wizard to load up the pix from your digital camera? Do a Donald Trump on it and replace it with faster and smarter transfer programs (some of which also work for free).

Keep an eye on the continuing Windows saga (Windows XP fans also get their fair shakes).

I’m heading off to Microsoft’s Tech Ed 2007 extravaganza in Orlando this week. While I’m down there, I’ll be recording a half-hour video podcast for my publisher – I’ll post links to the video and audio versions when they’re available.

Before I’m out the door, let me say a big thank you! to the Southwest Indiana PC Users Group for inviting me to talk about layers in Photoshop Elements and Photoshop on May 20th. It was a well-attended meeting, with lots of great questions (and, I hope, some decent answers from yours truly).  The notes from the meeting will be available shortly at the SWIPCUG newsletters page.

… Sunday, May 20, from 2-4PM at Central Library’s second floor meeting room. I’ll be demonstrating the power of layers in Adobe Photoshop to the Southwest Indiana PC Users Group. I’ll be using Photoshop Elements 5.0, but if you’re using other recent versions of Photoshop Elements or Photoshop, you’ll also find this a useful demonstration. I will have copies of my recent books available for purchase, and I’m happy to sign books – bring copies you already have, or pick up some at the meeting (my office is moving this summer and I’m offering great deals!)

Come early, as the Evansville Public Library system is also kicking off its summer reading program that afternoon. There’s free underground and surface parking at the library and nearby, but spaces may be scarce from time to time. See you there!

Central Library is at the corner of Walnut St and Martin Luther King Jr Blvd in downtown Evansville.

I appreciate the opportunity to speak again to the Southwest Indiana PC Users Group, as I have several times before:

• on Windows Vista
• on becoming a technical writer
• on X10 home automation and home entertainment devices in Windows
• on wireless networking
• on digital photography

(these links open issues of the SWIPCUG newsletter P-See Urgent in PDF format, and require Adobe Reader or an equivalent program)

Posting here’s been pretty light of late, as I’ve been putting the finishing touches on my book Maximum PC Microsoft Windows Vista Exposed, but, I haven’t exactly been idle.

• I’m now the “Windows Guy” at Maximum PC‘s website, blogging on a variety of Windows topics.
• Several of my articles on Windows Vista are now features at Que Publishing’s Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007 resource page:
  • Learn how to fix common problems with digital photos using Vista’s Windows Photo Gallery.
  • Fix a Windows Vista installation that won’t start with the Windows Vista Recovery Environment.

Enjoy!

The new MaximumPC magazine website (version 6.0) is now up and running, and it’s a winner. Some of its new features include:

• Article archives back to 2003
• News stories
• Editors’ blogs
• Podcasts

If you missed my Windows Vista Survival Guide article from the March issue, it’s now a featured article on the website.

Windows Vista continues to draw reviews ranging from raves over its new multimedia and security features to users raving about problems. Whether you’re raving about or raving mad at Vista, check out this article at the London Telegraph website.

Popular Photography magazine (and website) reports that the new entry-level Nikon D40 digital SLR camera no longer includes a built-in motor for autofocus lenses. The article points out that omitting the motor makes the camera body smaller and lighter (and, I would add, probably cheaper to make), but it prevents the D40 from using a lot of existing lenses, both those made for other Nikon DSLRs and those made for older Nikons. See the compatibility listing by clicking the Tech Specs tab here.

If you’re considering buying a D40 as your first Nikon SLR, limited compatibility with older Nikon and Nikon-compatible lenses might not matter (although current Tokina and Tamron lens lines won’t work, Sigma makes lots of lenses featuring HSM motorized autofocus that will).

However, if you’ve already invested in Nikon lenses, and especially if you want to use some classic Nikon F-series glass on a modern SLR, the D40 (6.1MP) or its higher-resolution sibling, the D40X (10.2MP) is not the best choice.

Sigma lens fans can read the compatibility listing here.