Two big reasons why you'll like Windows 7

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Windows Secrets Newsletter • Issue 197 • 2009-05-14 • Circulation: over 400,000

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Table of contents
INTRODUCTION: Learn how to avoid big mistakes by instinct
TOP STORY: Two big reasons why you'll like Windows 7
KNOWN ISSUES: Pros and cons: When ISPs boot file sharers
WACKY WEB WEEK: Run for the border and sing for your supper!
LANGALIST PLUS: Leave Windows' space-hogging WinSxS folder alone
BEST SOFTWARE: Top remote-access tools are fast and safe
PATCH WATCH: Finally! An Office service pack you can remove

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INTRODUCTION

Learn how to avoid big mistakes by instinct

By Brian Livingston

Besides bringing you our columnists' writings each week, we also like to uncover other writers and give you exclusive excerpts of their new findings.

This month, we have a special bonus download that can be helpful to all information professionals who want to keep from jumping to the wrong conclusions.

Snap Judgment: When to Trust Your Instincts, When to Ignore Them, and How to Avoid Making Big Mistakes with Your Money (photo, below) is a new hardcover book on the way human beings instinctively misjudge number problems.

The author, David E. Adler, is a leader in the new field of behavioral economics. He's a writer for Financial Planning magazine and the producer of a forthcoming special on the U.S.'s PBS network showing how people make costly errors.

Our exclusive excerpt contains three full chapters that delve into the psychology of gaming, including tips on how to increase your odds of coming out ahead in any wager. The book won't hit the shelves until late June, but you can get our sneak peek now through June 17.

Our license to distribute this PDF e-book allows only Windows Secrets paid subscribers to download the excerpt. But our free subscribers can get it, too, by making a financial contribution of any amount — and you'll receive the next 12 months of our paid content, too.

Paid subscribers: Set your preferences and download your bonus
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Thanks for your support!

Brian Livingston is editorial director of WindowsSecrets.com and co-author of Windows Vista Secrets and 10 other books.

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TOP STORY

Two big reasons why you'll like Windows 7

By Woody Leonhard

If you've ever wondered why it's so difficult to manage and share files in Windows, you'll be delighted with two significant new features in Windows 7.

These new capabilities, called Libraries and Homegroups, make finding files and connecting with resources on other PCs so easy you'll think you're using a Mac!

Windows 7 packs an entire laundry list — nay, several laundry lists — of changes. These include little user-interface tweaks, new glitz and gewgaws, shored-up security (again), reams of troubleshooting tools, and better support for third-party hardware and software.

In sharp contrast to the more, more, more of past Windows revisions, there's much less, less, less in Win7. As I mentioned in my Feb. 19 column (paid content), Windows 7 banishes many old applications and replaces them with downloadable Windows Live Essentials. The "Essentials" vary from the useful Windows Live Messenger to the arguably competitive Windows Live Photo Gallery to the hopelessly inept Windows Live Movie Maker beta.

As you would expect, there's lots to learn about Windows 7, but there's also lots to like about it. You can get a sneak peek at the new release's new features on Microsoft's Windows 7 site. To find out whether your PC is ready for the new OS, download and run the beta of the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from Microsoft's download page.

Two of my favorite new Windows 7 features illustrate the complete redesign of the operating system's plumbing: the Libraries feature brings much-needed generality to the problem of organizing and finding files; and the Homegroups capability makes it easy to share files and hardware on a network, obviating the old obfuscation.

When used together, these two new Windows 7 tools offer unprecedented power for setting up and maintaining a home or small-office network in a way that just makes sense. (Are we sure this is a Microsoft product?)

Searching Libraries beats searching folders

Anyone who's used Windows Media Player in XP or Vista has encountered the Libraries concept. WMP starts with your personal Music folder and your PC's Public Music folder, then allows you to add other folders to this Library. For example, you can add a music folder on an external hard drive to WMP's Library or link to music folders on other networked computers or connect with a music folder on a Windows Home Server.

When you add a folder to WMP's Library, it doesn't copy the music. Instead, the program provides easy access to all of the song files in the Library, tracks them, and lets you search and work with them as a group.

There are no limitations to the folders you can add to a WMP Library. As long as your computer can get at the folders — the external drive is plugged into the computer, say, or there are no security rules blocking access to the other computer — WMP treats the music in those folders more or less the same way they would be treated if the files were stored on your own PC.

Windows 7 brings the WMP concept of Libraries to the entire Windows file system. You start with four libraries: Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos. As you would expect, the Pictures Library has your Pictures folder and the PC's Public Pictures Folder, Documents has your Documents folder and Public Documents, and so on. Very simple hooks let you add more folders to those Libraries or create entirely new Libraries.

When Microsoft reworked Windows 7's Library routines, the company also enhanced the OS's search function. To put it bluntly, searching a Win7 Library just plain works. Vista's search interface suffers from the late changes Microsoft made to the OS, which did away with some planned new features but retained vestiges that served only to bollix things up. By contrast, Win7's search interface benefits from a ground-up design and is much less confusing.

Here's the magical part: When an application running under Windows 7 looks for the Documents folder, Win7 hands it the entire Documents Library. If you start a graphics program and click File, Open, you don't go to your Pictures folder. Instead, you open up the Pictures Library.

Why is this a big deal? Imagine that you have a folder on another computer containing documents you commonly use. When you add that folder to your Documents Library, every time you crank up Word and click File, Open, the contents of that remote folder are staring right at you. By the way, Windows Media Player in Win7 doesn't need separate settings to handle Libraries, because Windows takes care of everything behind the scenes.

Think of Libraries as "Folders: The Next Generation."

Create virtual networks via Homegroups

If you've ever used a house key, you know how to use Homegroups. OK, that's Microsoft's analogy, and the process isn't quite that easy, but it's close.

First, some background: The first time you connect a Vista PC to a network, you're asked whether the network is Public, Work, or Home. If you dig deep into the bowels of Vista, however, you discover that there's no real difference between a Work network and a Home network.

By contrast, Windows 7's Home networks are special, because they allow you to set up Homegroups. It doesn't matter whether the network is really in your home, your home office, or a camouflaged Winnebago parked outside the Pentagon. Home networks get treated differently. (In Windows 7, Work networks and Public networks function pretty much the same way they do in Vista.)

If you identify a network as a Home network, Windows 7 reaches out to all the other Windows 7 computers on the network and asks whether they're part of something called a Homegroup. If Windows 7 finds a Homegroup, it asks you to provide the password for the Homegroup. Enter the correct password and — boom! You're suddenly attached and sharing all sorts of resources with other computers in the Homegroup.

There are no weird settings to decipher and none of Vista's 20 questions about Network Discovery, File Sharing, and Password-Protected Sharing. Just a nice, simple network — and creating it requires only a password and a couple of clicks.

If there's no pre-existing Homegroup, Windows 7 offers to set one up. Other Windows 7 computers on the network identify it as a "Home" network and can link to it simply by entering the Homegroup password. Easy — you know, the way it's supposed to be (thanks, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young).

By default, computers in a Homegroup share their Pictures, Music, and Video Libraries. Note: I'm talking about Libraries, not folders. The Homegroup members also share their printers by default. However, you're asked whether you want to share your Documents Library; some people will want to, while others won't, primarily for security purposes.

If Homegroups sound like precisely the kind of sharing you want for your small office, remember to tell Windows 7 that you're on a "Home" network. The rest of the process is as easy as falling off a log.

Homegroups and Libraries enhance file sharing

Say your small network has two Windows 7 computers connected to a Homegroup and each computer has two users. Every time you open Windows Explorer — for example, by clicking Start, Computer or Start, Pictures — Explorer's left navigation pane shows a Homegroup. Click it to access the Libraries for everyone in the Homegroup.

In this case, you can get into the other user's Libraries on your computer in addition to the Libraries for both of the users on the second computer.

If one of the users on the other computer adds a folder to her Music Library, for example, that folder is immediately available to you because you're in the same Homegroup. If somebody on the other computer downloads a bunch of photos from her camera into her Pictures folder, you can find them by going through her Pictures Library in the Homegroup.

Obviously, you don't want to share sensitive files — that's why the Homegroup setup makes sharing the Documents Library optional. But for most people, combining Libraries and Homegroups will make networking much easier and more flexible.

This is a tremendous improvement. Finally, disparate parts of Windows are starting to hang together. It's almost as if somebody planned it to work this way. Amazing! Now, if we could just get rid of those $#@! ribbons ....

Woody Leonhard's latest books — Windows Vista All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies and Windows Vista Timesaving Techniques For Dummies — explore what you need to know about Vista in a way that won't put you to sleep. He and Ed Bott also wrote the encyclopedic Special Edition Using Office 2007.

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KNOWN ISSUES

Pros and cons: When ISPs boot file sharers

By Dennis O'Reilly

Is it appropriate for ISPs to block their customers' access to the Internet because the music or movie industry accuses the users of illegally sharing copyrighted material?

Following WS contributing editor Becky Waring's May 7 Top Story on the matter, we heard from readers both for and against the new policy, which is gaining strength in legislatures around the world.

Imagine receiving a letter from your Internet service provider threatening to cut off your network access because a representative of the music or movie industry claims you've violated copyright by sharing a file without permission. In last week's story, Becky points out that Comcast, a major U.S. ISP, says it has sent more than 2 million such letters at the behest of the media industry. In other countries, even stronger measures are being adopted by governments.

Rob Martell takes issue with the process:

"I appreciate the article, but I am appalled that the RIAA (MPAA, too) gets away with the tactics it employs. Why are governments bending over backwards for this one industry? And they are apparently still suing people, from the last Ars Technica story I saw.

"Where is the 'innocent until proven guilty' bit in there? It isn't — no due process, no trial, just the suspicion, that's all it takes. I've heard the French law is having troubles, however [according to a May 6 USA Today article], but still. The truly appalling bit is that this snooping is condoned just for this industry."

Among the readers taking the opposing view is Jim O'Connor:

"I just finished the article by Becky Waring and was disturbed by the final paragraph. It was an excellent news article until it took a pro-piracy position. I would think the correct response would be that if you're concerned about the privacy of your Web downloads, don't steal.

"I have seen the attitude for years: 'It's only software and I want it, so it's fine to just take it.' This now applies to music and movies. I once moderated a pre-Internet BBS games forum (dating myself) and was appalled at the prevalence of this attitude.

"Many people — myself included — think that some charges for software are excessive, but so are the costs of automobiles and we still buy them (well, most people anyway). I would hope that an industry-leading publication such as yours would support what is legal and not what a group of people want to hear."

In Becky's defense, she mentioned the Tor Project, an anonymizing service, for anyone who wants to protect the privacy of one's communications, not for piracy. Many professionals are legally obligated to keep the details of, say, proposed mergers from becoming public prematurely, and ISP monitoring of communications could compromise this.

Also questioning Becky's reference to the Tor Project was Fred Sagen:

"I'm always interested in the depth of thought that goes into the Windows Secrets newsletters and the valuable information contained therein.

"So I followed the link to the Tor Project overview and thought, 'How inventive.' But then it occurred to me that if this project depends on anonymously relaying an anonymous user's communications to an anonymous recipient, how do you know that you're not assisting and enabling criminal or terrorist networks?

"It seems to me that paranoia over Big Brother's perceived intrusions into our privacy has allowed us to lose sight of the ostensibly clear reasons that Big Brother has a legitimate need to know what we collectively and individually do and how we do it.

"I feel that the Tor Project is a knee-jerk response to that paranoia and puts us all at greater risk from those who would do us more harm than any commercial enterprise or government body could wreak upon us.

"Please reassure me that my fears are unfounded or that your newsletter will more carefully consider the consequences of the recommendations it makes to its readers."

There's nothing inherently criminal about protecting your privacy on the Internet. Yes, some people use anonymizing services such as Tor to communicate about illegal schemes. But that's no reason for legitimate businesspeople to expose all their private information on the unencrypted Internet.

Reader Bob Primak points out one alternative that promises to protect our privacy while offering no safe haven for criminals:

"Becky Waring did a good job of presenting a growing threat to personal freedoms and privacy. For those interested in VPN proxy services, the paid version of Comodo Internet Security offers such a service. It has unlimited bandwidth usage per month, costs nothing if the CIS subscription is purchased at the same time ($49 per year), and promises anonymity.

"Comodo does not promote the service for file sharing and promises to prosecute anyone using their VPN service for illegal purposes. User information is kept on file at Comodo. The service is designed to provide end-to-end security and encryption for public Wi-Fi hotspot users and can be purchased as a standalone [service], also for $49 per year.

"Other security vendors are starting to offer similar services. Again, the purpose is not to thwart the RIAA or MPAA but to allow better privacy at public Wi-Fi hotspots. The protections against Hollywood's thugs are only a side benefit, IMHO."

Comodo may offer a good service, but I must point out that Softpedia.com, a major download site, has removed Comodo Internet Security because the program falls under Softpedia's definition of adware. According to Softpedia's explanation, SafeSurf — a component included with Comodo Internet Security — is not necessary for normal operation and is intended primarily to generate revenue for the vendor. More important, Softpedia reports that Comodo Internet Security's installer attempts to change your browser's default search service and home page, again in an effort to generate revenue. Buyer beware.

Readers Rob, Jim, Fred, and Bob will each receive a gift certificate for a book, CD, or DVD of their choice for sending comments we printed. Send us your tips via the Windows Secrets contact page.

The Known Issues column brings you readers' comments on our recent articles. Dennis O'Reilly is technical editor of WindowsSecrets.com.

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WACKY WEB WEEK

Run for the border and sing for your supper!

By Katy Abby

Who knew the best place to catch some local music might be at your neighborhood fast-food joint? Drive-throughs may not seem like a hotbed for creativity, but try telling that to these two folksy foodies. Watch as they crank out the croons and order up a fiesta-sized feast.

Thanks to reader Jeff Smith for tipping us off to these imaginative amigos. I suddenly have an insatiable hankering for some Tex-Mex .... Play the video

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BONUS DOWNLOAD

Find a great company whether you need it or not
Our free bonus this month for all Windows Secrets subscribers, free and paid, is based on Andy Lester's new book, Land the Tech Job You Love. It's packed with helpful how-tos on writing killer résumés, completing job applications, securing those valuable employment interviews, and more. The printed book won't be available until June, but all subscribers can receive an excerpt of two enlightening chapters simply by visiting their preferences page between now and June 3. After saving your preferences, a download link will appear. Thanks! —Brian Livingston, editorial director

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We love it when you include the links shown below in e-mails to your friends. This is better than forwarding your copy of our e-mail newsletter. (When our newsletter is forwarded, some recipients click "report as spam," and corporate filters start blocking our e-mails.)

The following link includes all articles this week: http://WindowsSecrets.com/comp/090514

Free content posted on May 14, 2009:

INTRODUCTION
By Brian Livingston
Learn how to avoid big mistakes by instinct

TOP STORY
By Woody Leonhard
Two big reasons why you'll like Windows 7
Searching Libraries beats searching folders
Create virtual networks via Homegroups
Homegroups and Libraries enhance file sharing

KNOWN ISSUES
By Dennis O'Reilly
Pros and cons: When ISPs boot file sharers

WACKY WEB WEEK
By Katy Abby
Run for the border and sing for your supper!

You get all of the following in our paid content:

	LANGALIST PLUS By Fred Langa Leave Windows' space-hogging WinSxS folder alone Huge WinSxS folder gobbles up disk space Can you save space by capping the pagefile size? More on laptops with no CD or DVD drive Gather ye scattered photo files while ye may
	BEST SOFTWARE By Scott Spanbauer Top remote-access tools are fast and safe Windows' own remote access comes up short Premium features at a premium price Remote access with a touch of Big Brother Free, open-source remote-access alternative Similar apps may do almost as much for you
	PATCH WATCH By Susan Bradley Finally! An Office service pack you can remove Don't rush to install this Office service pack PowerPoint zero-day hole finally gets patched Windows 7 receives its first security update .NET Framework 3.5 gets another revamp Zero-day vulnerability in Adobe apps patched Mac users, it's time to get patching! Iceskating in Hades? Apple thanks Microsoft Do consumers need a hardened version of XP?

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YOUR SUBSCRIPTION

The Windows Secrets Newsletter is published weekly on the 1st through 4th Thursdays of each month, plus occasional news updates. We skip an issue on the 5th Thursday of any month, the week of Thanksgiving, and the last two weeks of August and December. Windows Secrets resulted from the merger of several publications: Brian's Buzz on Windows and Woody's Windows Watch in 2004, the LangaList in 2006, and the Support Alert Newsletter in 2008.

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Editorial Director: Brian Livingston. Senior Editor: Ian Richards. Editor-at-Large: Fred Langa. Technical Editor: Dennis O'Reilly. Program Director: Tony Johnston. Program Manager: Ryan Biesemeyer. Web Developer: Damian Wadley. Research Director: Katy Abby. Copyeditor: Roberta Scholz. Contributing Editors: Susan Bradley, Scott Dunn, Mark Joseph Edwards, Michael Lasky, Woody Leonhard, Ryan Russell, Becky Waring.

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