The best free way to speed up your computer has to be by removing unnecessary startup items using System Configuration Utility. When you log into windows, many programs can start themselves automatically. Some of these are helpful while others just take up precious computer resources. You can easily see a list of these programs using the System Configuration Utility.

The quickest way to access this valuable tool is by going to the Start Menu and clicking Run. In the Run box, type in “msconfig” (without the quotes) and press OK. If you are using Windows Vista, you may not see Run listed on the Start Menu. Instead, type “msconfig” in the search bar at the bottom of the Start Menu and press enter.

Once you have the System Configuration window open, click the Startup tab. All of the items listed here are small programs or helper applications that are set to run as soon as you log into Windows. It may be hard to decipher what some of these programs are, but a quick Google search should provide more than enough information.

Each item has a checkbox on the left which determines whether or not it will run when the computer is logged on. Go through the list and clear the checkbox for any unnecessary programs. Be careful not to disable anything that may be related to anti-virus software or the computer hardware. Click OK and restart the computer.

After restarting, a pop up window will appear with the message “You have used the System Configuration Utility to make changes to the way Windows starts.” Put a check in the box at the bottom next to “Don’t show this message or launch the System Configuration Utility when Windows starts” and click OK.

If you were able to remove a lot of programs form the startup list, you may immediately notice a dramatic improvement in your computer’s performance.

Digg is a website that allows people to share interesting content found on other websites. Unlike a typical blog or news site, you won’t find any original content on Digg. Instead, you’ll see links to articles on other sites along with brief descriptions about those articles.

So Digg is just a bunch of links with no actual content? What’s the big deal? The wonderful thing about Digg is that thousands of users rate the submitted links. The end result is a high quality list of interesting websites.

There are several ways to submit a link to Digg. Many websites have Digg icons built in.

If you click the Digg icon and the story has not yet been submitted to Digg, you will arrive at the “Submit a New Link” page.

Enter a title for your Digg and add a brief description about the article. Next, choose which topic best describes your story and make sure everything looks okay in the preview.

Finally, enter the text from the image into the space to the left and click “Submit Story”.

If you are not the first person to submit the link to Digg, all you have to do is click “digg” and your vote will be counted.

Most people would agree that records and cassette tapes are a little out dated. Some would also say that CD’s are old fashioned too, thanks to computers, MP3’s, and iTunes. But digital media is still relevant right? I don’t think so, at least not for long. I would even go so far as to say that the whole concept of “owning” music is on its way out.

Why do people buy music anyway? My best guess is that it’s so they can listen to it as they please with no commercial interruptions. In the past, the only way to control the music was to own it yourself on plastic disks or on your computer hard drive. What you are essentially paying for is a way to get the music from the artist to your ears.

Buying music does give your control, but it’s not very effeciant. CD’s can be cracked, scratched, broken, lost or stolen. MP3’s can disappear if a computer dies and they are not properly backed up. Even if no disasters occur, the songs are still trapped in their physical container. You may be at work while your music is stuck in mp3’s or CD’s at your house.

Lately, several websites have popped up that are changing the way people listen to music. My two favorite are Pandora Radio (http://www.pandora.com) and Slacker Radio (http://www.slacker.com). Both of these websites give you access to an enormous music library where you can create custom internet radio stations. You can pause, skip and ban songs too.  Both sites also allow you to rate the music and will give you recommendations based on those ratings. You can even listen to them in your car from a phone with a data plan.

There are many other great features to these websites, but I expect that this is the beginning of a new trend that will expand well beyond music. Why buy something when you have it available anywhere at any time. You can already watch TV shows and movies for free online on Hulu (http://www.hulu.com). What’s next? Computer programs? Check out Google Docs (http://docs.google.com).  The computers themselves? Take a look at Windows Live SkyDrive (http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive). Maybe early technology adopters will soon be identified by how little technology they own.                                                                                                         

If you just got a new computer, you may have noticed that Microsoft Office 2007 looks quite a bit different from the 2003 version. Luckily, Microsoft has created interactive websites to ease your transition.Click on the links below and then click Start the Guide.

Interactive Excel 2003 to Excel 2007 command reference guide

Interactive Word 2003 to Word 2007 command reference guide

Just wondering where the "File" menu went along with all the important commands like "Save As..." and "Print"? Click the Office logo in the top left corner.