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Windows 10 versions: How are they different?Buyers are not short of choices when it comes to Windows products. Apart from the long list of apps available in the Microsoft Store, there are also multiple options for the Windows 10 operating system (OS). Windows 10 comes in different tiers — Home, Pro, and S — and each was made to address specific […]

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07 Oct, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 10 s, 2020october7windows_b, home, microsoft, operating system, pro, Security, software, virtualization, Windows, windows 10 category
Windows 10 versions: How are they different?

Buyers are not short of choices when it comes to Windows products. Apart from the long list of apps available in the Microsoft Store, there are also multiple options for the Windows 10 operating system (OS). Windows 10 comes in different tiers — Home, Pro, and S — and each was made to address specific needs and lifestyles. Choosing the right Windows 10 version can be confusing, so we’ve made it simpler by listing the similarities and differences of each.

Windows 10 Home

As its name suggests, Windows 10 Home is designed for home and personal use. It comes bundled with key Windows 10 features, such as the Microsoft Edge browser and the voice-enabled virtual assistant Cortana. It also gives access to Microsoft's cloud storage service OneDrive and provides 5 GB of cloud storage per individual user. However, Windows 10 Home doesn’t come with Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Instead, it gives you a 30-day free trial of Microsoft 365.

In terms of security, Home has fairly basic protections. It has Windows Defender Antivirus software, Windows Hello biometric logins that use face or fingerprint authentication, and rudimentary device encryption to keep data breaches at bay. Those with multiple Windows devices will also love the mobile device management app, which allows them to track and control app usage for connected smartphones and tablets.

To explore new apps, Home users can sign up for the Windows Insider program, but since this version is light on features, there is usually a limited selection of early release apps to play with.

Windows 10 Pro

If you plan to use your computer for work, the Pro version is the right OS for you. One of its most notable features is Hyper-V, which allows you to create virtual machines (VMs) on Windows 10. These VMs can be used to deliver computing resources from a powerful computer to other machines connected to the network, making resource provisioning a breeze.

Considering that businesses are usually targeted by cybercriminals, Windows 10 Pro offers more robust security than Home. In addition to Windows Defender, this version comes with whole disk encryption, Enterprise Data Protection, and Azure Active Directory — an identity management service used to set up and enforce access policies for apps and devices.

Rolling out updates for all computers is also incredibly easy with Pro’s Windows Update for Business service. From a central console, you can manage how and when Windows 10 devices are updated so that they don’t disrupt day-to-day operations.

Windows 10 S

Windows 10 S is focused on simplicity, security, and speed. More specifically, it greatly restricts security and other settings, resulting in faster performance. In fact, while S-powered computers have fewer features than Pro, they are reported to boot 15 seconds faster than Pro machines.

Windows 10 S’s relatively low hardware requirements make it perfect for startups and schools that tend to purchase low-cost PCs. And if you want more features, you can upgrade from 10 S at an affordable price.

What sets 10 S apart from the other Windows 10 versions is that it can only run applications available on the Windows Store. What’s more, it requires you to use Microsoft Edge for surfing the web. Although these restrictions mean you don’t get to enjoy third-party apps, it also protects users from downloading dangerous apps and helps Microsoft easily root out malware.

Still not sure about which Windows 10 version you should purchase? Contact our experts today to get deeper insight. We’ll even install and maintain Windows for you so you can focus on being productive!

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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7 Tips on customizing your Windows 10 PCGetting tired of looking at the same old interface of your Windows PC? That’s not a problem with Windows 10. Here are some of the many ways you can customize your PC and make it a better fit for your work or leisure needs. Change your themes The most notable way to personalize Windows 10 […]

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16 Sep, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2020september16windows_b, customization, microsoft, personalization, preferences, settings, virtual desktops, Windows, windows 10 category
7 Tips on customizing your Windows 10 PC

Getting tired of looking at the same old interface of your Windows PC? That’s not a problem with Windows 10. Here are some of the many ways you can customize your PC and make it a better fit for your work or leisure needs.

Change your themes

The most notable way to personalize Windows 10 is by changing your background and lock screen images. Do this by right-clicking anywhere on your desktop and choosing Personalize. Here, you can choose and preview different backgrounds and themes you can use. You can even add new themes by using images from your gallery or by clicking Get more themes in the Microsoft Store.

Use dark mode

Want to give your Windows 10 an edgier feel? Right-click on your desktop and choose Personalize. Go to Colors. Under Choose your color, select Dark. This changes the colors of your windows and menus from white or gray to black, and text from black to white. The colors on websites and third-party apps remain unchanged, however.

To restore your default settings, repeat the process but click Light.

Virtual desktops

If you’re having trouble separating your work files from your personal files, try creating a virtual desktop. Press the Windows key + TAB to show all your open windows. Click on the Add a new desktop button at the upper left corner of your screen to create a virtual desktop. While viewing your open windows, you can click and drag windows from one desktop to another.

To quickly switch between desktops, use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + Windows key + left/right arrow. Remove a virtual desktop by pressing Windows key + TAB. Click on the X button on the desktop you want to erase.

App snapping

App snapping is not exactly a new feature, but Windows 10 lets you snap any app in place. Snap an app window by dragging it into any of the four corners of your screen. This changes your window to a fourth of your screen size, allowing you to view multiple windows at once. You can have a maximum of four separate windows simultaneously open in your monitor.

Reorganize your Start Menu

To add a little more “you” to your Windows PC, you can customize how your apps are arranged on the Start menu. For one, you can resize the Start menu by simply dragging the top or right side of the menu.

You can also resize the live tiles by right-clicking on them and selecting Resize. You can also rearrange application tiles by dragging them anywhere around the Start menu. If you won’t be using a particular application, simply right-click the tile and select Unpin from Start. On the other hand, if you want to pin applications to the Start menu, right-click on an app and choose Pin to Start.

For even faster access to apps, simply pin the programs to the taskbar.

Change color themes

Is the plain black Start menu not doing it for you anymore? Just right-click on your desktop, choose Personalize, go to Color, and select any accent color that pleases you. Tick the checkboxes under Show accent color on the following surfaces if you want this color applied to the Start menu, taskbar, action center, and title bars.

Disable notifications

We don’t know where you stand on app notifications, but if you absolutely hate them and wish to never get them ever again, press the Windows key and click on the gear icon to open your Settings. Click System and select Notifications & Actions. Switch off whatever app notifications you don’t want.

Switch up and personalize your Windows 10 however you like by using some or all of these options. If you want more ways to personalize your desktop or if you need information on anything Windows 10-related, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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A little desktop tidiness goes a long wayYou may have the habit of putting apps and files that need your immediate attention on your desktop, but not of deleting or moving these to their proper folders when you’re through with them. What you end up with is a mess that makes it hard to find what you need and easy to lose […]

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28 Aug, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2020august28windows_b, arranging windows desktop, cluttered desktop, desktop clutter, Windows, windows 10, windows 10 tips, windows tips category
A little desktop tidiness goes a long way

You may have the habit of putting apps and files that need your immediate attention on your desktop, but not of deleting or moving these to their proper folders when you’re through with them. What you end up with is a mess that makes it hard to find what you need and easy to lose important files forever. Prevent this by following our tips on clearing your desktop.

1. Arrange, sort, and prioritize

Before you go about deleting everything from your desktop, think about what you really want to keep. This will vary from person to person, but most people use their desktop for storing files, folders, and app shortcuts that they want to access quickly.

Take the time to prioritize your files and folders. An easy way to do this is to right-click on an empty area of your desktop (where there are no icons) and select Auto arrange icons. This will organize your icons into a grid format that makes it easier for you to see and work with them. Then, right-click on the empty space and hover your mouse over Sort by and select Date modified to arrange the icons by the date they were last opened, with the latest on top.

2. Create a folder for holding files and another for keeping app shortcuts

People often use their desktop to hold files like downloads, photos, screenshots, and even email attachments. This can lead to a messy desktop in a short period of time.

In truth, you probably don’t need all these shortcuts on your desktop. Instead, create a folder on your desktop that will serve as your dumping ground for all your nonessential files and folders.

If you don’t intend to keep a file, icon, photo, etc. for long, put it in this folder. Revisit this folder every once in a while to delete the files you no longer need.

It also helps if you create a shortcut folder. When you install new programs on Windows, a shortcut icon is often automatically added to your desktop. However, these desktop shortcuts should be for frequently used programs only. Create a separate folder for programs that aren’t used that often.

3. Be ruthless in cleaning

Once you have your folders set up, it’s time to get rid of the clutter. If you haven’t used a file, folder, etc. in the past two months or so, you should seriously consider getting rid of it.

Examine your desktop and be ruthless in cleaning:

  • Uninstall programs you no longer use.
  • Delete unimportant files, such as screenshots you no longer need.
  • Place the rest in relevant folders.

Once you’ve completed these, check your browser to see where it stores downloaded files. If your browser downloads files onto your desktop by default, go to Settings and change the target location to the Downloads folder.

4. Maintain order

Once you have decluttered your desktop, you must stick to the rules you’ve made. Whenever you download something, ask yourself whether this should go to the desktop, your dumping folder, or someplace else.

Of course, sticking with these rules won’t always be easy, so take time once or twice a month to revisit your desktop and clean it up a bit.

5. Use the taskbar or Start menu for apps

With Windows 10, you can pin apps to the Start menu and the taskbar. This is a great alternative to having program shortcuts on your desktop. To pin apps, open your apps list (i.e., click the Start menu icon at the bottom left corner of the screen) and right-click on the application you would like to pin. Simply select Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar for the option you want.

6. Choose a wallpaper you love looking at

An interesting way to minimize clutter is to pick a wallpaper that you enjoy looking at — whether it’s your favorite slogan, a photo of your family, or a picture of your dream house, car, or destination. Having an image you like serves as a reminder to keep icons to a minimum, so if you can’t see the image anymore, then you have too many icons, and it may be time to get rid of a few.

If you are looking to learn more about using Windows in your office, contact us today to see how we can help.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Optimize your new laptop with these tipsLaptop computers aren’t cheap, so you’d want to make sure you get every bit of performance for your buck. Bear in mind that they may not be set up to function at their best straight out of the box, so to do just that, you’ll need to take these steps. 1. Update your laptop’s operating […]

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19 Aug, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2020august19hardware_b, bloatware, Hardware, laptop, mac, operating system, pc, vpn, Windows category
Optimize your new laptop with these tips

Laptop computers aren’t cheap, so you’d want to make sure you get every bit of performance for your buck. Bear in mind that they may not be set up to function at their best straight out of the box, so to do just that, you’ll need to take these steps.

1. Update your laptop’s operating system

One of the first things you should do before using your laptop is to update its operating system (OS). Assuming you did not purchase the laptop when it was first released, it will still be running an older OS. Because important patches and fixes are released with each new update, you must install the latest ones to ensure your laptop doesn’t have vulnerabilities that malicious third parties can exploit.

2. Remove bloatware

When turning on your laptop for the first time, you might notice that there are several preloaded software in the system — some of which you will probably never use. These are known as bloatware.

These apps take up a lot of your valuable drive space, so consider getting rid of them. The easiest way to do this is by downloading a bulk uninstaller, which allows you to check all the bloatware apps you don’t want and remove them in one fell swoop.

3. Install protection software

It’s no secret that there are cybercriminals who would steal sensitive data, such as your account credentials, protected health information, and sensitive company files. It is therefore necessary to protect yourself from losing important data from your computer. The solution to this is very simple. By installing antivirus software that can scan your computer at a scheduled time or whenever you feel like it, you can thwart potential attacks.

Not only is the data stored in your laptop vulnerable to cyberattacks, but there is always a chance that your laptop will get lost or stolen. While there are preventive steps you can take — such as being mindful while using your laptop in public places — installing anti-theft software like Find My Device for Windows 10 can help you locate your device if it’s ever stolen or misplaced.

4. Optimize your power settings

One of the most frequent problems that laptop users have is that their batteries run out of juice too fast. However, you can actually extend the battery life by making a few tweaks to your power settings.

Reduce your display brightness, but not so much that it causes eye and mental fatigue.
Use the Sleep or Hibernate mode for your operating system.

5. Set up a backup plan

Imagine spending months working on an important project and suddenly finding it corrupted because your laptop crashed. Deadlines will be missed. Profit margins will decrease. Customers will leave unhappy. And if worse comes to worst, you’ll be out of business.

Why add stress if you can prevent it from happening in the first place? By setting up an automatic backup system, you can regularly save all your important files. This way, you’d still be able to recover your data should anything happen to the original file.

You can also store all your important documents in the cloud, which ensures access whenever you need it, even if your laptop crashes or gets stolen.

Getting a new laptop can be fun, but the joy might be short-lived if you don’t set up any preventive measures from the start. Call us for information on how we can help you secure your company’s laptops today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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