Windows Tools, Help & Guides

Guest post by Arthur Clyne

Cloud based storage allows users to easily access their personal files and documents on remote servers and share files across multiple devices such as computers, tablets and smartphones. Up until recently, Dropbox has happily dominated the personal storage market. With the recent launch of Google and Microsoft’s much anticipated cloud services—Google Drive and Microsoft SkyDrive—the war drums are officially sounding!

Here we’ll look at capacity, integration and operating system compatibility to see how SkyDrive fares against the Dropbox and Google Drive. Which cloud service will you choose?

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If you’ve used PCs for years or haven’t used some of the older versions of Windows, you might appreciate The Restart Page—a site that displays the restart sequence for many of the older operating systems including Windows 1.1, 2000, XP, NeXT, and Apple operating systems.

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I have previously blogged here about CompanionLink, and I have been given some exciting news from them – they have confirmed with me that Windows 8 is now compatible.

It also syncs with Windows Live now as well, so it can connect to your Windows Phone.

CompanionLink are constantly adding new devices to sync with your contacts, for example the new Amazon Kindle Fire. They have also provided me with a promotional code, SYNCKINDLE, so that CompanionLink for Google is just $39.95.

Excel 2010, did not come with too may new features. It’s hard to come up with  ideas on how to improve something that is already a great product, I’m sure. But there was one new thing I’ve found quite useful: Sparklines.

Sparklines – What’s that ?

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I’d like to get to know more Windows Guides readers (add me on Google+); I’d also like to get your thoughts on Google+ and whether or not you think it will be a hit (add a comment.)

My thoughts thus far:

• I don’t like Social Networking because:
• I’m concerned about privacy
• I value my time online and find Facebook etc. encourages “wasting time”
• I like Google’s approach to privacy and hope they (Google’s engineers) either avoid security holes (best) or they’re quick to patch any security holes (still better than most social networking sites)
• I have spent about an hour on Google+ in the last week and feel it’s going in the right direction that’s needed to succeed

Time will tell how well Google+ does. Hopefully it’s a Gmail or a Search and not a Wave. They already have a big user base (whether the users are aware or not) as tools like Buzz, Reader, and +1 are heavily integrated in the tool already. By virtue of that, Google+ wont be a ghost town for long… I hope.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

Sign in to Google+ with your Google account.

While you’re at it, add me to a circle of yours: Rich Robinson – Google+ and keep up with the Windows posts I share there (as well as other, random, posts that may catch your attention.)

Ever wondered the history of Apple and Microsoft and wanted to know from where application “windows” and desktop icons etc. originated? manolution.com has put together an infographic with key points in history in the personal computer (and other items we use every day) race:

Please note: Stock prices don’t represent splits in Microsoft’s stock. See the market cap at the bottom of the infographic for a more accurate portrayal of the standing between the two companies.

The creator of the infographic has been given a hard time over many details. Just use this infographic as an education in the history of the companies and not the basis for a research paper between the two companies.

See the rest of the history here: Microsoft vs. Apple: The History of Computing (Infographic)