I have found two freeware applications for you that will do the trick. One plain and simple and one with a few more options.

This is also for those of you who desperately miss your MAC taskbar, but have to use XP at work or whatever. Curious? Read on!

Visual Task Tips (What you expect, is what you get)

Visual Task Tips is a straightforward little application that gives you exactly what you’d expect. A Thumbnail Preview. Nothing more, nothing less. Just Download and install.

Visual Task Tips Supports both 32bit and 64bit platforms.

Download here!

Visual Tooltip (The one for MAC lovers)

If you want more than just a preview, then Visual Tooltip is for you. Not only do you get the pretty Taskbar Thumbnails, you also get more.

You can control where the thumbnails appear as well as  how they appear.

With Visual Tooltip you can also replace your Windows Taskbar entirely with a
MAC-Look-A-Like Taskbar similar to the one found i OS X.

We previously covered this program here a couple of years ago and it seems to be running even more smoothly now.

Download here!

The MAC Cloned Taskbar

Further Reading

• MouseExtender is an iPhone-like Menu for Windows
• Acer Gridvista Enables Aero Snap Features [Vista and XP]
• DnsJumper (v1.0.3), Changing your DNS – How and why?
• Collection of 14 Free Windows Sidebar Gadgets [Chameleon Glass Style]
• Protect your Computer with a USB Flash Drive [Freeware]

The best way, sometimes, is using Remote Desktop. But this usually involves getting the already troubled users to download and install a small client of some sort and guide them through that.  And, well… Let’s just say I sometimes hate being the one they call. However…

I’ve come a cross a great tool for the job, which allows me to help without all that hassle – and best of all – it’s free !!

No Setup Problems

I’ve been using a free service from LogMeIn.com – which allows me to take full control over my friends and colleagues’ computers. The drawback is that they need to download and install a small application and register at the LogMeIn Website (with my guidance). The other drawback is that Once they are in my system – they stay there – for better or worse.

I just discovered that LogMeIn have a hidden treasure in their collection called LogMeIn Express that uses Flash. This little tool requires very little from the people in trouble. It is still in Beta, so there aren’t too much features yet but I’m sure there will be pretty soon.

No Download, No Setup, No Registering…

There is nothing to download or setup, only a small utility that the user sharing his/her desktop, need to activate via the website. The (up to 100) other users, only need a 9 digit key provided by the main user.

The Person sharing his desktop can choose which visitor to control his computer (if any). LogMeIn Express also support file-sharing and chat. Which is all you need, really.

Here’s How it works

Surf to: LogMeIn.com. As it’s still in Beta the URL is long, so I have made a short-URL for my own personal use, but feel free to use it: http://shorten.ws/LogMeIn.

Tell your friend in need, to visit the above website and click on Share, then Click Run to allow it. The utility will self-install and display a 9-digit serial number, which he or she need to give you. You type this number into the text field (on the above website) and.. wait for it … you are both online. Remote Desktop the easy way!

The toolbox is very self-explanatory. After all my 11-year-old daughter managed to chat with me after looking at it for  10 seconds, and she doesn’t even read English that well … yet. Anyways this is what it looks like:

The Chat window (shown above) opens automatically when the connection is set up. When you are done helping, just close the window and the application will uninstall itself. It cannot get any easier (or better).

The Session is online as long as the main desktop has the application running. If you need to take a break from the session, the main user may PAUSE the sharing without the need of closing it down. Also, on a dual monitor system the remote desktop will only show the main monitor.

LogMeIn Free

If you require the ability to remote control a desktop without having another user on the other computer to let you in. I recommend that you sign up for the Free Account at www.LogMeIn.com

Further Reading

• MouseExtender is an iPhone-like Menu for Windows
• Acer Gridvista Enables Aero Snap Features [Vista and XP]
• DnsJumper (v1.0.3), Changing your DNS – How and why?
• Best Windows Freebies and Guides 18 [September 2009]
• Protect your Computer with a USB Flash Drive [Freeware]

The creator of the package has done his best to tweak the gadgets to fit nicely with Windows Aero (tho not all are transparent). You get 14 gadgets like Calendar, Email, CPU-monitor, stats, recycle bin, weather and one that I really liked; The Radio Gadget. You can choose from a range of music categories or add your own URL. Start and stop your favorite station with a single click.

The Email Gadget checks your POP3 accounts at intervals of your choice and displays all new and unread emails. Hopefully they can get it to work with Hotmail, Yahoo, G-mail etc. very soon.

You can download it here: Download from DevianArt

Further Reading

• MouseExtender is an iPhone-like Menu for Windows
• Get Windows 7 Style Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in XP [How To]
• Acer Gridvista Enables Aero Snap Features [Vista and XP]
• DnsJumper (v1.0.3), Changing your DNS – How and why?
• Best Windows Freebies and Guides 18 [September 2009]

More Fonts

Check out more font collections on Mintywhite.com. Organize your fonts with Windows Fonts Explorer.

Simplistic

Cranberry Blues

Gubblebum

Vinegar

Thurston the Font

Evolution

Kingdom Font

Avant Garder

Contempory – Modern Font

Font bola

Further Reading

• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 44]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 43]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 42]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 41]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 40]

If you are making a PowerPoint presentation, poster, graphic, or anything that requires typography, you may find some of these fonts useful. There many free fonts out there but it is often hard to find good ones as there is so much choice and so many fonts are not very high quality. In these collections, I attempt to find the best free fonts out there and provide direct download links to them so you can start using them straight away. If you are unsure of how to install a font, learn here.

More Fonts

Check out more font collections on Mintywhite.com. Organize your fonts with Windows Fonts Explorer.

Modeno font

ABC – Version 2

Often tf

Estrya’s Handwriting

NOxWAY Font

GHOSTTOWN

Loveable Scruff

Cash Font

Monster Hunter

AB Exp

Further Reading

• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 25]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 45]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 43]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 42]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 41]

More Fonts

Check out more font collections on Mintywhite.com. Organize your fonts with Windows Fonts Explorer.

advent

Twilight Font

manu font

TYPORM01 Round ans Square

Alpha 1 Font

Barnes

TYPORM01R

bobsmade font

squair font

Further Reading

• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 25]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 45]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 44]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 42]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 41]

More Fonts

Check out more font collections on Mintywhite.com. Organize your fonts with Windows Fonts Explorer.

Philosopher

Layer Cake

Neighbourhood Type

Whiteboard Modern

Peace

Analogue vs. Digital

Tash

House M.D. Font

Trash co

Origram

fontHMG.01: re-noise

Further Reading

• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 45]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 44]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 43]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 41]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 40]

Check out more font collections on Mintywhite.com

RvD Printplate

Junction

Baby Blocks

Nadia Serif

Age 11

Pappo’s Blues

Taco Box

Bedini

Soraya

Pastas

Further Reading

• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 45]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 44]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 43]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 42]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 40]

Check out more font collections on Mintywhite.com

Nevis

Sausage

Prototype

Levi Brush

HVD Spencils

Painty Paint

309

Rowdy

Tattoo Ink

Taco Modern

Further Reading

• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 45]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 44]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 43]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 42]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 41]

Check out more font collections on Mintywhite.com

Slant

Steinzeit

Pepsi

Chunk Open Source

CartoGothic

Flaminia Type System

Bergamo Std

Danube

Poster

Neon Lights

Further Reading

• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 45]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 44]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 43]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 42]
• Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 41]