Book Giveaway: Priceless Computer Tips at Your Fingertips

By Kasia Lorenc
December 29, 2011

I’ve been addicted to computer shortcuts, tips and tricks for a number of years now. They help me work smarter and get more done. I’m talking about Windows 7 tips, Office 2010 shortcuts, and really anything that helps me improve my productivity at work and at home.

Recently, I came across a great book that offers some very unique Windows 7 and Office 2010 tips that have proven to be huge time-savers for me.

The book, written by Sudhir Diddee who is a Microsoft employee, is titled Priceless Computer Tips at Your Fingertips and lists 99 tips on Windows, OneNote, Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and more.

Each of the 99 tips is presented with a short scenario explaining the benefits of the tip and when and how to take advantage of it.

Increase Your Productivity with 99 Time-Saving Tips

If you’re wanting to be more productive — or you’d like to help someone else get more done — check out Sudhir’s book:

Book Giveaway: Enter to Win Before January 30^th, 2012

Sudhir was kind enough to sign 3 copies of his new book (paperback color edition) and we will be giving them away on Tuesday, January 31^st 2012. Which means you have until then to submit your entry to win one of the books.

To enter to win all you have to do is leave a comment on this post with your favorite Windows or Office shortcut, tip or trick — something you use on a daily basis that helps you save time and be more productive.

Please read the official contest rules at the end of this post and best of luck!

My Favorite “Priceless Computer Tip”

Now, let me tell you about my favorite new tip.

While reading Sudhir’s book I came across tip #19 on setting up rules in Outlook 2010. Of course, I knew about this popular Outlook feature but never truly understood the benefit until reading this scenario and seeing how different rules can help organize my inbox for me. I get so much email, having to manage multiple inboxes, that I truly feel overwhelmed and keeping my inboxes empty has become mission impossible.

Here’s how Sudhir explains the benefits of Outlook rules in his book:

“One of the biggest problems people face is e-mail overload. However, most of the e-mail can be easily managed by setting rules where e-mails from certain people or teams can go directly into a particular folder. For example, e-mails from your manager can be routed into a separate folder. E-mails sent to you where you are in the “cc line” can go to a different folder, or your e-mail stock alerts can go to your investing folder.”

This short description is followed by detailed steps and diagrams that show you how to create and edit rules in Outlook.

After spending approximately 30 minutes setting up my Outlook rules I now get to save at least 30 minutes each day not having to organize my emails by priority before tackling the responses. My New Year’s resolution for 2012 is to keep up with my emails and I’m confident that this quick tip will help stay on top of my mail.

So, that’s my favorite new tip. What’s yours?

Official Contest Rules:

Please read through all of the official stuff below before entering:

No purchase necessary to enter or win. By entering you agree to our use of your name in any TrainSignal literature.

Binding Agreement
In order to enter TrainSignal’s Priceless Computer Tips at Your Fingertips Book Giveaway (the “Contest”), you must agree to these Official Contest Rules (the “Rules”); please read this entire document prior to entry to ensure you understand and agree. You agree that submission of an entry in the Contest constitutes agreement to the Rules. The Rules form a binding legal agreement between you and TrainSignal, Inc with respect to the Contest.

Eligibility
The Contest is open to all individuals 18 years and older. Current TrainSignal employees are not eligible. Only one entry per person, per day. In order for your entry to be eligible it must meet all of the requirements as listed above. Entries that do not include all of the requirements are deemed ineligible.

How to Enter
To enter the contest you must submit a comment listing your favorite Windows or Office tip, trick or shortcut. Any comments submitted that do not include this will not be eligible to win. You must submit your comment before January 22nd, 2012. Any entries received after the contest deadline will be deemed invalid.

Prizes
All Prizes are not redeemable in cash and must be accepted as awarded. By claiming the prize, the winner authorizes the use, without additional compensation of his or her name and municipality of residence for promotion and advertising purposes as deemed appropriate by TrainSignal, Inc. Any potential winner who cannot be contacted by email within 14 days of the first attempted notification will forfeit his/her prize.

Privacy
Participants agree that personal data including name, mailing address, phone number and email address will be collected and used for purposes of administering the Contest. If a Participant does not provide the required data when requested, the Participant’s Entry will be ineligible for any prizes. All personal data collected will be maintained in accordance with Train Signal’s Privacy Policy which all Participants should read and understand.

Contest Sponsor
The Contest is sponsored by TrainSignal, Inc, 152 W. Center Court, Schaumburg, Illinois 60462.

Discussion

11 comments and trackbacks for “Book Giveaway: Priceless Computer Tips at Your Fingertips”

Comments

Train Signal Team Member
Posted by Eric on December 29, 2011, 1:12 pm

I know it seems like a common one, but I’m surprised how many people don’t know about Alt+Tab to switch between open programs. Try Windows+Tab for even more fun.
Posted by Kunle Akinloye on December 29, 2011, 1:48 pm

My favourite tip is the use of the Godmode In Windows 7 which is very useful for desktop support engineers that work with Windows 7 workstations in an ICT enterprise. The Godmode feature integrates into a single console all the applets and options you may need to deal with the request of any user that works on a Windows 7 workstation, thereby making end user support more efficient and easier.

It can be created by creating a new folder and giving it the name within the following quotation marks “Everything.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}”

This is indeed a powerful tip for desktop support and end user support engineers any day.
Posted by Chris Skelly on December 30, 2011, 7:56 pm

One I use all the time as a network admin is WinKey + R. Then from there I can launch windows services (Services.msc) or most likely a command prompt window with the basic (cmd)

Awesome tip Kunle! I use Godmode all the time too!
Posted by Mike Webb on January 3, 2012, 6:22 am

I like ALT+Print Screen to capture the active window. Really helps sometimes when working with end-users to show them something.
Posted by Mike Preston on January 3, 2012, 7:58 am

Nice Work on that Everything Godmode trick! I’ve never seen that before..thanks that’s great! The best trick/tip i’ve got is just to launch your start menu and begin typing whatever you are looking for, more than likely it will find it!
Posted by Free on January 3, 2012, 9:47 am

Thanks for your effrts!!!
Posted by Tom Walker on January 3, 2012, 5:47 pm

Mike Webb mentioned using “Alt Print Screen”, which I find very useful on a daily basis.

Another tool I use almost daily is the “Snipping Tool”, introduced in Windows Vista and also exists in Windows 7. This is a good tool to use when you need to focus on just one particular item or area in a given window. This can be very handy when you want to teach or show someone how to use something in an application such as Excel or an interesting photo on a crowded WEB page. The Snippet file can be easily emailed and viewed by your intended audience making it a nice addition for end user support.
Posted by ES on January 4, 2012, 12:48 pm

I use Linux Mint and Libre Office. So, I guess I really can’t participate in this contest. But with the money I saved, I can by more than ten books like that
Posted by JLP001 on January 23, 2012, 8:59 am

Best trick is docking a window to the left or to the right of your screen by pressing WIN+Left Arrow or WIN+Right Arrow
Posted by Kunle Akinloye on January 26, 2012, 1:31 pm

Is this contest over ? I want to know the final decision.
Post Author
Posted by Kasia Lorenc on February 15, 2012, 2:02 pm

Hi Kunle,

Yes the contest is over and the three winners were emailed; they are:

Chris Skelly
Tom Walker
Danesh Ashok