And I decided that when I discover something, I want to share it with like-minded appreciative people.  Hence, the starting of Pulse 2.0 Random Computer Tips.  Perhaps I’ll eventually integrate some sort of rating system and filtering system for each tips as time goes by.  Shan, another editor of Pulse 2.0 also spends a lot of time programming PHP and CSS and he tells me that he likes sharing information and techniques that he uses, so he’ll probably start using Pulse 2.0 as a means of communicating ideas and code.

Without further ado…

Tip #1: Making text easier to read on Windows XP

I often find myself switching back-and-forth between Internet Explorer 6.0 and Internet Explorer 7.0.  I like Internet Explorer’s clear fonts, but I’m not a big fan of their tab system.  For some reason, Internet Explorer’s tab system runs slower than Mozilla Firefox’s and tends to slow down my system.  But the font in Internet Explorer 7.0 seems as crisp as Apple Safari’s default fonts. 

I randomly discovered a feature in Windows XP that allows you to see fonts just as clear as Apple Safari’s default font settings.  Check out the below screen shot:

Notice the pull-down menu that says Standard and ClearType?  The default for Windows XP is Standard, which I don’t understand since ClearType is… well clearer.  To set this up, right click on the Desktop and click on the Appearance tab, then click on the Effects button.  After doing this, select ClearType under “Use the following methods to smooth edges of screen fonts” and make sure that it is checkmarked.  You will instantly notice the font become sharper. 

If you have any computer tips that you would like to share on Pulse 2.0 and would like to receive credit for/anonymously, please write to amit[at]Pulse2[dot][com].