How to Run Windows Software on a Mac Using Parallels

So you’ve upgraded to a Mac. You’ve been sworn into the revered fraternity of Apple. Now what? How do you function in a world so captivated by Microsoft? How do you use your old Word documents, your Excel files, and your PowerPoint presentations? What happens to all the Microsoft software you’ve poured your money into over the years? Do you have to just buy everything all over again?

Not at all; for this very reason the computer virtuosos of the universe created Parallels. What the heck is Parallels? Parallels is a way to use Windows software on your Mac. It is a program that deciphers what you already have set up on your Windows computer and makes it available to use on your new Mac. Using this program, both Mac and Windows software can run concurrently.

Not only does Parallel allow you to conserve your software, it also allows you become gradually adapted to your new Mac. There are many alterations in Mac software versus Windows,and Parallel allows you to incorporate new learning experiences gradually instead of being immediately swamped by all new software. This will permit you to maintain your productivity,even in the chaos of such a radical change.

Additionally, Parallels are vital when it comes to matters like virtual private networks. VPNs often run with Windows-only software, so owning a Mac could cut you out of the loop. Avoid this issue by adding Parallels to your arsenal.

How to Install a Windows Virtual Machine – Video Tutorial

One of the paybacks of having a Mac with Parallels is the facility to run the beloved Mac OS,Snow Leopard, and have the capacity to run others, such as most versions of Linux and really all versions of Windows. Sure, you can use Boot Camp, which has been distributed as part of the Mac OS for some time, and merely load Windows separately; however, a lot of the time it makes more sense to run Windows and OS X simultaneously. Times like when the Mac version of Adobe’s CS suite is running, and perhaps some Mac exclusive software, but you still need to work with Windows only software, such as Visio, Visual Studio, or SQL.

There are different types of compatibility programs, besides Parallels, with VMware Fusion being the most popular. VMware does get the job done; however it does have problems. If you useMicrosoft’s Virtual PC (for Windows), and have to transfer virtual images into your Mac so you can work and search at home or on the go, you would be incapable of moving the images and using them with VMware. Parallels, however, is able to identify and receive images that have been used with Virtual PC without any issues. Parallels accepts every single OS and configuration without problems; the only thing you might uncover is that many of the virtual images request to be reactivated or, at times, even for the product key; which is not a problem since you should already have that information.

Not only is Parallels able to recognize those virtual images, but it also takes advantage of more of the Mac’s hardware, such as the GPU (graphics) therefore causing improved CPU performance, without slowing down the virtual machine nor the native OS.

VMwre and Parallels both get the job done. However if you’re in the technology industry and need to move virtual images from computer to computer repeatedly, than Parallels would be the top choice. A parallel is a very useful instrument for new Mac owners, particularly if you’ve never had or used a Mac before. Do your research and uncover which system will work best for your new Mac’s needs.

About the Author

This Guest post is by Christine Kane, a graduate of Communication and Journalism. She enjoys writing about a wide-variety of subjects including internet service for different blogs. She can be reached via email at: Christi.Kane00 @ gmail.com

Upgrade Your Home Office on a Budget

Nowadays, there’s a growing shift of professionals with fully fledged businesses, working from home. The perks of working from home are substantial, as individuals are able to wake up later, set their own hours and work in relative comfort. However, distractions can also plague the work-at-home professional, as children, phone calls, and the interruptions of daily life threaten productivity.

A home office creates a barrier between work life and personal life, reminding both you and others that this space is designated for work only. Don’t work from the dining room or out of the closet, a dedicated space will allow you to reach your full productivity and potential. For those on a tight budget, the following are tips that can help you upgrade your home office without straining your wallet.

1. Create a Plan – If you don’t have a designated home office, then taking the time to measure out your house plan can save you time in the long run. Instead of simply moving furniture about, understand where an office will best fit in your home. But for those that already have an office and are looking to upgrade the space, write out in detail exactly what you’ll need. Getting a firm idea beforehand will allow you to better plan and prepare ahead of time
2. Try using DIY – Is there anything you can do on your own? There are a lot of ways to upgrade your space without hiring a contractor. For example, painting the walls with a fresh color is a great way to change up the space at a low budget. In addition, if you are able to install electronics and use your own interior design sense, then you can save money on the long run.
3. Friends, Family and Neighbors – Your social network can provide many of the goods and services that are necessary for upgrading a home office. Know anyone that is cleaning out their space? This may be a good opportunity to obtain a new desk or bookcase for your office. In addition, if you have any friends or family members that possess home renovation skills, asking for their help may yield positive results.
4. Look for Bargains and Freebies – Furniture can quickly rack up quite a cost for any home office budget. However, instead of buying completely new furniture, look for bargains and freebies in a variety of sources. Garage sales, flea markets and thrift stores are always a good place to find cheap furniture, such as bookcases, desks and chairs. Certain furniture stores and office retail chains often sell refurbished or used goods at a fraction of their original cost. Finally, online advertisement sites such as Craigslist are a great way to find cheap or free furniture in your area.
5. Get Only What’s Necessary – You may be tempted to outfit your home office with the latest gadgets and elegant furniture, creating a home office that is visually stunning and appealing. However, remember that a home office is simply a place to work. Unless these elements would increase your productivity dramatically, you should consider whether such goods can reasonably fit within your budget. Equipping your office with the essentials will not only save your money, it will also protect your productivity from potential distractions and disturbances.

About the Author

Christine Cooney loves learning about architecture and modern house plans. She one day hopes to devise home plan for her own dream home.

Overview: Learn how to use PC Decrapifier to remove the trial software that came installed on your new computer.

Hey Dell, HP, Gateway, Sony, Toshiba – Thanks for Nothin’

Getting a new computer is so exciting until you turn it on for the first time and find out that it’s loaded up with a bunch of trial software and useless junk that was placed there by the PC manufacturer. Norton Antivirus “Trial”, Microsoft Office “Trial”. How about the Dell Media Craptactular Bundle or the HP Horrible User Experience Pack or the Gateway Spam-O-Rama Experience. Nothing will kill your buzz faster than having to uninstall 20 or 30 pieces of junk that these jackwagons got paid to put on your machine. Here’s the best part, if you want a Windows disc to reinstall a clean version of the OS, they’ll charge you extra for that. (Yeah, the cost of the license is already included in your purchase price.)

You can’t make them stop putting this garbage on your machine, but I can show  you how to remove all of this crap in a just few mouse clicks and return WIndows to it’s intended condition.

What You Need to Get Started

PC Decrapifier is a free application that does exactly what the name implies. It will quickly and easily remove all of the preinstalled Crapware from your computer.

Send the Garbage to the Curb

Here are the steps that you need to perform to make your computer clean as a whistle:

1. Download PC Decrapifier (click here)

2. Install the Software

3. Run PC Decrapifier

4. Create a Restore Point

• This will make a backup image of your working computer in case anything goes horribly wrong during the process. It always pays to make a backup. This takes about 10 seconds.

5. Select the Crapware

6. Click the Next button

• This will take a few minutes, depending on how much junk your manufacturer infected you with.

7. Finish (Is being done actually a step?)

That’s the entire process! I just bought a new HP Laptop for my wife and had to remove a whopping 29 pieces of junk before she could use it. The entire process took nine minutes and about 10 clicks.

Extra Credit

If you want, you “could” stop there and begin using your shiny new computer. But that’s not what we’re about here at VitaminCM.com.

When you install or uninstall software a bunch of data gets moved around in your computer’s Registry. Bearing in mind that the crapware you just uninstalled is such particularly low-grade dung; your registry could use a quick clean-up. Do yourself a favor and download an application called Ccleaner.

Ccleaner is a free application that will clean all types of junk from your computer and straighten out the glitches in your Registry in a matter of seconds. Once you install Ccleaner, run the process on the X, Y, and Z tabs. This will literally take about 60 seconds. Then, after a quick Windows Restart, you will be ready to rock and roll. You should open Ccleaner and run through those three tabs every month or so to keep things clean and smooth.

See How to Remove Trial Software on this Video Tutorial

The video below shows all of the steps in this tutorial

The Fastest Way to Remove the Trial Crapware from a New PC from Christopher Masiello on Vimeo.

What’s Your Cleanup Routine?

I would love to hear how you get a new computer cleaned up in the comments below.

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5 Tactics that Will Drive More Traffic to Your Website

Part of the challenge of running a successful website is making sure that it does not get buried by the near-constant stream of information that is being pushed out onto the internet at any given time. Attracting visitors to and keeping them on your website is a task that needs near-constant attention.

Here are five tactics that can help you get more people to your website and encourage them to stay when they are there:

1. Create a great site – This is often easier said than done. Whether you are running an
   ecommerce website or a blog, you need to create a site that the audience you are targeting
   will feel comfortable using and want to return to. Focus on providing useful information and
   attractive, easy-to-use formatting.
2. Use social media – Harness the power of social media to your website’s advantage. Establish a
   profile on each of the major social media players: Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, Google+,
   and anywhere else your potential customers and readers are hanging out. Post relevant, useful
   content that people can interact with, and encourage them to read more on your blog or to take
   advantage of a special deal on your online store.
3. Don’t forget offline marketing – Believe it or not, offline marketing is still one of the most
   effective ways to bring attention to a website. Use high-quality printing services to have flyers,
   business cards, or direct mailers made and decide what you need to do to get the word out
   about your website. This is an especially useful tactic for local ecommerce websites—you might
   post your marketing materials in local businesses where you think that your potential customers
   are spending their time.
4. Optimize for search engines – When people need information or products, often their first
   instinct is to turn to Google. Make sure that people can find your website through this medium
   by using search engine optimization (SEO) techniques. By identifying relevant keywords that you
   want to focus on, you can drive more people to your site.
5. Become an authority in your field – Whatever your website is about—selling software,
   providing photos, etc.—make sure that you work to become viewed as an expert in that field.
   You can do this by posting functional content on your own website on a regular basis, but also
   by interacting with others through Q&A sites like Quora or Yahoo! Answers and through other
   sites in related niches.

These aren’t the only ways to get more traffic to your site, of course, but they will get you a good start on attracting the type of audience that you are seeking.

What are your tactics for building a web presence? What have you found useful on your own site?

Overview: You will learn how to create one link to every open browser tab in 5 seconds using Tab Bundles and Bit.Ly URL Shortener.

Save Time Sharing Links

When I am researching something on the Internet I usually have several browser tabs open. I recently found a handy tool that lets me save the URLs of every open tab in a single click. The Tab Bundles browser extension for the Google Chrome Browser gets the URLs of every open tab, and puts them on a single page. The Bit.ly URL Shortening Service then creates a short link to this page. Now, you can Email, FaceBook, Tweet, or Bookmark this collection of pages. The whole process takes about 2 – 3 seconds. Really, it’s that fast.

Creating a Tab Bundle

Let’s say you were researching which fancy new camera that a friend should buy. You narrow it down to 5 or 6 choices that they should consider. Let’s create a single link that will give them a brief overview of all of the pages that you have open.

Install the Tab Bundles Extension for Google Chrome

Start out by using Google Chrome to do your research. Then, go install the Tab Bundles extension in your browser.

You will see a small () icon on the Chrome menu. Click the Tab Bundles button.

A new tab will open to Bit.Ly, which is a URL shortening service.

You will see the URL of every tab that you had open in a text box.

Click the Shorten button to create shortened links for each of the URLs.

Bit.ly will create a shortened link for all of the original URLs. You can copy any of the short links now, but what’s the fun in that? Let’s get create a Bundles that will hold all of these links.

Click the Bundles button.

A new page will be created that you can give a unique title to before you share it. This page contains the Page Title, Page Description, Thumbnail Image, and of course a Link to all of the pages that you had open.

Now, you can share a link to this page by copying the shortened URL on the right hand side of the link bundle.

You can even go back there and view statistics on how many clicks each of the links received.

Once you learn how to do this, the whole process can go from a mess of tabs to one short Email, Twitter, FaceBook, etc ready link in about 5 seconds.

Possible Uses for Tab Bundles

OK, this all looks pretty easy, but what are some cool ideas for using Link Bundles?

• Sharing any type of research with friends, family, and colleagues
• Christmas & Birthday lists
• Sending a bunch of restaurant choices for your friends to peruse before a night on the town
• Sharing a several cool news article on a current story
• Posting a Resource Roundup to Twitter and FaceBook

I would love to hear what you would do with a Tab Bundle. Put your amazing idea in the Comments below.

Creating Tab Bundles – Video Tutorial

See how to create your own tab Bundles in the video below.

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