Windows XP: ClearType font smoothing

Once upon a time, paper-based material such as books, magazines or newspapers used to be our only source of reading and learning new things. But now, reading material for almost any topic on earth can be found in electronic format over the Internet. We are reading more and more text each day from our computer screens be it at work or home. But how much thought have we put into making this reading experience go easy on our eyes? I think most of us have not given it much thought.

There are many font smoothing and anti-aliasing techniques that can make your screen font smoother, more clear and in turn much easier to read. These techniques will by far enhance your digital reading experience.

Microsoft includes a font smoothing technique in its Windows XP known as ClearType. One way to enable it is through your display properties. But there is a better way through which you can fine tune the settings for ClearType as per your liking. Microsoft has included the fine tuning of ClearType in its Power Toys for some time now. Those of you who do not wish to install a software and still want to experience what ClearType has to offer can visit the Microsoft's Online ClearType Tuner. The online wizard will help you enable ClearType on your computer and fine tune by showing you samples of texts from which you can select whichever seems most clear to you. Try it, it has sure made my digital reading experience better.

Convert/Open MS Office 2007 file formats

With the launch of Microsoft Office 2007, Microsoft has introduced new file extensions for example "xlsx", "docx", etc. This has created a division in the people who are using the new version and the ones who still prefer MS Office 2003.

Personally, I still use MS Office 2003 because it uses less system resources. It is particularly a good idea to use this old version in laptops where it is very easy to run low on system resources. The question that arises now is what to do when someone sends you a file created in MS Office 2007. This thought was at the back of my mind and I knew eventually someone would send me these new extension files that I will not be able to open.

Thankfully, Microsoft has provided a solution for this with Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats. You can visit this link on Microsoft's site and download the file.

This component (once installed and after the Microsoft's fashionable system restart) will register the new extensions on your system. Now you will be able to open the "xlsx", "docx", etc files in your MS Office 2003. It is a 27.5 MB download though. But in my opinion, it is worth the effort as sooner or later you are bound to encounter a file created in MS Office 2007. This component not only enables you to open the new file formats, but you will also be able to edit, save and create documents in new file formats using the MS Office versions older than 2007.

You can also opt for online file converters such as docx2doc.com or zamzar.com. You will have to upload your file on their site and they will convert it to the older version and email you the file. I, however, prefer the converter that installs on your system.