Change Your Wallpaper on Windows 7 Starter

Many netbooks today come pre-installed with Windows 7 Starter Edition. Many unnecessary features have been stripped out from this version of Windows 7, thus making it perfect for low-powered netbooks.

I'm perfectly happy with Windows 7 Starter on my netbook, even though I have a spare copy of Windows 7 Professional, I haven't considered installing it on that device YET. One thing that seriously bothers me with Starter Edition is the lack of Aero. Aero allows the taskbar and windows to be transparent and displays a thumbnail preview when you hover your mouse over the program icon.

Ordinary users would not notice anything different with Windows 7 Starter and will be perfectly happy with it except for one thing. While other versions of Windows 7 allow you to select a theme that comes with its own set of backgrounds, color schemes, sound schemes and screensaver, this version of Windows 7 will not even allow you to change the wallpaper. 

Luckily and as expected, there are many helpful programs available which will allow you to change the wallpaper. Owners of ASUS netbooks need not download this, since their netbooks should come pre-installed with software that allows you to change the wallpaper.

Starter Background Changer will allow you to change the wallpaper in Windows 7 Starter. You can also choose multiple pictures that will change in regular intervals similar to Windows 7's theme feature. Once you've installed the program, just right click on your desktop and select Personalize. It should be easy from then on to choose your wallpaper.

Another option would be to just upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium so you can get Aero as well as Themes.

Download Starter Background Changer

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade

Web browsing on a netbook

One of the big adjustments users have to make when purchasing a netbook is the reduced screen size that comes with the small form factor.

Users will have to get used to scrolling vertically because of the standard netbook's low resolution of 1024x600 compared to the usual 1024x768 which means the lower part of a website gets cut off, thus forcing the user to keep scrolling down.

Thankfully, there is a simple solution to this problem. Switching to the Google Chrome browser is fast and easy. Not only will you get a bigger viewing angle, there's also a noticeable improvement in the loading of web pages using this browser.

PLDT WatchPad Review

PLDT WatchPad is a live television streaming software exclusive for PLDT myDSL users. It offers 16 television channels, namely CNN, Cartoon Network, History Channel, National Geographic Channel, CNBC, Bloomberg, Channel [V], Biography Channel, Crime and Investigation Network, Pinoy Box Office, Living Asia, Trinity Broadcasting Network plus online-only channels such as Animax Mobile, Shakey's V-League, Splash and Go.

There are also other programs available for viewing: independent films such as Brillante Mendoza's Kinatay and short films from GMA Artist Center. Finally, PLDT WatchPad has attracted much attention because of its free live uninterrupted broadcasts of Manny Pacquiao's boxing fights.

I tested WatchPad when it was first introduced a few years ago, back then only a few channels were available and buffering the video took a long time. But it seems there have been numerous improvements since that time. Even if I'm only subscribed to PLDT Plan 1299 with speeds of up to 512Kbps, buffering the streams only took a little more than a minute. Video quality was not bad at all and certainly watchable, the only problem was that you cannot maximize the video to fill the entire screen.

Content wise, there is a good number of channels available, however most of these are available on the basic packages of cable or satellite providers. The only channel I'm interested in watching is Crime and Investigation since it requires an additional 50 pesos per month on SkyCable. Still, if you're not a big TV fan and just want to watch the occasional news, business or documentary channels, WatchPad is perfect and should save you from coughing up extra for a cable subscription.

PLDT myDSL users get WatchPad which has 16 live TV channels + independent and short films. Meanwhile, SkyBroadband and bayanDSL users get iWantv, which also has live TV channels in the form of ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN News Channel, MYX Music Channel, DZMM TeleRadyo and Al-Jazeera News Channel.

WatchPad definitely has more channels and better variety and content. However, iWantv also has video-on-demand where you can watch episodes of your favorite shows from ABS-CBN like TV Patrol and ASAP, Studio 23 shows such as Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy plus UAAP and NCAA games and Nickelodeon shows such as Spongebob.

In my book, iWantv is a better deal than WatchPad, except for the Manny Pacquiao fights, the latter offers content that is already available on basic cable subscriptions. The only ones who'll benefit from WatchPad are those who aren't subscribed to any cable service. On the other hand, iWantv is best for fans of local programs and teleseryes since you can catch up on episodes you've missed. Non-SkyCable subscribers also benefit because they'll be able to watch exclusive channels such as ANC, MYX and DZMM.

It's great news that our local internet providers are offering these value-added services. There's definitely room for improvement such as more international channels for WatchPad. Still, I'm very happy with the service and hopefully, I'll be able to catch the Pacquiao fight on WatchPad a week from now.

SkyCable Digibox Review

For a few years now, I've been hearing about the SkyCable Digibox. First, you had to get a Digibox if you're subscribing to the Platinum package so that you'll be able to get more channels like HBO Hits, Discovery Travel and Living, etc., Then, it was required in areas prone to signal theft so that only subscribers with the Digibox can access the channels. When BTV came back to Sky and you had to pay 50/month to get it, you also needed a Digibox.

More recently, SkyCable decided to make the Digibox free for all its subscribers. However, you only get a free Digibox for connections you're actually paying for. So if you have 4 televisions, but you're only paying for 1 additional outlet (which costs 250/month) you'll only get 2 Digiboxes. This shouldn't be a problem since you'll still be able to watch on your other TV sets even without the Digibox.

One of the main reasons I got the Digibox for is the extra channels I'll be getting: History Channel, Biography Channel, Basketball TV, Solar Sports, MTV, Fox Crime, FX, Al-Jazeera, Euronews, CNBC and Fox News. That's a lot of free channels which I'd otherwise be missing out on. Other benefits of the Digibox are the 7-day Electronic Program Guide plus the ability to sort the channels to your liking. You'll also be able to subscribe to additional channels easily, say if you want to add Discovery Turbo to your subscription, you just have to give them a call.

The Digibox is not perfect. For one, you'll have to use the included remote to switch channels and there's also a delay in switching channels. Despite these minor inconveniences, I highly recommend all SkyCable subscribers to get the Digibox. It's free and you get more channels like BTV and MTV along with it. If you don't get it, you're not getting what you're paying for.

eMachines EMD350 Netbook Review

The eMachines EMD350 is the cheapest 10-inch Intel Atom N450 with a 6-cell battery netbook coming from a big-name manufacturer in the Philippines. It's basically a rebadged Acer 532H and continues the Acer practice of selling virtually identical netbooks under its four brands: Acer, Gateway, eMachines and Packard Bell, with the only differences being slight changes in design.

Specifications

OS: Windows 7 Starter

Processor: Intel Atom N450 (1.6 GHz)

LCD: 10.1" LED LCD (1024x600)

Memory: 1GB DDR2-800 Memory (Kingston)

Storage: 160GB HDD 5400 rpm (Hitachi)

Video: Intel GMA 3150

Audio: Realtek High Definition Audio

Card Reader: 2-in-1 card reader

LAN: 10/100 Mbps

WLAN: 802.11b/g/n (Atheros AR5B95)

Bluetooth: Bluetooth 3.0

Webcam: eMachines webcam with microphone (640x480)

Battery: 6-cell Li-ion battery (4400 mAh)

Ports: 1x RJ-45, 1x D-SUB (VGA), 2x USB 2.0, 1x Microphone jack, 1x Headphone jack

Design

The differences between the Acer 532H and the eMachines EMD350 is mainly in design. The Acer's lid has a glossy design including the screen bezel and the palm rest, thus making it easily susceptible to fingerprints. Meanwhile, the eMachines has an all-matte design besides the glossy LCD screen which it shares with the Acer. The matte design may look plain to some, but for me it looks more professional than a glossy screen and is much easier to keep clean.

Glossy LCD screens are said to be better than matte screens indoors. However, outdoors it is a totally different story as you would have a hard time seeing what's happening on the screen due to the reflective nature of the glossy screen.

Keyboard

The EMD350 shares the same keyboard as the rest of the Acer lineup. This is Acer's version of the chiclet keyboard now popular in many notebooks. While better than the old keyboard design, the ASUS Eee 1005PE and Toshiba NB305 have superior chiclet keyboards. However, it is by no means unusable, its just worth mentioning that those two netbooks offer better keyboards.

Touchpad

The touchpad is a Synaptics Multi-touch and is much wider compared to previous Acer/eMachines touchpads. In my opinion, it is better than the pimple-style touchpad of the ASUS 1005PE. They both share a single rocker button for left and right click, which is inferior to the dual-button layout of the Toshiba NB305.

Internal Components

Inside, you'll find the usual Intel Atom N450 running at 1.6 GHz which does not offer much in terms of improvement in performance compared to the past two generations of Intel Atom processors. The graphics is now the Intel GMA 3150, which is an improved version of the Intel GMA 950, but still pales in comparison to other integrated graphics chipsets which offer hardware video acceleration for improved Flash and HD video playback. There is a single slot of RAM occupied by 1GB running at 800MHz, it is upgradeable to 2GB but you'll have to buy a 2GB stick because of the lack of a second RAM slot. The hard drive is only 160 GB, but it is enough if this will only be your second computer, otherwise consider upgrading it.

Operating System

The model I purchased comes with Windows 7 Starter. In terms of functionality, Windows 7 Starter is comparable to the higher versions of Windows 7 and there is no limit on how many applications you can have running at the same time. However, if you've gotten used to the Aero effects available in the higher-priced editions of Windows 7, you might not be too happy about Windows 7 Starter since it forgoes these Aero features such as Taskbar Previews, Aero Peek, Aero Snap and transparency. You're also unable to change the wallpaper although there are many downloadable tools to circumvent this. Jumplists are still here as well as Libraries. Overall, if you're unconcerned about how looks, Windows 7 Starter should not be any problem for you as it offers all of the basic functionality of Windows.

Bundled Software

The eMachines comes pre-installed with a few applications, most of which are pretty useful such as Google Toolbar, Norton Internet Security, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office 2007 Trial, Windows Live Essentials, Skype, eMachines Games and eMachines Recovery to create restore discs which aren't included in the box.

PROS

• Non-glossy matte lid, palm rest and body
• Slim and professional design
• Cheapest 6-cell Atom N450 Netbook among known brands
• 6-cell battery at 4400mAh which may last up to 8 hours
• Battery only bulges a little unlike the older EMD250
• Large touchpad, non-stiff button
• Bluetooth and WiFi-N
• Easy access panel for hard drive upgrade, unlike ASUS 1005P
• EMD350 is basically a rebadget version of the Acer 532H except for one less USB port and different branding
• eMachines is the value brand of Acer so you can expect the same great Acer Customer Support and Warranty Service.

CONS

• Only two USB ports and they're even beside each other
• No option to buy without the included Windows 7 Starter
• Weaker battery than top models of ASUS EEE 1005P and Acer 532H which has 5800mAh
• ASUS EEE 1005P and Toshiba NB305 chiclet keyboard is nicer
• Not as well-known as an ASUS, Toshiba or Acer, but who cares
• Got it for 15,995 Philippine Pesos or just about $349 U.S. Dollar which is expensive compared to its price in other countries.
• I couldn't wait and got the version with Windows 7 which is 2,000 pesos more expensive than the one without an OS but hasn't been released yet