Working smarter with your laptop

By LBV

04 Nov 2009

Have you ever thought to yourself; if only my laptop could do that, it would save me so much time? Most people have; but then done nothing about it.

Perhaps you didn’t realise, but there is a whole industry out there that that exists to fix the minor irritations you and I have with otherwise excellent mainstream software.

In this short article I will share with you some of the low-cost software that bolts onto my laptop, and which makes my life just that little bit easier. Just go onto the Internet and search for the names below for further details.

BarLaunch 8.1
If the Microsoft Office shortcut bar is not to your liking, try this inexpensive shareware programme and file launcher that sits at the side of your screen as a bar with single or group buttons you link to your favourite programmes, files or folders by “dragging and dropping”.

Ultramon
You’re not still working on just one computer screen, are you?

Buy a second one and, for example, have Microsoft Word or Excel open in front of you and simultaneously run Microsoft Outlook on the screen to the side.

Ultramon is a utility costing $39.95 that creates two new buttons alongside the normal ones that appear on the Microsoft Windows title bar in the top right hand corner of the screen. The “move window” button, for example, means you can switch applications quickly from one screen to another.

Mail2disk
Ever wanted to save Outlook emails as though they were Word documents? For €25 this utility does it for you with relative ease. Attachments are saved too.

FirstCap 3.0
If, like me, you keep hitting the “Caps Lock” key by mistake, this freeware utility will disable it for as long as you choose. It will do the same for the number lock key.

I’ve saved my favourite until last...

CutePDF
Why pay £445 for Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro, when for $49.95 you can get CutePDF Professional? It does pretty much all that the more expensive software does, which is why we bought a licence for everyone in the office.

These useful pieces of software work well and save me time; they could work equally well for you. Conversely, if you have a favourite piece of freeware or shareware, please drop me an email and tell me about it; you might have found a fix that I haven’t.

Graham Wilson is partner at Beever and Struthers incorporating Waterworths.

 

Enjoyed this? Read more from LBV

Latest news

1

Supermarket stays put in blow to town's £250m masterplan Blackburn Aerial

Supermarket stays put in blow to town's £250m masterplan

28 Mar 2024

2

Modern Milkman acquires American counterpart article placeholder listing image

Modern Milkman acquires American counterpart

28 Mar 2024

3

How the UK’s strategy to reduce net migration affects care work AdobeStock_89838327 (1).jpeg.jpg

How the UK’s strategy to reduce net migration affects care work

28 Mar 2024

4

Dealmakers: Star Tissue takes a leading roll Khalid Saifullah

Dealmakers: Star Tissue takes a leading roll

28 Mar 2024

5

Construction work begins at 53-home development in Earby article placeholder listing image

Construction work begins at 53-home development in Earby

28 Mar 2024

Hwc 2024 Email Signature 980x120
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Reach 50,000 members of the Lancashire business community

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Company profile
Social reach
Magazine coverage
Sign-up
Events
Business Networking in Burnley - BNI Kudos
EVENT LISTING BNI Kudos.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
28 Mar 2024

Business Networking in Burnley - BNI Kudos

Prairie Sports Village, Windemere Avenue, Burnley, BB10 2FU

06:45 - 08:30

Business Networking in Lancaster - BNI Castle
EVENT LISTING BNI Castle.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
28 Mar 2024

Business Networking in Lancaster - BNI Castle

Vale of Lune RUFC, Powder House Lane, Lancaster, LA1 2TT

06:45 - 08:30

Business Networking in Preston - BNI Brunch
EVENT LISTING SIZING Brunch .png.png
LBV Hub Networking
29 Mar 2024

Business Networking in Preston - BNI Brunch

Samlesbury Preston Hotel, Preston New Road, Preston, PR5 0UL

09:30 - 11:00

Business Networking in Blackburn - BNI Infinity
EVENT LISTING BNI Infinity.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
29 Mar 2024

Business Networking in Blackburn - BNI Infinity

Hampton by Hilton, 2 Frontier Ave, Blackburn, BB1 3AL

06:30 - 08:30

Business Networking in Chorley - BNI Endeavour
EVENT LISTING SIZING Endeavour.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Apr 2024

Business Networking in Chorley - BNI Endeavour

Oak Royal, Bury Lane, Chorley, PR6 8SW

06:30 - 08:30

Business Networking in Blackburn - BNI Vista
EVENT LISTING SIZING Vista.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Apr 2024

Business Networking in Blackburn - BNI Vista

Hampton by Hilton, 2 Frontier Ave, Blackburn, BB1 3AL

06:45 - 08:30

Business Networking in Accrington - BNI Zeus
EVENT LISTING SIZING Zeus.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
03 Apr 2024

Business Networking in Accrington - BNI Zeus

The Mill House, Corn Mill Yard, Accrington, BB5 5HX

06:45 - 08:30

Business Networking in Preston - BNI Diamond
EVENT LISTING BNI Diamond.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
03 Apr 2024

Business Networking in Preston - BNI Diamond

The Marriot Hotel, Garstang Road, Broughton, PR3 5JB

07:15 - 09:00

Business Networking in Lancaster - Eden Business Network
EVENT LISTING Eden Business Network.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
03 Apr 2024

Business Networking in Lancaster - Eden Business Network

The Borough, 3 Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

18:30 - 20:30

Business Networking in Burnley - BNI Kudos
EVENT LISTING BNI Kudos.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
04 Apr 2024

Business Networking in Burnley - BNI Kudos

Prairie Sports Village, Windemere Avenue, Burnley, BB10 2FU

06:45 - 08:30

Business Networking in Lancaster - BNI Castle
EVENT LISTING BNI Castle.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
04 Apr 2024

Business Networking in Lancaster - BNI Castle

Vale of Lune RUFC, Powder House Lane, Lancaster, LA1 2TT

06:45 - 08:30

Business Networking in Preston - BNI Brunch
EVENT LISTING SIZING Brunch .png.png
LBV Hub Networking
05 Apr 2024

Business Networking in Preston - BNI Brunch

Samlesbury Preston Hotel, Preston New Road, Preston, PR5 0UL

09:30 - 11:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv115 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin