Spring Outlook - @ Work - changing your computer interface - Brief Article

T+D, April, 2002 by William Powell

By the time the first day of spring rolls around, I feel like a survivor. I've spent all winter fighting off colds, leaving work after dark to trudge through sleet, snow, or biting cold. But here in the D.C. Metro area, it's time for the cherry blossoms www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org. In Paris, the gardens are also beginning to bloom www.abcparislive.com. Everywhere you go, there's rebirth and renewal.

In that spirit, here are a few tips to spruce up your Internet experience, and one that will change your Outlook significantly.

Shed your skin. It's time to liven up your browser: The latest versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, and Opera allow you to change the "skin" of your browser. Simply put, skins are a way of changing the appearance of an interface, such as a Web browser or MP3 player, without changing its functionality.

Sites such as HotBar.com offer thousands of skins for IE. Netscape (which refers to skins as themes) and Opera offer galleries on their sites.

Even if you consider yourself technically challenged, this is a good way to get a new view of the Web and personalize your browsing experience. Steps for installation are minimal. Most major sites provide derailed instructions for download and installation.

Add a little color. Windows offers a slew of options to customize its appearance. If you've never changed from the default blue and white, you owe it to yourself to try something new. From your Start menu, click on Settings, Control Panel, and Display. From there, choose the appropriate tabs to alter the appearance, background, and screensaver.

If you see an image on the Web that you like, you can use it to wallpaper your Windows desktop. From Microsoft IE, right-click on the image, then select "save as wallpaper." Use same process with Netscape Navigator and Opera.

If you're more adventurous, consider changing your Windows theme. It's the same process as changing individual characteristics via the appearance panel, except that someone else has saved you some trouble by arranging fonts, colors, and backgrounds into a coherent style or theme.

Users of Windows 98 or later already have themes installed on their computers; notice the desktop themes icon located on the control panel. If Microsoft's canned selection of themes doesn't suit you, the Web is littered with shareware themes on almost every interest: movies, cars, gardening, travel--you name it. Websites such as Cnet's download.com and Tucows.com are sure to offer a theme that fits your style.

Improve your view. One of the easiest ways to improve your experience while using IE is by increasing your view of the page. Press the F11 function key to toggle between the standard and full-screen view within your browser. If you're concerned about losing the forward and back arrows for navigation, don't be. Alt back arrow and Alt forward arrow will move you back and forth between pages in all of the major browsers.

Any of the previous tips should refresh your Internet experience. But don't forget to step away from the computer now and then and head outside. Webcams of Paris are nice, but basking in the cool fresh air of spring, wherever you live, is better.

William Powell vows to meet in person all of the interesting people he has interviewed by phone, beginning with this month's interviewees, Laurie Bassi and Curtis Plott.