1 On Microsoft's new Wireless Comfort Desktop 5000 keyboard, there are five special hot keys that are mapped to the first five icons on the Windows 7 taskbar.

Press each key once to call up the specific program, then press the same key again to cycle through different windows within that program.

2 In Windows 7, the taskbar now gathers all the windows from each program into one single icon. When you hover the mouse over the small "pop-up" thumbnails, do a middle-click to instantly close unwanted windows.

3 Click the right mouse button on the Win 7 taskbar icon to access really useful shortcuts in what is known as the Jumplist.

For example, play your favourite songs straightaway in Windows Media Player, or jump to frequently visited websites in Internet Explorer.

4 One new and cool way to clear your screen of window clutter is to click and hold your cursor on the top of a current window.

Shake it with your mouse and all other open windows are hidden immediately. Shake it again and the other windows return into view. Welcome to a feature called Aero Shake.

5 If you want to minimise all windows instantly, just move the mouse cursor to the bottom right of the taskbar and click. Or, use the usual Windows key + D shortcut.

To maximise a window, click and drag the top edge of it towards the top of your screen. Voila, it is maximised immediately. Or, drag it downwards to reduce it to its original size.

Ian Tan, a former tech journalist, is the marketing communications manager for Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division.

This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life.

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