This weekend, Microsoft announced that it would be releasing a version of their new accounting software, Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007, for free.

The software is designed for small, startup businesses, but it's not short on features at all.  It helps you maintain a database of customers and prospects, manage your accounts, and so much more.  It even makes it easy for you to take your business online, and accept payment over the Internet.  It also has a nifty built-in tool for tracking items you sell through E-Bay.

Read Microsoft's press release here
See a demo and download it for free here

It's been over 5 years since the last time Microsoft released a new version of Windows. In early 2007, the world will begin to switch from the current version (Windows XP) to the new version, called Windows Vista. It is going to look a lot different, and require a lot of computing power to run. If you're in the market for a new computer, it's a good idea to review Microsoft's suggestions on how to best prepare for windows vista.

Microsoft sure has done a fantastic job of teaching us all that Internet Explorer, the web browser that the majority of people still use, is the only way to surf the net. Myth!

Mozilla, a small, grass-roots type of company, has brought together some of the best minds in the tech world to produce Firefox, which, IMHO is the best browser around.

Why, you ask? Well, it comes down to two issues: security and usability. Firefox is far less vulnerable to the viruses, adware, and spyware that infest the internet and annoy computer users. It's also loaded with tons of great features like tabbed browsing (being able to have more than one web page open in the same window) and extensions (geek alert: handy plug-ins that do just about everything imaginable).

Want to try it? Get firefox now.

I know that many of you have not yet embraced the blogosphere, but I promise this won't hurt a bit. You'll find my blog full of daily tips, downloads, and interesting headlines from the world of tech news. It is yet another piece in the puzzle for Help with a Smile to promote computer know-how through no-nonsense plainspeak.

Enjoy!