Q I have a problem with your recent praise for the new Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 Web browser regarding handicap issues.
For years I have used "right-click — open in new window" to effectively create tabs that appear at the bottom of the screen. In IE 7, I apparently have to use two hands — CTRL-click — to open a link in a new tab. Now we can't do one-handed browsing. Or have I just not discovered how to do it?
The other downside to IE 7 is that the tabs take up another horizontal strip of real estate and leave less room for the content we want to view.
A I, too, have pretty much become a one-handed Web surfer, so I feel your pain. And I've got some fixes.
There are a couple of keyboard shortcuts that address the issues of using one hand to create new tabs and less space to view content. First, you can move the mouse cursor so it is hovering above a hot link and tap the Enter key to force the new Web browser to open that link in a new tab.
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Also worth mentioning is that it is a modest stretch of a single adult-size hand to press both the Control and N keys. This creates a new tab out of the page you're using, letting you open the link with another click. You also can tap Control + W to open a new browser window.
To eliminate all those toolbars and task bars at the top and bottom of the screen, just press the F11 screen. Everything but the actual contents of the page at hand will vanish. A second tap of F11 will bring you back to the regular display.
Q I use MSN for my e-mail. However, when I click on a link to send e-mail through Web pages on the Internet, the outgoing e-mail that opens is in Outlook. I am satisfied with all of my e-mail being on the Web-based MSN. How do I get the e-mails to open in the program that I use?
A To exorcise Microsoft Outlook as your automatic e-mail program, try this: Open the Web browser, select Tools and then scroll down the menu that appears and open Internet Options.
In the tabbed toolbox that this summons, open the tab for Programs. There you will find a handy drop-down box that will let you swap your default e-mail program from Outlook to MSN.
Q I occasionally receive e-mails with pictures embedded in them. They come through with an outlined box with a red X in the top left corner and no photo. Also, some e-mails that I send that I know are good are received with the outlined box and red X.
I run Windows XP. I had the same problem when I ran Windows 2000 Pro.
A You're the victim of the ever-increasing number of security tools built into Microsoft's software and operating systems.
Open Outlook Express and click on Tools in the command bar next to File, Edit, View, etc. In the tabbed menu that this summons, click the one for Security. There you will find a simple yes/no check box to enable or disable showing pictures embedded in e-mail messages.