The Naked PC Store Update: Tweaki

by by Lee Hudspeth

NEW product in the TNPC Store! We first featured TWEAKI in TNPC #3.13 as part of a general review by Al Gordon of Windows utilities, and then made it a Featured Product in TNPC #4.08. Well, we thought so much of this handy software that in cooperation with JerMar Software (the creators of TWEAKI) we are now offering this software tool in our online store.

TWEAKI...for Power Users by JerMar Software Corporation

TWEAKI...for Power Users ("Tweaki" for short) provides a nifty user interface for changing or "tweaking" settings in Windows and Microsoft Office that are normally difficult if not nearly impossible to get at without an expert knowledge of the Windows Registry. Tweaki makes any of literally hundreds of changes a snap. It supports Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, and 2000, as well as Microsoft Office. Before I get into the specifics of what it can tweak, I'd like to highlight some general features that set Tweaki head and shoulders above the rest.

First, Tweaki can modify a remote PC's settings over your network from a single PC. (Note: Windows NT and 2000 come with the necessary infrastructure already installed to support remote connections. Windows 95/98/Me PCs must have the Remote Registry Service installed first, a procedure which is clearly documented in Tweaki's thorough help file.)

Second, Tweaki remembers almost every change you ask it to make. What's even better is you can have it undo these tracked changes. Now that's a cool safety net. There are a few tweaks that cannot be undone, but that's by design. For example, say you run the "Clear history from Run command now" tweak, once the history list is cleared it's cleared and cannot be un-cleared.

Tweaki's user interface is organized into the following tabs: Security, Win Tweaks, Windows 9x/Me, NT4/Windows 2000, Microsoft Office, Registry, and Options. Clearly there is something massively useful for anyone running any version of Windows in Tweaki.

There are over 300 individual tweaks you can apply across these categories. Reading through each tweak's brief description text, or the more extensive explanations provided in the help file, you will be amazed at all the useful behaviors you can control. Here are just three of my personal favorite Windows Tweaki-tweaks, because they make using Windows easier and faster.

  1. "Place cascading Control Panel on Start Menu" -- see the "Win Tweaks" category, Interface tab, Start Menu branch. This puts a cascading Control Panel menu on your Start menu, right above the Programs item, so in one click you can see all the Control Panel's applets instead of having to wait for its window to appear.

  2. "Force Start Menu items to be alphabetical" -- see the "Win Tweaks" category, look in the dialog's "Start Menu" frame on the right side and click the small button labeled with an ellipsis "...". This instantly arranges all entries in alphabetical order on the Start menu's Programs, Favorites, and Documents menus and sub-menus.

  3. "Place 'Open With' on right click menu" -- see the "Win Tweaks" category, System tab, General branch. Now when you right- click on a file or folder in Windows Explorer you see 'Open With' as a command on the pop-up menu. Handy for opening an HTML file with Notepad instead of with your registered HTML editor, for example.

These are just three of many tweaks I have applied with Tweaki. I think you'll have fun deciding which tweaks give you a faster, kinder Windows.

You can now purchase Tweaki in The Naked PC Store, priced at only $19.99. What's more, once you buy Tweaki, you'll NEVER have to pay for an upgrade. All Tweaki UPGRADES are free to registered users.
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/a/tr.cgi?tweaki

You can reach Lee Hudspeth at:
mailto:leehudspeth@TheNakedPC.com