I recently received a new laptop that needed a new operating system and developer software. I've setup machines countless times, so I might as well make a list that others can learn from...
Raymond Chen's book titled "The Old New Thing" is the realization of a web blog in print. Parts of the book can be enjoyed by anyone who has dealt with the evolution of the Microsoft Windows operating system and inevitably asked the question "Why?" Why does Windows look like it does? Why are those seemingly quirky things about Windows the way they are?