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Posts with tag windows

Windows XP Officially Unavailable After Today

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Jun 30th 2008 at 11:30AMBreaking News

We Bid Windows XP a Conditional Adieu
Today marks the end of an era... sort of. Microsoft will cease making Windows XP available to most resellers and PC distributors, just 18 months after the release of the much hyped and much derided Vista hit the market.

Companies will be allowed to sell XP until their stocks run out, and computer manufacturers will still be able to get their hands on the stripped down version targeted at low cost PCs like the Eee, but for the consumer, the options are running out. The fear of Vista is intense, even inspiring a Save XP campaign.

A "downgrade" option will still be available to most people buying a new Vista-equipped PC, though manufacturers are looking into ways to shortcut the system and offer computers pre-downgraded to XP. Microsoft may be trying desperately to herd the computing masses towards Vista, but we're sure this isn't last we've heard of the little OS that could. [Source: AOL Money & Finance]
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Survey Says 8 in 10 Businesses Now Use Macs

by Will Safer, posted Jun 27th 2008 at 2:32PM



In a shift major shift among businesses, Macintosh computers are no longer just being allowed through the front doors of corporate America but are actually being encouraged as business work tools.

According to a new survey by the Yankee Group, a Massachusetts research firm, the Apple-made desktop computers, previously only the favorites of graphic designers and layout specialists, are now becoming the quiet favorite among network administrators.

The Macs are said to provide a more stable computer environment and are more resistant to security threats and common flaws than computers outfitted with Windows XP or Vista.

According to Laura DiDio, a Yankee Group research fellow, 8 in 10 U.S. Businesses now use Macs in a significant way. While the Macs only make up about 10 percent of all the computers used by businesses, this represents a major increase from the 2 percent they represented only just a few years ago.

Many businesses are even using the Macs to load Windows, since these computers are able to load both kinds of operating systems courtesy of the Apple's "Boot Camp" utility.

What are the specific reasons for a business to get Macs? The answer is stability and reliability. Macs, DiDio says, suffer from less downtime, they come with a utility called "Time Machine" that allows a user to essentially go back to a moment when a computer was operating properly in case a problem occurs, their desktop search (with a utility called "Spotlight") is easier to use, and iChat (an instant messaging platform) makes communication among workers easier.

While the IT pros surveyed admitted that Windows has better support for network issues, the stability of the Macs actually means they have less reason to require system help.

DiDio notes that businesses aren't about to swap out all their Windows machines for Macs – but the tide may be turning. [Source: Computerworld.]
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Bill Gates E-Mail Reveals His Frustration With Windows, Too

by Tim Stevens, posted Jun 25th 2008 at 2:34PM

Sometimes Bill Gates Hates Windows Too

Most users of Microsoft Windows have had days where they wanted to throw their computer out of a real window; days where the thing just wouldn't cooperate and had to reboot 15 times just to install whatever piece of software or update they are trying to get. Those aren't fun days, and Microsoft's co-founder Bill Gates isn't immune to them either, as shown in a scathing e-mail originally revealed during an anti-trust suit against the company. The e-mail was just republished by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in a retrospective on Gates, whose last day at Microsoft is Friday.

The e-mail was sent by Gates in 2003 and recounts his troubles trying to download and install Windows MovieMaker and Microsoft Plus. In an e-mail that spans a full five pages, he tells of having to run Windows Update, make multiple downloads, wait through many installs and reboots, and watch as his system is cluttered with meaningless garbage -- all just so that he can install that one app he wanted. At the end of it all....well...read for yourself:
"So after more than an hour of craziness and making my programs list garbage and being scared and seeing that Microsoft.com is a terrible website I haven't run Moviemaker and I haven't got the plus package."
Mind you, this was back in 2003, and there have since been many changes made to both Microsoft.com and to Windows, but the next time you're swearing at Windows, just think about this e-mail and remember that you're not the only one. [Source: seattlepi.com]

Gallery: Bill Gates at Microsoft -- a Look Back

  • Posing for Teen Beat Magazine Back in 1983
  • At the launch of Windows 95
  • Introducing Windows 98 in 1998
  • Pie in the face in 1998
  • Unveiling Windows XP in 2001
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Geek's Girlfriend Finds Linux Harder to Use Than Windows

by Tim Stevens, posted Apr 30th 2008 at 8:10AMBreaking News

http://www.pocketdaily.com/index.php/2006/10/06/download-tman-095/Linux, the free, open-source UNIX-based operating system used in trendy affordable computers such as the eeePC and the Zonbu, has been gaining huge ground over the past decade in terms of general usability, especially when compared to the competing (and decidedly not-free) products from Windows or Apple. Despite that, Linux is still lambasted as being unintuitive, overly complicated, and simply not ready for prime time.

To test this point, a Linux fan took a machine with a fresh install of Ubuntu, a popular type of Linux, and decided to challenge his girlfriend, a Windows user with no Linux experience, to see whether she could find her way around and do some generally simple tasks. Unfortunately for those hoping for Linux desktop adoption, she didn't fare too well.

The tasks ranged from simple ones, like looking up the capital of Bosnia online (she passed this one) and watching a YouTube video (failed this one), to more complex challenges, such as burning a CD (failed) and modifying an image using PhotoShop (passed). By our count she succeeded in only half of the challenges, meaning Ubuntu isn't quite ready for completely pain-free use by Windows users. So, if you were wondering why cheap, Linux-based computers, like the eeePC, are starting to offer Windows versions as well, now you know. [Source: Content Consumer]
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Is Windows 'Collapsing?'

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Apr 12th 2008 at 8:38AMBreaking News

IT Firm Says Windows is Collapsing, We Agree Wholeheartedly
Gartner, a technology research and analysis firm, is warning that Windows is "collapsing." The analysts at Gartner said that Microsoft must make drastic changes to its flagship operating system (OS) or risk becoming outmoded.

The two analysts spearheading this charge, Michael Silver and Neil MacDonald , say that Microsoft is burdened by years of legacy code (old, inflexible programming) and bad decisions, and is facing competition on a number of fronts. Unless major changes are made to slim down the operating system soon, it will simply collapse under its own weight.

We've weighed the pros and cons of Windows versus the trendy OS X and scrappy Linux before, and we can think of a number of reasons to recommend either of those over the OS out of Redmond. And we've specifically discussed how Vista missed the mark by targeting high powered desktops that are increasingly being shunned for low powered and cheap laptops.

So is Windows done for? Not quite, but the increasing power and prevalence of Web-based applications make Linux and OS X perfectly viable and tempting solutions, especially as form factors on our devices shrink.

From Computer World


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Windows XP Version of Asus EeePC Out Next Week

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Apr 1st 2008 at 9:17AM

ASUS Eee Loaded with Windows XP Out Next Week
The Eee PC has been a hit for ASUS, and exposed many to their fist taste of Linux, but the budget priced sub-notebook has had its popularity limited because hasn't been available with Windows. At last, that's set to change, since ASUS has finally given a price and street date to its Windows XP based Eee PC.

As of April 9, you'll be able to pick up the same exact Eee PC with a Intel Celeron processor, 512 megabytes of RAM, 7-inch screen, and 4 gigabytes of solid state storage, but with Windows XP installed instead of Linux. Best of all, it'll cost the same $400 it costs for the Linux version. Keep this in mind, however: Windows XP is a lot more resource-hungry than Linux, so don't expect the EeePC with Windows to be all that fast. In fact, it could be a whole lot slower than the Linux version, but at least you'll be able to get your Microsoft Outlook on!

We've covered the advantages and disadvantages of each before, so if you're in the market for an Eee take a look at our Laptop Guide before deciding on Windows or Linux.

From Engadget

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Major Windows Vista Update Available Today

by Tim Stevens, posted Mar 18th 2008 at 3:01PM

Major Vista Update Available Today
For people who have taken the plunge of upgrading from Windows XP to Windows Vista (product info), these have been some trying times. There are a number of small but irritating incompatibilities and glitches in the new Microsoft operating system that have many users wishing they'd stuck with the tried and true Windows XP. For months now, Microsoft has been putting the finishing touches on a major update that could solve many of these issues. At last, t's finally ready for download.

The update is called Service Pack One, or just "SP1" in Windows talk. A service pack is the traditional term for a giant batch of updates all rolled into one massive download. On its site, Amazon lists the SP1 version available for pre-order, and now lists the non-SP1 editions as "old version." The site now indicates that the SP1 editions will be shipping tomorrow, but if you happened to have just purchased one of those "old version" editions of Vista, don't worry: The update download is free from Microsoft. Still, you might want to burn that download to a CD or something, otherwise you're going to have to pull it from the company's site again and again every time you have to re-install. At 434 megabytes for the full download, it's not something you're going to want to do twice.

If you're a Vista user and are ready to take the plunge, you can head on over to Microsoft's site to start your downloading.

From Engadget

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Eee PC to Run Windows XP

by Thomas Houston , posted Mar 18th 2008 at 7:42AM

At this year's CeBIT conference in Germany, Asus debuted a new version of its popular multi-colored sub-notebook, the Eee PC, with a larger screen (8.9 inches), more memory, and a larger hard drive for storage. Significantly, Asus' updates to the line now enable the laptops to run Windows XP -- the Eee PC formerly ran only Xandrox, a Linux-based operating system -- and Asus predicts that over two thirds of the new line will ship as Windows systems.

Analysts said that the demand for Windows is extremely strong, so despite impressive sales and high demand and enthusiasm for the older, Linux-based Eee PC -- over 300,000 sold in one quarter last year -- Asus decided to offer consumers the choice of either Windows or Linux on these new models.

One thing's for sure, the Windows-based EeePC's are likely to run a lot slower than the Linux-based ones -- Windows is much more resource-hungry.



From Beta News


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Windows and OS X Vulnerable Via Firewire

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Mar 5th 2008 at 4:17PM

Windows and OS X Vulnerable Via FirewireIt seems like everyday computer users have a new reason to fear that their data is unsafe. And to be fair, it isn't. Unless you lock vital PC components up in separate bank quality vaults, encrypt all your data, and never go online, you're always in some danger, and at that point what use is a computer anyway? But every once in a while a hacker demonstrates a vulnerability in our computers that makes us second guess our ability to be even slightly secure.

First it was breaking encryption with a can of DustOff, then a flash drive hack that required a simple (if slow) reboot, and now an even more direct attack: connecting via Firewire to the target computer.

The new method requires only a Linux based laptop and a Firewire cable. An attacker can then get to the contents of your system's RAM and grab your password. This works on both Windows (Vista and XP) and OS X. So much for Macs being more secure.

From Engadget

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Microsoft Drops Windows Vista Prices

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Feb 29th 2008 at 6:37PM

Microsoft Drops Vista Prices
Microsoft, in a last ditch effort to save the floundering Vista, has reduced the prices on the premium versions of its latest operating system. The move is unprecedented. Microsoft's Windows XP still costs the same as it did the day it came out in 2001, despite being superseded by Vista.

Vista Ultimate, which pretty much includes all Vista features (including Aero and Windows Media Center) will drop from $399 to $319 for the full version and $220 for the upgrade, from $299. The Home Premium upgrade will drop to $129 from $159. The price cut will apply globally, but prices will vary from region to region.

The price cut only applies to retail boxed version of the product however, so it'll only benefit those who are upgrading old computers, many of which, as Engadget points out, aren't even fast enough to run Vista properly. Will this help push Vista out the door any faster? Probably not, but it's still nice to see Microsoft scale back some of its absurd prices.

From CNET and Engadget.

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Windows Vista Update Disables Anti-Virus Programs

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Feb 22nd 2008 at 4:11PM

Vista Update Stops Some Programs from Working Properly
Microsoft is preparing to release the first major update to Vista, Service Pack 1 (SP1), which is supposed to clear out some of the major issues users have had with Vista, including speed and compatibility problems. Unfortunately for those eagerly awating SP1, it seems that Microsoft is creating just as many problems as it's solving.

Microsoft released an admittedly incomplete list of applications that will either not work properly or not work at all with SP1:
  • BitDefender AV
  • Fujitsu Shock Sensor
  • Jiangmin KV Antivirus 10
  • Jiangmin KV Antivirus 2008
  • Trend Micro Internet Security
  • Zone Alarm Security Suite
  • Iron Speed Designer
  • Xheo Licensing
  • Free Allegiance
  • NYT Reader
  • Rising Personal Firewall
  • Novell ZCM Agent
Ironically, most of the applications that will lose functionality or not work at all with Vista SP1 are security applications -- namely firewalls and anti-virus programs. One of the major complaints against Microsoft Windows is its relative insecurity when compared to Mac OS X and the Linux operating systems, so losing access to security programs will be a major drawback for most users.

From Beta News

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Vista 'Most Disapointing Tech of 2007'

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Dec 17th 2007 at 1:47PM

Vista Tops List of Most Disapointing Tech of 2007
The boys in Redmond just can't catch a break. Every time Vista makes the press it's pretty much so the media can beat up on the Operating System that couldn't. And PC World has just put anoter nail in Vista's shrink-wrapped coffin.

We love December, it's the most wonderful time of the year: list time! PC World has released their 15 Most Disappointing Tech Products of 2007, and topping that list is Vista. Why? Five years in the making and the best Microsoft could come up with is a very shiny, slightly annoying, absurdly overpriced software package that is missing some of the most exciting features that were promised by Microsoft when the project was still called Longhorn.

To be fair, every semi-hyped gadget and technology trend made the list. Social Networks, the Zune, Leopard, the iPhone, and Office 2007 were all in there. But, we certainly agree that Vista deserves to be at the top of this heap 'o' crap.

From PC World

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Peeved Bill Gates Says Everyone Copies Microsoft

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Dec 10th 2007 at 1:41PM

Bill Gates get defensive
There is one sure fire way to make the normally quiet and geeky Bill Gates a little peeved -- question his company's record of "capitalizing on the innovation of others." According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Todd Bishop, that's exactly what a blogger, Jonathan Snook, did at a small meeting between the online-citizen journalists of the tech world and the founder/honcho of Microsoft at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

This line of questioning, which essentially accused Microsoft of copying other people's inventions, sent the bespectacled founder into a tirade about how Microsoft does all the stupid things first, and that other companies, learning from Microsoft's mistakes, are able to build perfect versions of a particular product or service (and subsequently get the credit for being innovators).

Gates declared that what Microsoft does is the baseline for the entire industry, and whatever it doesn't do is the innovation. And by that definition everyone else is innovating. That's a pretty innovative, if not a little sarcastic, save/explanation.

But seriously, Gates cites IPTV and tablet computers as two areas in which Microsoft is leading the pack. "Is anyone else doing tablet computers?" he asks.

We understand Gate's being upset, and he makes some good points in his sarcastic rant about everyone borrowing from each other (with particular attention paid to Apple of course). But we do have to question some of his claims.

Sure, there are plenty of Microsoft Office and Word clones out there, but Word was far from the first word processor on the PC. Microsoft's entry only got copied after it crushed the competition, namely Wordperfect and Lotus. We racked our brains trying to think of where other companies had blatantly copied Microsoft and actually came up empty. If you've got any examples, be sure to leave them in the comments, in the meantime make sure to check out the gallery below of Microsoft's other "me too" products and services (including everything from Zune and Xbox 360 to the original Windows and MSN, which were inspired by the early Mac OS and the product of our parent company AOL, respectively).

How about you? Do you think Microsoft's reputation as a copycat is deserved, or is Bill Gates right when he says that his company does, in fact, innovate?

Gallery: Microsoft's Products Over Time

  • Windows
  • MS DOS
  • MSN
  • MSN Messenger
  • Windows XP


From SeattlePI

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Save and Share Everything With Windows Home Server

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Nov 5th 2007 at 12:38PM

Windows Home Server Makes a Run for your Holiday Dollar

It's a little early in the product life to declare Windows Home Server a failure or a success yet, but this holiday season is shaping up to be the first real test of its market viability.

Windows Home Sever is an offshoot of the company's enterprise platform for Web and file hosting designed with consumer in mind. Essentially, it's a system that will automatically backup several computers connected to a home network, as well as allow for easy sharing of music, videos, files, and printers -- even from remote locations via the Web. Microsoft's pitch is that the Home Server will have a painless, dummy-proof set-up and interface, and early reviews confirm that this is in fact what Microsoft will provide when the first models show up in time for the holidays.

Hardware vendors have started loading the niche OS on bare-bones PCs with copious amounts of storage to lure in the media hungry masses in this age of P2P file sharing. And just in time for Chrisma-Hanu-Kwaanza, the big guys are unveiling their entries into this market. Even companies whose business is usually storage are trying to get in on the ground floor. Fujitsu-Siemens, Gateway, Iomega, LaCie, Leo Computers, LifeWare, Maxdata, Medion, Tranquil, Velocity Micro, and HP are all launching, or re-launching boxes with the Home Server platform installed. Systems are expected to cost in the $500-$700 range.

The question is whether there is a big enough market for a consumer-oriented server. Setting up a server is a simple enough process that most power users could have one set up in a matter of hours, without shelling out for specialized hardware or software. The average consumer is still intimidated by the idea and skeptical of the need, though anybody who downloads a lot of video and music or uploads their own pictures -- and also lives in a household with other computer users -- could certainly use a home server.

It remains to be seen whether or not Microsoft can do for home servers what the iPod did for digital music players. Unless the company can simplify its story of what a home server actually does and why the average consumer needs it, it may end up achieving a more modest, non-revolutionary success a la Apple TV.

Meanwhile, La Cie just released the much less expensive Ethernet Disk Mini ($200), which is getting rave reviews so far.



From Engadget

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Couple Gets Five Years Jail Time for Illegally Reselling Discounted Windows Software

by Tim Stevens, posted Oct 26th 2007 at 11:17AM

Don't Mess with MicrosoftYou know the discounts Microsoft gives to starving students? The ones priced low enough to encourage students to not illegally download and share things like Windows and Office? Yeah, well, it seems some enterprising businesspeople got the wrong idea and re-sold those copies -- about $29-million worth -- illegally for the full retail price. They've been caught, and the husband and wife team behind the scheme were given five years in prison each, along with $25-million in fines.

According to Infoworld, Mirza Ali, 60, and Sameena Ali, 53, the husband-and-wife owners of Samtech Research, purchased Microsoft software at the academic discount for students, then illegally re-sold it to others at higher prices. The couple funneled profits through sub-corporations, including a construction company run by their son, and apparently wired $300,000 to Pakistan for safe keeping.

The couple was captured as part of a two-year FBI and IRS investigation called "Operation Cyberstorm," making us wonder if federal investigators are fans of old-school strategy games.

From InfoWorld

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