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Computers

Windows 7 Performing Just Fine, Despite Haters

Apparently, some media outlets are so eager to see Microsoft fall flat on its face that they're already calling Windows 7 a failure -- less than two weeks after its debut. Electronista and CNN Money have already declared that, with Windows 7, Microsoft has blown its chance to stop the rise of Mac.

According to Internet tracking firm Net Applications, Windows has seen its ninth drop in market share in the last twelve months, falling an astounding (cue eye-rolling) two-tenths of a percent in October. During the same time, OS X saw its market share climb a little over one-tenth of a percent. This is, apparently, indicative of a march towards computing dominance for Apple -- at least if you ignore the fact that, despite losing market share for nine of the last twelve months, and despite the disaster that was Vista, Microsoft operating systems still account for more than 92-percent of Internet traffic.

Look, Apple has been "on the rise" for about ten years now and only accounts for about five-percent of the PCs currently in use. We're not saying that Apple will never topple, or severely cut, into Microsoft's market share. We're just saying that claims of the surging Mac don't quite jibe with the reality of the market.

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Computers, desktops, Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: HP Touchsmart 300z

HP Touchsmart 300z (Novice, Under $2,500)

HP's all-in-one desktop ($799 – $1,099, depending on the configuration) includes the specs you'd want for day-to-day computing: a 20-inch widescreen LCD, an AMD Athlon multi-core processor, 2-4-gigabytes (GB) of RAM and up to a 750 GB hard drive. But what separates the Touchsmart 300z from the pack is the user-friendly, iPhone-like touchscreen interface, which has been much improved with the addition of Windows 7. No need for a stylus. Just select an item by tapping a finger on it. To rotate a photo, move your fingers in a circular motion. And if you prefer a touch keyboard, tap the edge of the screen twice. It's so intuitive, you'll wonder why all computers don't have one.

Computers, Laptops, Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: Sony Vaio X



Sony Vaio X
(Gadget Head, Under $2500
While seemingly every other company out there is scrambling to put out their latest low-power, low-feature, low-cost netbook, Sony opted instead to pull out all the stops for its newest Vaio X, a full-featured sub-notebook that also happens to be insanely, runway model tiny, thin and light. Like not much thicker than an iPhone (.55 inches to be exact) and just 1.6 pounds (we eat heavier sandwiches than that). And yet, somehow Sony still crammed it full of the essentials: an 11.1-inch LCD, with two USB ports, Ethernet, VGA, SD slot and built-in Verizon mobile wireless, as well as 2-gigabytes (GB) of RAM, and up to 128 GB SSD hard drive and running Windows 7 to boot. These are all premium specs, and not bad for a $1,300 price tag, especially considering it comes with an external long-life battery that lasts about 14 hours, and has a durable carbon-fiber case and scratch-resistant screen. So it's tough but tiny, built for the road but also pretty sexy -- consider it the biker chick of sub-notebooks.

Computers

Windows 7 Whopper Caught on Video

Microsoft Attempting to Kill Customers with Windows 7 Whopper
Microsoft has tried various slightly odd marketing schemes to grab some attention for Windows 7 here in the U.S. ranging from distrubingly cute commercials and a partnership with 'Family Guy' creator Seth MacFarlane to house parties that have received much deserved mocking. Overseas, the promotions have taken on an strange numerological slant, working "7" into everything. In the Netherlands it was 777 copies of the new OS for a town whose name translates to "Seven Houses." In Japan, it's mildly disgusting, and artery-clogging Windows 7 Whopper.

Burger King is offering, in Japan only, a special Windows 7 edition of the Whopper, that has seven beef patties. The heart-attack-on-a-bun will be available for one week (or seven days), to the first 30 customers each day, for ¥777. If you're not horrified yet, just check out the full-sized image below and watch the video of the Windows 7 Whopper's first victim after the break.

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Computers

Upgrading to Windows 7? Here's What You Should Know.


Do you want to enjoy all the goodies that Windows 7 offers without the work of installing a totally fresh operating system? While your more tech-savvy friends might look down their noses, a more simple "in-place upgrade" could be the better option for you. You just need to prepare yourself before tackling this task. Luckily, DownloadSquad has offered a few tips and tricks to make the upgrade process as smooth as possible.

You should download this Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, which checks to see if your hardware is capable of running Windows 7. Typically, you'll need at least 16 gigabytes of free disk space, 1 gigabyte of memory, and a processor that runs at 2GHz or higher. You can free up space on your hard drive with free programs like CCleaner or DriveSpacio. Most importantly, before performing the upgrade, check the Advisor's list of programs that won't work with the new OS. If your favorite program is on there, you might want to reconsider the upgrade. Because we all know you can't really live without iTunes or 'Civilization 4.'

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Computers, TV

'Family Guy' Teams With Microsoft for Windows 7 TV Extravaganza

To mixed reviews, Microsoft tried being all fluffy and sweet while advertising its new operating system. Now, it's time for Plan B -- comedy. Enter 'Family Guy' creator Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein (a.k.a. Lois Griffin), who agreed to produce a Microsoft-sponsored variety show. The comedy extravaganza/marketing ploy will air November 8th on FOX, a couple weeks after Microsoft releases Windows 7 on October 22nd.

Fortunately, you won't have to sit through annoying commercials, since, as Advertising Age reports, there'll be Windows-branded content throughout the program, which is tentatively titled 'Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show.' Microsoft is being coy as to just what this integrated material will be, but Gayle Troberman, general manager of consumer engagement and advertising, says, "We'll be evoking the cast of 'Family Guy' in some interesting ways that integrate the product messages."

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Computers

Fluffy and Sweet Windows 7 Commercial Debuts


Nothing makes us want to purchase a new version of Windows like a cute little girl and plenty of fluffy animals, or at least that's what Microsoft hopes. According to Ars Technica, the first commercial for Windows 7 (above) was uploaded Thursday onto YouTube's WindowsVideos channel.

In the clip, Kylie (you might recognize her from the 'Rookies' marketing campaign) stumbles upon her dad's open laptop. After reading some 'happy words' (i.e., positive reviews) about Windows 7, she decides to make a slideshow about the new operating system. What kind of slideshow would a small child create, you might ask? Well, Europe's cheese rock anthem 'The Final Countdown' plays in the background (for dramatic effect, we assume), and each slide features an animal that's so cute you just might explode. We're talking a pig wearing bunny ears, a big-eyed unicorn, a rabbit wearing a hat, and of course, a kitty.

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Computers

60% of Businesses Skipping Windows 7? Not Really

Six in Ten Businesses Skipping Windows 7? Not Really.By now, you've likely seen the headlines: "Six in 10 Companies Skipping Windows 7." It may look like doom and gloom again for Microsoft, but the real situation may not be so dour. Before writing off Windows 7 as another Redmond swing-and-miss, consider the tremendous cost of upgrading a company's worth of computers.

A recent survey from ScriptLogic (a company that makes Windows management software) does show that businesses are concerned with hardware compatibility and have skipped Windows software updates in the name of trimming costs.

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Computers, Advice, Editor's Picks, Windows Software

What You Probably Don't Know About Windows 7

Best Under-Appreciated Windows 7 Features
We've covered some of the more important features of Windows 7 before -- including the improvements in security and speed -- but there are a host of other, lesser-mentioned features that make using Windows 7 much more pleasurable than Vista. Lifehacker, a must read here at the Switched offices, has compiled a list of its favorite less-hyped features in Microsoft's upcoming operating system.

Are you satisfied with Windows Vista?


One of these features is 'libraries,' which lets you break out of the standard file/folder paradigm with pictures by putting all your photos into a photo library -- even if they're in different folders. Also under-hyped are 'jump lists,' which gives quick access to commonly used files and features and limit how much menu digging we have to do.

You can check out the rest of Lifehacker's list of underhyped Windows 7 features at the read link. [From: Lifehacker]

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Computers, Advice, Tech Tips

Kill Frozen Programs in Windows With a Shortcut

Kill Frozen Apps in Windows With a Shortcut
If you're a Windows user, it pretty much goes without saying that you've encountered a frozen program before. Often these jammed apps get labeled with the dreaded "Not Responding" message and simply refuse to do anything, even close. Usually, the only solution is to open the task manager, find the appropriate process, and choose to close it. Fortunately, a quicker and easier way exists.

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Computers

Windows 7 to Have 29% Fewer Pop-Up Prompts, Says Microsoft

If you count yourself among the throngs of Windows Vista users who have been perpetually perturbed by Vista's constant prompt windows (known as User Account Controls, or UAC), you may soon be breathing easy. According to IT World, Microsoft developers are claiming that Windows 7 will feature 29-percent fewer UAC prompts than its oft-hated-on predecessor.

"We've reduced 16 different points of prompting," Paul Cook, director of Windows 7 client enterprise security, told IT World. According to Cook, users will not be bothered with UACs while updating their systems, viewing their firewall settings, or using Windows applications.

This should strike most Windows users as good, if not unsurprising, news. After all, way back in January, we gathered that Microsoft had finally heard the anguished cries of its denizens. [From: IT World]

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Computer Pros to Wait for Windows 7, Survey Says

Microsoft has faced concern and criticism for its Windows Vista operating system from day one. Despite the company's best advertising efforts, many customers plan to wait for Windows 7 before upgrading their machines, says a recent survey.

Systems management firm KACE commissioned a survey of 1,142 IT professionals to gauge opinion about switching to the forthcoming Windows 7. Of those, 84-percent said they plan to wait at least a year before upgrading to Windows 7, despite the software's favorable reviews from early beta-testers. Some disturbing news for Vista: 83-percent said they plan to skip Vista in order to wait for the new operating system, and more than 50-percent are considering leaving Windows altogether. This is more than twice the number from a similar poll two years ago, with a majority of potential ship jumpers leaning towards Apple's Mac OSX as a replacement.

Still, we're seeing signs that Microsoft may be bouncing back in the public eye, a change spurred in no small part by their new series of 'Laptop Hunters' ads, which highlight the value of Microsoft-equipped computers in these tough economic times. We reported last month that PC sales jumped 22-percent in February when compared to the same month last year, while Apple sales dropped 16-percent. [From: CNN Money]

Computers

Windows 7 Security Called Into Question

Indecisive Public Already Complaining About Windows 7 Security

Okay, even we have to admit this is getting a bit insane here. Are you people never happy?

Everyone complained that Windows XP left much to be desired in the security department. So Microsoft made some changes, took some notes from the Mac OS X and Linux playbook, and required users to elevate privileges via the User Account Control (UAC) anytime changes were made to the system (resulting in constant pop-ups asking you for password and permission and the like). Now, to be fair, Microsoft got a little heavy-handed with the UAC in Vista. It often seemed to be stuck in a loop, asking, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Since the overbearing UAC seemed to have a minimal effect on the actual security of the OS (often because users simply ignored the precautionary questions/approvals), Microsoft decided to scale back how often it asked the user to elevate privileges to make changes in Windows 7. Now security experts are crying foul and saying the less obtrusive warnings could pave the way for malware infections.

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Computers

Windows 7 to Come in Six Flavors

http://static.10gen.com/alleyinsider.com/~~/f?id=491adbcd14b9b999000cecc6&maxX=275&maxY=275
We thought that maybe Microsoft had learned something after the disaster that was Vista and its maddening multiple versions: Vista Home Basic, Premium, Business, Enterprise, Ultimate... who could keep track? Well, things are about to get a little worse with Windows 7. Microsoft's highly anticipated new operating system (OS) will add a Starter version to the mix aimed at netbooks.

Are you satisfied with Windows Vista?



Prices are not known yet, but let's hope the folks in Redmond are planning to at least keep the costs lower than the wallet-incinerating prices of Vista. Here's a breakdown of the upcoming Windows 7 versions and their likely uses and markets:
  • Windows 7 Starter - for netbooks and other low power PCs
  • Windows 7 Home Basic - aimed at emerging markets and bargain PCs
  • Windows 7 Home Premium - the standard bearer
  • Windows 7 Professional - adds business friendly networking features
  • Windows 7 Enterprise - for big businesses, licenses sold in bulk only
  • Windows 7 Ultimate - probably has all of the features of the other versions crammed into one absurdly priced package
[From: Download Squad and Engadget]

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Computers, Windows Software

Windows 7 Barred from Georgetown Campus

Georgetown Barrs Students from Using WIndows 7
Geeks around the world are having a field day playing with the beta version of the new Windows 7 that Microsoft has decided to share with the public. At one school, however, the tinkerers and tech nerds are being left out in the cold.

Students and faculty at Georgetown University have been barred by the school's IT staff from downloading and using the Windows 7 beta. The official warning states, "Installing any beta version of software is extremely risky," and could disable anti-virus software or cause peripherals (such as printers) to function improperly.

Of course, this ban is only for school-owned PCs, and the school will support Windows 7 when it is officially released. If students want to risk their personal laptops, that's their own business. Our friends at Engadget have not had too many major issues with the Windows 7 Beta, so we think you're pretty safe. [From: InformationWeek]

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