CompuWorld

Windows Vista SP1 Screenshots Leaked - MS Won't Confirm Yet, As Expected!

Labels: microsoft

Be Memorable, Be Inspired, Be Connected, Be Dynamic And Be Daring But Pleeease Forget The Vista 'WOW' Factor

With Vista not bringing the expected bucks for Microsoft, The Redmond based company is bound to try new ways to "force" people to start thinking about "WOW"! Oh sorry Windows Vista. But sometimes one can really make a mess of things if its too eager to win a prize (even a consolation prize will do at this stage for Microsoft. Read how Bill Gates welcomes Microsoft software piracy in china).

See what (the rich) Microsoft wants you to do. In a new press release yesterday Microsoft wants its Windows Vista buyers to start preparing for Christmas from today itself. They have released a series of laptop options which Windows Vista lovers would love to give out as gifts (for the "SO CLOSE" December Christmas).

And to my surprise nowhere in this press release Microsoft talks about the Vista WOW factor. Instead they give you options to empty your pockets at these hot looking laptops:

Dell XPS M1330, from $1,299
Dell Inspiron 1720, from $769

Asus Lamborghini VX2, from $2,899

HP tx1000, from $999.99

Sony Vaio CR, from $1,140

Sony VGC-LS37E, from $1,899.99

Toshiba R500 Protégé, from $2,149

Labels: microsoft

Internet Explorer Hit With Another Vulenrability

Labels: bugs found, ie, microsoft

The Complete Windows Vista vs. Windows XP Networking Performance Comparison

Labels: microsoft, vista tips

Capture Screenshots In Windows Media Player

• Open Windows Media Player
• Go to Tools>Options
• Select Performance Tab
• Click on the Advanced button down below
• Uncheck the "Use Overlays" option.
• Click Ok and then click Apply
• You are done
  

Labels: microsoft, tips tricks and hacks

Packaging: Windows Vista, Ubuntu, Mac OS X

As of me Ubuntu gets the edge. The CD cover design on the left is just one of the many variations that are centered on the same idea. Ubuntu has the courage to associate human faces to a software product. Faces repeating different versions and interpretations of the Ubuntu logo. "Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'Humanity to others', or 'I am what I am because of who we all are'. The Ubuntu distribution brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the software world," is the company's official explanation for their distribution of the Linux operating system. I am a Windows man myself, and a Windows Vista hard-core user, but I simply fell in love with Ubuntu due to its ease of use.

When it comes down to the actual design of the box, Microsoft's Windows Vista is hands down the winner. The unique box however has as main practical purpose the company's need to differentiate genuine Windows Vista copies from pirated versions, sold as legitimate software. While the packaging is not impossible to counterfeit, Microsoft has come to the conclusion that bootleggers did not even try, and instead sold Vista as pirated. By comparison, the boxes for Ubuntu and Tiger are not spectacular. Not for their shape, but what about style? Vista gets second place in my list. It is obvious that Microsoft's user experience team has done a great job with the design of the overall style of Windows Vista. It is Aero from one end to the other, and the boxes are clear illustrations.

Windows Vista's packing's suffer from impersonality; well, the Tiger box says nothing to me. The designers that have looked endlessly for the best CRT monitor, just to enjoy the largest gamut possible in Photoshop know what I am talking about. Tiger's box is too simple and primitive for my taste, and in this sense it is just the antonym of Ubuntu's design. Position 3 to Mac OS X.

Labels: apple, linux, microsoft

Microsoft Windows Vista Goes Spanish

Labels: microsoft

Microsoft Does NOT Owe The Word "Vista"

Labels: microsoft

Disable Vista's UAC But Be Cautious

Instead of choosing the first option which will completely disable UAC, choose second option. Quiet Mode will make UAC go to sleep only for administrators. Vista will inform you that UAC is disabled in system tray. Now go on and complete your work.

But remember that doing this makes your computer open to attacks so you should attempt this step very carefully and for short period only.

Labels: microsoft, vista tips

Mac OS X and Linux Bite the Dust – Windows Vista Did It!

40 millions of Windows Vista sold licenses later, Mac OS X and Linux bite the dust, and the latest Microsoft operating system is directly responsible. At the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2007 in Los Angeles in mid May 2007, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates revealed that in the first 100 days of availability the company had shipped approximately 40 million Vista licenses.

Must Read:
Mac OS X vs Vista. The Fight Goes On

With an impressive rate of adoption Windows Vista is right on track to "become the standard version of Windows" as Gates put it. Microsoft's Chairman and Co-founder also took a swing at rivals by claiming that just in the first five weeks on the market Windows Vista has surpassed the installed base of all other alternative operating systems.

Recent data made available by Market Share by Net Applications comes to confirm Gates' claims for Vista. According to the Market Share statistics, Vista now controls no less than 3.74% of the operating system market. In this context, Linux was the first road-kill produced by Vista in the very first month on the shelves. However, in May, Linux's market share dropped to 0.70% from 0.80% in April 2007.

Market Share by Net Applications separated in its statistics Apple's market share according to platform. In this regard, both MacIntel and MacOS have experienced minuscule growth from April to May. MacOS jumped from 3.89% to 3.95%, just 0.06%, and MacIntel managed an un-spectacular growth from 2.32% to 2.51%.

The superb market performance delivered by Windows Vista has already led to an adoption rate superior to both Mac OS X and Linux put together. Before Vista was launched to consumers at the end of January, there had been voices forecasting the fact that Microsoft was alienating users with the operating system and that Apple and Linux would rip the benefits. Nothing could be further from the truth judging by what Vista has showed so far.

Related:
12 Hidden Windows Vista Network Tools
Checking For TCP/IP Connection Problems In Vista
Vista Software Compatibility List
1500 Page Vista Tutorial By Microsoft
Hidden Private Character Editor In XP
Vista May Choke Internet

[thanks softpedia for the great article]
Technorati Tags: Vista wins agains Mac OS X and Linux, linux, Mac OS X, Vista

Labels: apple, linux, microsoft

Mac OS X vs Windows Vista, The Battle Continues

With so many articles published under the same heading, I need to be different to glue you till the end. Right? OKAY then, read on to learn if the WOW factor of Vista and the new advertising campaigns of Mac OS X were actually showing you the real picture.

Labels: apple, microsoft, reviewed, tutorial

12 Hidden Windows Vista Network Tools

1. getmac – this tool will enable you to display the MAC addresses for network adapters on a system. The Media Access Control (MAC) address for the network card can be accessed both on the local computer and on a network.
2. hostname – not sure about what the name of your machine is on the network? Just type hostname and hit enter.
3. ipconfig – according to Microsoft's own description, the tool is designed to display by default only the IP address, subnet mask and gateway for each adapter associated with the TCP/IP. But in addition to enumerating the TCP/IP network configuration parameters users can also refresh the DHCP and DNS settings.
4. nslookup – is meant to be used according to Domain Name System.
5. net – is a general tool with commands covering a broad range of functionality.
6. netstat – displays protocol statistics and TCP/IP network connections.
7. netsh – the command-line tool enables Vista users to both view and alter the network configuration settings of computers.
8. pathping – is a middle solution which bundles the functionality delivered by traceroute and ping.
9. nbtstat – a tool that will display protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections using NetBIOS over TCP/IP.
10. Ping – a complete description of the ping utility can be found here.
11. route – manipulates network routing tables.
12. tracert – users can implement this command-line tool to identify connectivity problems between the local computer and a network address.

Labels: microsoft, vista tips

10 Windows Live Features - Must See

Top 10 Windows Live features/mini-services that most people aren't currently using but should be...

1. Windows Live Mail desktop has a "View by Conversation" option that groups an email and its replies together, something which Gmail users love. You can try this out for yourself in the most recent Windows Live Mail desktop beta by selecting the following option: View - Current View - View by Conversation
   
2. Live Feed Search is a great way to find blogs on niche topics, or if you want the majority of your search results to be from blogs. Power users will probably want to stick to Technorati however. Try it out at http://search.live.com/feeds.
3. Live Search has a nifty "prefer" operator to help you refine your search results. Here's an example of it in action: Without | With. You use this in the same way as all the other search operators; add "prefer:" followed by your refining term.
4. Live Map Search has several "hidden" features, but the one we've chosen is using the line tool to measure distances - great if you plan on walking between locations. You can access this by clicking the Collections menu, choosing Open and then selecting the line draw tool from the bottom of the scratchpad.(Screenshot)
5. Active Contacts has a huge amount of potential yet not many users seem to understand the benefits of using it. Active Contacts allows you to share personal information with the individuals you wants and if they subscribe to you, keep them updated on any changes you make. Of course this also works in reverse too, the more contacts who you subscribe to, the more connected you are . You can share your own contact information from the menu you use to change your online status in Windows Live Messenger - Click your Display Name - Share Contact Information.
6. Windows Live Mobile Messenger (G2) allows you to send a voice clip from your mobile phone to a contact running Windows Live Messenger. While the ability to send a voice clip from the desktop client is not particularly useful, in the mobile client it is a killer feature, allowing you to quickly send a message to your contacts without having to type it out on your mobile device. Definitely a handy feature for situations when you're in a hurry. Currently G2 is only available on windows mobile 6 devices
7. Windows Live Messenger users seem to have an unquenchable desire for the weirdest and wackiest names they can think of, as if the personal status message feature didn't exist. Tidy up your contact list by using the nicknames feature in Messenger: In the contact list, right click the offending contact - Add a nickname.
   
8. Live Search activity in Messenger is a great way to find information you need for a conversation, without firing up your browser. One novel use we were told of is using Live Image Search to find new displays pictures, which you can use by dragging them directly to your existing display picture. Note this is a 1-person application and your contact will not know you are running it. From the Messenger conversation window open the Actions menu - Start an activity - Search
   
9. Live Search for Mobile is just so useful that it is worth highlighting in its entirety. Mobile is one of the areas within Windows Live that is consistently producing great products and Live Local Mobile is no exception. Although the regional support is still somewhat limited (currently US and UK only), they now include support for Java-running phones, as well as Blackberry's. Go to http://wls.live.com/ on your mobile device.
10. Windows Live Toolbar has a nifty feature called Smart Menus that enhances the browsing experience, for example getting a map preview for an address on a webpage. While I'm not a big toolbar fan, this is one feature I wish I had. To use this you need Windows Live Toolbar installed, then highlight the information (address, phone number etc) and right click to view the available Smart Menu options. Dennis Cheung has a great set of videos that explain the possibilities in more detail.

Labels: blogging, microsoft, tips tricks and hacks

Checking for TCP/IP Connection Problems in Windows Vista

• Local
• Restricted
• Due to the lack of connectivity among computers that are part of the same network
• Can be related to external Internet locations.
  

Labels: microsoft, vista tips

XP Slaps Vista On Face

[Image Source]

Labels: announcements, microsoft, vista tips

Licensed Windows, MS Office For $3

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates announced the program at a news conference in Beijing on Thursday.

Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft said it plans to offer a software package called Microsoft Student Innovation Suite for $3 to governments purchasing and giving Windows-based computer to primary and secondary students.

The software bundle, which will be available in the second half of 2007, includes Windows XP Starter Edition, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007, Windows Live Mail desktop and other programs.

"This is not a philanthropic effort, this is a business," Orlando Ayala, senior vice president at Microsoft's emerging segments market development group in an interview before the official announcement.

In many emerging markets, Microsoft has seen its software pirated and sold at a fraction of the price of a genuine product. Microsoft said the technology industry must also adapt business models to developing nations.

The company is working with retailers and computer makers in Brazil to test a pay-as-you-go system, because that model has been successful with mobile phones in the country.

Labels: announcements, microsoft

Increase the number of simultaneous downloads in Internet Explorer 7

1. Click on the Start Pearl and type regedit in the Search Bar.
2. Once you are in the registry editor, navigate to the following key:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings

3. Right click in the empty space, and create a new DWord (32-bit) value. Name it:

   MaxConnectionsPer1_0Server (The 0 beside Server is a zero)

4. Double click this entry and modify the value to 3.
5. Create another DWord:

   MaxConnectionsPerServer

6. Once again, double click this entry and modify the value to 3.

Labels: ie, microsoft, tips tricks and hacks

No More XP In Market After Early 2008

Despite consumer resistance to Vista, its compatibility problems, extra hardware requirements and high prices Microsoft has decided to stop the supply of Microsoft Windows XP by the end of this year.

By early 2008, Microsoft's contracts with computer makers will require companies to only sell Vista-loaded machines. "The OEM version of XP Professional goes next January," said Frank Luburic, senior ThinkPad product manager for Lenovo. "At that point, they'll have no choice."

In a recent post on its Direct2Dell blog, Dell reaffirmed to concerned customers that it wasn't about to force small business users -- who typically purchase PCs piecemeal, rather than in large enterprise-style orders -- to shift to Vista, which has experienced a less-than-stellar reaction from many buyers because of driver issues and moderately beefy hardware requirements.

"Dell recognizes the needs of small business customers and understands that more time is needed to transition to a new operating system," the post read in part. "The plan is to continue offering Windows XP on select Dimension and Inspiron systems until later this [northern] summer."

"From a local perspective, the post was a reminder more than an announcement," Dell ANZ corporate communications manager Paul McKeon told APC.

There's general agreement amongst PC resellers that Vista has provided a minor boost to PC sales, but hasn't produced blockbuster numbers. A similar story applies in the retail space. Figures from marketing consultancy GfK suggest that after an initial sales surge, around 1500 copies of Vista are now being sold through Australian retailers each week, according to a recent report in the AFR.

While Dell's post suggested it wouldn't be promoting Vista systems to the home market, manufacturers still have the option of selling RelXP-based systems for consumers this year.

Labels: announcements, dell, microsoft

Book of Tips for Vista Rollouts Ships

A popular resource kit that is released with each new version of the Microsoft Windows operating system is available for Vista. I am wondering why they were so late for the launch.

The official Windows Vista(TM) Resource Kit (Pro - Resource Kit) walks corporate users through the deployment, configuration and management of the operating system. The book dedicates more than 1,500 pages to in-depth technical guidance on automating deployment, implementing security enhancements, and troubleshooting for Vista, which was released to corporate users in November.

Also included are tips for administering group policy, files and folders, and programs; a networking section that covers such topics as configuration of Windows networking, connecting to remote networks and IPv6 deployment; a management section covering disks and storage, and device management; and maintenance tips for health and performance monitoring, assisting remote users, updating and patching, and client protection.

There are sections on Internet Explorer 7, Windows Firewall, and Windows Defender. The book includes more than 150 scripts to help automate administrative tasks and tools; and utilities to help troubleshoot, manage, and configure Vista.

The book is a collaboration among Microsoft's Windows Vista team and authors Mitch Tulloch, Tony Northrup, Jerry Honeycutt.

The retail price of Windows Vista Resource Kit is US$60, but a number of online retailers are selling it for $38.

Labels: amazon, announcements, books, microsoft, vista tips

Fantastic Freebies

It's no wonder that the PC World readers surveyed rate Gmail as their favorite e-mail service. Says Chuck McNevich of Lexington Park, Maryland, "The interface is considerably faster than Hotmail, Yahoo, and the like. I don't have to pay for the huge storage it gives me."

PC World readers also love Blogger, with one reader noting the service's "easy-to-use features [and] nice themes."

One surveyed PC World reader explains his vote for YouTube succinctly: "Billions of videos. Loads fast." Another cites the service's sizable storage space. And yet another reader speaks directly about why people like video sites in general -- it's a "decent source of diversions," he says. We couldn't agree more.

Labels: blogging, fun, google, microsoft, tips tricks and hacks, youtube