Archive for October, 2007
Internet tax moratorium extended
For a while it looked like Congress was going to dither until the moratorium on taxes on Internet connections expired on November 1. However, despite the heavy lobbying against its renewal, both houses of Congress have now passed bills extending the tax moratorium. Ars Technica reports:
With the ban on taxing Internet connections set to [...]
Like it or not, Vista use keeps growing
People may grouse all they want about Vista, but the Microsoft near-monopoly rolls on. Technical types and power users may talk about Linux or the Mac or keeping XP but when the average PC user buys a new computer, it comes with Vista. Go into a computer store and all you see are Vista systems. [...]
Patch for Adobe PDF reader
The security hole in Adobe’s PDF reader mentioned earlier has been patched, at least for version 8 of the reader. Version 7 is still vulnerable. The patch can be obtained at this link. Russian hacker gangs are reported to be exploiting the security hole. According to Adobe, only users of Windows XP who have [...]
Two reviews of the new Mac operating system Leopard
Macs have been relevant to Windows users ever since Apple switched to Intel chips. The newest Mac operating system called Leopard has native ability to dual-boot with Windows (you do have to purchase Windows separately) and several virtual machine approaches exist for running Windows on a Mac. In fact, for many reasons, Macs are attracting [...]
How you are secretly tracked with Flash cookies
You are probably aware that advertising agencies and others like Google use what are called tracking cookies to create a record of what sites you visit. I have posted a number of times on the subject (search “cookies” to see more). Blocking tracking cookies is quite easy and most anti-spyware programs sniff them out and [...]
Seniors learning about computers
Today’s New York Times has an article about seniors learning to use computers. Prominent in the article is SeniorNet, an organization that I enjoy being affiliated with. Here’s an excerpt ftom the article:
SeniorNet, for one, has developed a curriculum and taken it national, operating more than 200 computer learning centers in 38 states. Older Adults [...]
Dell to sell PCs at Staples
Dell pioneered the approach of selling configurable computer systems directly on the Internet without bothering with brick-and-mortar stores. This manufacture-to-order, low inventory, low overhead approach was a big factor in making Dell the leading seller of PCs. However, in recent years Dell has stumbled and it has begun sales in stores like Walmart and [...]
Will Microsoft become an advertising company?
Steve Ballmer is running around talking about how Microsoft is going to be a major seller of advertising. Here’s what John Dvorak has to say about the idea:
Microsoft sees that Google is making a pot-load of money selling ads from search results and via other mechanisms. How hard can that be? So Ballmer is [...]
Recovering deleted files
Periodically, I mention programs for recovering files that have been deleted and aren’t in the Recycle Bin. PC World has an article, How to Recover Almost Anything, that discusses methods for getting back lost, damaged or deleted files. One software program for undeleting that is mentioned is FreeUndelete.
Desktop PC buying guide
More notebook PCs are being sold these days but if you are in the market for a new desktop computer, PC World has an article, How to Buy a Desktop PC.
Review of CD/DVD software
The two big manufacturers of software suites for managing CD/DVD functions are Roxio and Nero. PC World has a review of the latest versions of each. Here’s an excerpt:
The latest versions, Nero Ultra Edition 8 and Easy Media Creator 10, each sport a number of noticeable improvements and new features; the contest remains a toss-up, [...]