Archive for August, 2008
Symantec buys PC Tools
Symantec has bought yet another company (Wikipedia lists 52 acquisitions over the years). This time it’s PC Tools, seller of Spyware Doctor and Registry Mechanic among other products. I don’t happen to use those particular programs but if I did, I’d be worried. I have been the user of a number of applications from firms [...]
The growing use of “netbooks”
Suddenly, there is news all over the place about the ultra-portable little notebooks sometimes called “netbooks”. After Asus showed that there was a market, many other manufacturers have begun offering these low-cost machines, many running Linux. The very heavy hardware requirements of Vista rule it out as an operating system and Microsoft has felt pressured [...]
Social Security Web site
Sometimes the government gets something right. The Social Security Administration has a pretty good Web site at http://ssa.gov/. In addition to a lot of useful information, the site lets you set up an individual login where you can administer your own Social Security account. I have used it and it worked well.
Are Macs more expensive than other PCs?
There is a general misconception that Macs cost a lot more than Windows PCs. In fact, except at the low end, Macs are comparable in price. Apple does not participate in the low end market so if you want a $500 machine, there is no Mac. At $1000 and up Macs compare quite well in [...]
Moment of sanity at the Patent Office
As previously noted, Dell has been trying to trademark the term “Cloud Computing”. The US Patent and Trademark Office has now made an initial ruling that Dell can’t trademark “Cloud Computing” because it’s already being generally used. MacWorld reports:
In denying Dell’s application, the USPTO included dozens of news stories and other material supporting its [...]
Get a live person to answer your questions
I imagine we all know the frustration of having a problem with a product or service and being unable to find an actual human being to deal with our problem. Some companies don’t seem to have any humans working for them and others make you go through a very convoluted series of phone menus and [...]
Learnng the features of Firefox 3
There is a pretty good consensus that Firefox 3 is the best browser currently in general use. My friend and SeniorNet colleague Sol Libes has suggested some Web sites where you can learn more about how to use and configure Firefox:
Flash presentation about using Firefox 3
YouTube video about Firefox
Extensive notes on customizing Firefox
If you haven’t [...]
The missing Windows patches
We just had the monthly Microsoft patch Tuesday and quite a few security updates were made. However, there remain a number of known security issues that are unpatched. Ryan Naraine asks, Where on earth are these Microsoft patches?. He points out that at least 20 known, high risk security problems remain and concludes:
Microsoft has done [...]
Web surfers tracked by advertisers
It shouldn’t be a surprise to them but members of Congress are learning that Google and others are tracking the surfing habits of users. The Washington Post reports:
Several Internet and broadband companies have acknowledged using targeted-advertising technology without explicitly informing customers, according to letters released yesterday by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
And Google, [...]
Court ruling supports free software writers
In spite of the crass commercialism that seems to pervade our society, there are large numbers of us who create software and then give it away. A recent court case is important in protecting the rights of those who create free software. The New York Times reports:
A legal dispute involving model railroad hobbyists has resulted [...]
Joining man and machine
As I have said before, making predictions about future technological developments is generally off the mark. But as long as you don’t take the conclusions too seriously, speculation on the future of technology can be an interesting form of amusement. Intel is observing its 40th anniversary and is playing the game of looking into the [...]
