Windows 7
Windows is too expensive
Microsoft’s profit margins on Windows are the envy of the world but can it keep up the very high premium prices that it charges? With the hardware of a powerful PC costing as little as a few hundred dollars, how can Microsoft justify charging almost as much for the operating system? It’s not that these [...]
Forecast for Microsoft
This coming week marks the big day (October 22) for Microsoft when Windows 7 becomes available to the general public. Technology professionals have already had the new Windows for quite a while but this will be the first time that you can walk into a store and see a PC with Windows 7. Naturally the [...]
Truckload of Microsoft updates
Speaking of security updates, today is the monthly Microsoft patch Tuesday and it’s a big one, in fact, the biggest ever. It even includes Windows 7. Computerworld reports:
Today’s security updates from Microsoft were unprecedented, with 13 separate bulletins that quashed 34 vulnerabilities. Both were records for the company since it began delivering monthly updates six [...]
Will touch be the new PC Interface?
Using touch to interface with a computer is an old idea but has not been seen much in standard desktop PCs. Specialized systems in businesses and devices like the iPod use touch but it’s keyboard and mouse for most home PCs. However, Windows 7 is coming with enhanced touch features and some are saying that [...]
Things to know about 64-bit systems
As I mentioned before at the beginning of the year, more and more PCs are being sold with 64-bit Windows. Eventually, 64-bit systems will be the norm but there are some things you should know about 64-bit systems before you get one. Some of the considerations are discussed at the NirBlog, where Nir Sofer lists [...]
Information at Microsoft
The Microsoft Web site contains vast amounts of information about Windows and other Microsoft products. It is not always easy to find things on the site but one place I find very valuable is the TechNet Library. It contains documentation for all sorts of Microsoft products. It is intended for IT professionals but PC users [...]
Collection of Windows 7 links
Windows 7 will not be available to the general public until October 22 but it is already in the hands of many computer professionals. So the Web is already full of news and tips about using Windows 7 and reviews of the new operating system. For those readers who are curious about it, here is [...]
Better chart for Windows 7 upgrades
Two days ago, I posted about a chart of Windows 7 upgrade paths that Microsoft had provided Walter Mossberg. At ZDNet, Ed Bott says this is a terrible chart and has prepared a simpler version:
It took me about an hour to redo this horrible chart into something that is both accurate and useful. It [...]
Chart of Windows 7 upgrade paths
For whatever reason, Microsoft always seems to make its upgrade policies confusing. Fortunately, Walter Mossberg has persuaded Microsoft to prepare a chart that makes the various aspects of upgrading to Windows 7 clearer. In his blog, Mossberg writes:
Over the past two weeks, in my Personal Technology columns, here and here, I’ve explained some of the [...]
Never pay full price for Microsoft applications
That’s the message of a post by Rafe Needleman at CNET. He begins:
I don’t know why Microsoft attaches retail prices to it mainstream software products, Windows and Office. You have to be a loser to pay them.
Needleman then discusses various ways to pay less for Windows and Office.
Comparison of Windows 7 versions
Paul Thurrott makes a living writing about Windows and he has put together some tables that show which features are present in each of six versions of Windows 7. The versions covered are Home Basic, Starter, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate.