If you have ever found it necessary to investigate a memory issue in a Windows operating system (OS), you will be quite familiar with the Windows Task Manager, the Performance tab, and the Resource Monitor. From its introduction in Windows 95, the Task Manager has been upgraded bit by bit to include more data and make it even more useful to OS users. With the introduction of Windows 7, you will find even more information and more uses for this OS tool.
First, let us look at the first iteration of this tool the one which shipped with Windows 95 [...] Continue Reading…
October 28, 2009
If you have ever complained about the standard Windows operating system applets and certain features – they were too cumbersome or just did not work well – this is for you. It would not be too much of a generalization to say that this has certainly been encountered by every system administrator working with Windows systems. Well, since you most likely belong to this group, you will be happy with the changes in Windows 7 which allow several of these applets and features to be turned off or will not be included with the OS at all. It will [...] Continue Reading…
October 26, 2009
One of the most important aspects of a Windows operating system is the now-famous, and often-used, Taskbar. It sits at the bottom (usually) of the Desktop and is where you go to launch applications, go to Control Panel, set up new Printers, and just about everything else you do in Windows starts there. You use it everyday you use a Windows OS. With the new Windows 7, there are several improvements to this central piece of the OS. So, what’s different?
First of all, Windows Vista improved the Task Bar from the XP release and the Windows 7 Task Bar [...] Continue Reading…
October 24, 2009
Windows 7 seems like a turning point for Microsoft. The operating system came out on time, it runs well, and it’s much leaner than Vista. We’ve spent a few months tinkering with the beta and now the final version. It has still got a few quirks, but overall it’s way better than Vista when it launched, and it’s a worthy successor to Windows XP. We went over most of the new features in a previous article, but this time around we get to do what we couldn’t before: see how the games run.
In terms of gaming, Windows 7’s major [...] Continue Reading…
October 24, 2009
With previous versions of Windows, Microsoft commonly updates security with every new version release. They are also well-known for providing constant security patches after an operating system (OS) is available for sale and use. Of course, this is very much necessary in a world where new viruses and other security hazards come along each and every day. For Windows 7, Microsoft has updated the security contained within windows in several important areas.
One of the biggest changes is the new Action Center. This replaces Vista’s Security Center, which was also located in Control Panel. From the Action Center, you can [...] Continue Reading…
October 22, 2009
Continue October 21, 2009
The Register has today reported that Curry’s and PC World have already shipped some pre-ordered copies of Windows 7 in a move to head off this Thursday’s postal strike and keep customers happy. This means some customers have got Windows 7 three days ahead of the official launch.
In a statement, Microsoft said “Microsoft is aware of the planned postal strike and has taken action to minimise impact on those customers who pre-ordered their copies of Windows 7. As a result, some customers may receive their copy of Windows 7 a day or two early.”
DSGi said in a statement “We [...] Continue Reading…
October 20, 2009
IBM and Canonical, the commercial entity behind Ubuntu Linux, on Tuesday are launching a combined cloud and Linux desktop package designed for Netbooks and low-end PCs.
For those of us still waiting for Linux to hit the desktop, this type of packaging may be exactly how the move from Windows starts to pick up steam.
The IBM Client for Smart Work was first launched in South Africa in September and was initially geared toward emerging markets. IBM found that there was strong interest in the U.S. and other markets that had aging PC infrastructure and little desire for continued Windows upgrades.
The [...] Continue Reading…
October 20, 2009
When a new operating system is released by Microsoft, many individuals and businesses will often think very hard about whether or not to upgrade. When Windows Vista arrived, several professionals looked at the hardware requirements and nearly had to be taken to an ER; the requirements were so high that many organizations would have to upgrade every PC in their inventory. That is an expensive proposition! After some time passed and the reviews came in on Vista, those same professionals realized that they had made the right decision.
So, what about Windows 7? Well, research on the IT industry has [...] Continue Reading…
October 19, 2009
Best Buy is locked and loaded for the Windows 7 launch.
And I don’t use the phrase “locked and loaded” figuratively. “Locked” in that all the new Windows 7 machines are locked down behind cages. And “loaded” in that all the cages are full. (See photos.)
I visited a Best Buy Friday night in Southern California where the cages were loaded exclusively with new models preloaded with Windows 7. And I learned a few odd tidbits from a stoked salesperson who had definitely been drinking the Windows-7-is-totally-awesome Kool-Aid. Let me add that the information was conveyed to me at one store [...] Continue Reading…
October 18, 2009
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