Hidden Costs of a Windows Vista Upgrade
The shiny, new Windows Vista beckons, and an upgrade is mighty tempting. But before you take the plunge, be aware that you may end up forking out a lot more money than just the cost of an operating system upgrade.
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12.2.2007 20 Hidden Windows Vista Tools
The default installation of Windows Vista weighs in at approximately 8 GB. In fact, Microsoft's latest operating system won't even install with less than 15 GB of space available on the hard drive.
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30.9.2007 12 Hidden Windows Vista Network Tools
Thanks to Steve Jobs for this article. Windows Vista delivers an impressive line up of network tools that can be used to keep the operating system connectivity on a short leash. The total of 12 command-line tools can be used to manage all aspects of Vista networking.
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4.6.2007 Windows Vista Ultimate Could Cost $450
We have absolutely no way of confirming the information ourselves, but according to iTWire, we can expect to really pay out the nose for the most ultimate version of Windows ever conceived, Windows Vista Ultimate.
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30.5.2006 Cost of Vista Business License Offset by Savings, Says Microsoft
For a great many large businesses, "the move to the next Windows" has been an ongoing, daily affair for at least well over a decade. And up until recently, the reasons why this migration tends to proceed so slowly have been, to Microsoft, a complete mystery.
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15.6.2007 DeepMonitor - Detect Hidden Process and Rootkit
Rootkits is a computer security threat that is designed to modify the core software components of the system, inserting code which attempts to hide the infection and provides some additional feature or service to the attacker.
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4.6.2008 How much will Windows 7E really cost?
During the past week, Windows 7E pricing got a lot of buzz as sites got hold of Microsofts pricing details.
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5.7.2009 Microsoft Warns Games Could Cost More
After Electronic Arts representative Keith Ramsdale warned that a new rating system might lead to delays for game launches in the United Kingdom, it's Microsofts turn to rally against the intention of the British government to introduce a reform when it comes to rating videogames.
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1.7.2008 The low-cost laptop that Apple should have built
The buzz around the XO Laptop, aka the One Laptop Per Child groups $100 laptop is growing, with an innovative donation program coming in time for the holidays.
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8.10.2007 Confickers estimated economic cost? $9.1 billion
In a recent blog post, the Cyber Secure Institute claims that based on their previous studies into the average cost of such malware attacks, the economic loss due to the Conficker worm could be as high as $9.1 billion.
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24.4.2009 The low-cost laptop offer Microsoft cant refuse
As the release of low-cost laptops based on Intel's upcoming Atom processor draws near, Microsoft is getting boxed into a corner.
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1.4.2008 Microsoft launches new low-cost PC effort in India
Microsoft has launched another low-cost PC effort in India, this time partnering with chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices in an effort to get more computers into the hands of students.
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28.6.2007 How to Install Vista Language Packs MUI on all versions of Vista + video tutorial
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Vista Home Premium, and Vista Business versions of the Microsoft licensing restrictions can only preserve a language!
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23.9.2008 The Vista Built-in Super Administrator Account Has Survived in Vista SP1
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is designed to evolve the RTM version of the latest Windows client from Microsoft, made available in November 2006 to business customers, and in January 2007 to the general consumers.
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15.2.2008 Vista SP1 Is Out, XP SP3 Old News, the Pink Edition of Vista Is In
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is now nothing more than water under the bridge, now that the service pack was released to manufacturing on February 4, 2008, shipping to general users on March 18.
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27.3.2008 Tell Hasta la Vista to XP - Time to Upgrade to Vista SP1
Like it or not, this is the right time not only to upgrade to Windows Vista Service Pack 1 but also to tell hasta la vista to Windows XP.
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30.6.2008 Instant Change Vista Product ID with Vista ProductID Changer
In past we have reviewed number of application to recover product key like Product Key Finder, WinGuggle, Windows product Key Finder.
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1.11.2009 Vista SP1 RC1 Flies Past Vista RTM and Windows XP SP2
Despite the fact that Microsoft has expressed its official position regarding testing Windows Vista Service Pack 1 ahead of its finalization, there is simply too much of a hunger for the service pack.
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27.12.2007 Vista SP1 Won't Resolve the 4 GB RAM Limitation of 32-bit Windows Vista
32-bit Windows operating systems, and Windows Vista makes no exception whatsoever to this rule, are limited in terms of the amount of system memory that can be addressed to no more than 4 GB.
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4.1.2008 Vista Loader 2.1.3 - Windows Vista Activator 2008 Support SP1 with No Boot String
Vista Loader is one of the most successful Vista activation crack available to date, second only to physical modify (hardmod) the BIOS to include SLIC table to make BIOS Vista activation-compliant.
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15.5.2008 x64 Vista SP2 JPG Rendering Performance Inferior to x86 Vista SP2's
The JPG rendering process on 64-bit flavors of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 is inferior to that on the 32-bit variants of the operating system.
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10.6.2009 Microsoft to Kill the Grace Timer and OEM BIOS Windows Vista Cracks with Vista SP1
With the advent of Windows Vista, cracks also became available being designed to bypass the activation process of the operating system.
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4.12.2007 New Vista OEM Activation Hack - Vista Boot by gkend
Thanks to Steve Jobs for this article on his blog and to our forum members to clecha, Nighthief and fitterphil120 for most of the findings. One again the Chinese come up with a new method to trick out the Vista Activation. We have seen Softmode and VistaLoader, however Vista Boot by gkend does promise even more.
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21.5.2007 Windows Vista on Super Nintendo, As Real As Vista on PSP
We're puzzled and confused... How can a console that's at least ten times less powerful than the acclaimed PSP cope with Windows Vista's requirements?
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15.8.2007 Vista RTM vs. Vista SP1 - Office 2007 benchmarking
Enough with benchmarking the OS - lets see if Office 2007 is any faster on Vista SP1.
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26.2.2008 Microsoft Says Vista SP1 Needs to Speak the Same Language as Vista RTM
Microsoft says that Windows Vista Service Pack 1 needs to speak the same language as the RTM version of the latest Windows client. Otherwise there's no game.
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2.4.2008 Vista SP1 to Cure the Vista RTM Wow Hangover
When Windows Vista was unleashed in January 31, 2008, Microsoft was promising performance, security, innovation, all wrapped up under an umbrella of a Wow user experience.
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11.4.2008 Vista-For-Free coupon with Vista ready PC's
Microsoft and the world's leading PC vendors have reached an agreement to promote the long-awaited Vista OS by offering PC buyers worldwide a free upgrade coupon, as a way of encouraging them to buy a Vista-capable PC as early as possible, according to market sources, citing information leaked from Taiwan-based PC makers.
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11.10.2006 Can Vista SP1 help polish Vistas tarnished image?
Call it complaining. Call it whining. The end result is the same: Windows Vistas image is tarnished. And its corroding more and more rapidly as the weeks are going on. Thanks to pacpis for this news.
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21.8.2007 Vista SP1 Features the Same Sins as Windows Vista
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 comes with the same sins as Windows Vista. The service pack is not even out the door, and is already putting users at risk.
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16.1.2008Hidden Vista tools
If Sven Hallauer ever has a moment to reflect in his Redmond office, he can feel quietly pleased with himself.
As the release
manager for Vista, he had overall responsibility during the development period for the success of the Most Secure Windows Ever project.
For Hallauer, however, the flexibility of the new operating system is just as important as the security features. In particular, Vista is
equipped with far better admin tools than previous versions. Previously, administrators were forced to add tools from Resource Kits, but now Vista
comes with a lot of tools already on board, as well explain later.
You can tell just by looking at the increased minimum hardware
requirements that theres a lot more in the new version of Windows. It used to be possible to keep an installation of Windows 95 under 200MB, but Vista
requires 40 times more hard disk space. Even in comparison to Windows XP, Vista needs five times more space.
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27.09.2007Office 2003/XP Add-in: Remove Hidden Data v1.1
With this add-in you can permanently remove hidden and collaboration data, such as change tracking and comments, from Word 2003/XP, Excel 2003/XP, and
PowerPoint 2003/XP files.
When you distribute an Office document electronically, the document might contain information that you
do not want to share publicly, such as information youve designated as hidden or information that allows you to collaborate on writing and editing
the document with others.
The Remove Hidden Data add-in is a tool that you can use to remove personal or hidden data that might
not be immediately apparent when you view the document in your Microsoft Office application.
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30.05.2008Hidden Costs of a Windows Vista Upgrade
The shiny, new Windows Vista
beckons, and an upgrade is
mighty tempting. But before
you take the plunge, be aware
that you may end up forking
out a lot more money than just
the cost of an operating
system upgrade. Here are 15
reasons to upgrade and here
are 6 on why you should wait
on Vista.
A lot
more than just cash is on the
line as well, because you may
also spend plenty of time
upgrading your hardware to
make sure it's Vista-ready.
Read on before you upgrade;
being forewarned is being
forearmed.
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12.02.2007Low Cost Laptops : Microsoft Paints Itself Into A Corner
As the release of low-cost laptops based on Intel's upcoming Atom Processor draws near, Microsoft is getting boxed into a corner. The software
company plans to stop selling most Windows XP licenses after June 30, yet most of these low-cost laptops won't be powerful enough to run Vista
when they arrive later this year.
Windows Vista isn't a viable option in this product segment! It's too expensive and does not work
on the stripped-down hardware configurations required to keep prices low. That leaves Microsoft executives with a choice: Do they extend the
availability of Windows XP for low-cost laptops, or possibly concede this nascent market to Linux?
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01.04.2008Gears of War maps become free
The formally premium Xbox Live Map Pack for Gears of War, Hidden Fronts is now going for the best price around.
Already boasting
a download level reaching half a million Gears of War fans, Hidden Fronts has now shaken off its US$10 premium price tag and become free from
today.
Packing four multiplayer maps Bullet Marsh, the ever popular Garden, Process and Subway, Hidden Front is sure to
continue Gears reign as the most popular title on Xbox Live since its release at the end of 2006.
On Xbox Live it will soon be
the battle of the big guns, with Halo 3 set to launch on September 25. For Microsoft it is a battle they cannot lose, unless, of course, the Xbox
Live service has a meltdown from over use.
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04.09.2007Loopt to Become First Third-Party iPhone Service to Run in background for $
Silicon
Alley Insider is saying that Loopt (a social network tool that sends your location) has worked with AT&T to allow it to almost run in the background,
sending updates on location 24/7 (assuming that your phone is on 24/7!).
Thanks to AT&T and your permission, Loopt will be using server-server to
communicate your location whenever you have a working network connection. It appears to work in the background, since it is all background
server-server workings, but Apple does not allow the application to be physically running in the background, causing the possibility of memory
shortages. The CEO of Loopt claims this is their most requested feature.
Loopt, which was highlighted at the App Store launch at Apple's
Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2008, allows users to track the locations of their friends and offers several related social networking
features. But until now, Loopt and other similar services such as Google Latitude have required iPhone users to be actively using their applications
to locate other users. Despite the fact that Loopt currently only updates a user's location every 1-2 hours, implementation of an "always-on"
location tracking service will lead to more useful tracking of friends and development of additional location-based features as the technology
continues to develop.
Loopt is offering a free 14-day trial of the background service for a 5,000 user trial. Always-on service beyond the
initial trial period will cost $3.99 per month and will appear on users' AT&T bills.
Silicon Alley Insider is saying that Loopt
(a social network tool that sends your location) has worked with AT&T to allow it to almost run in the background, sending updates on location 24/7
(assuming that your phone is on 24/7!).
Thanks to AT&T and your permission, Loopt will be using server-server to communicate your location
whenever you have a working network connection. It appears to work in the background, since it is all background server-server workings, but Apple
does not allow the application to be physically running in the background, causing the possibility of memory shortages. The CEO of Loopt claims this
is their most requested feature.
Loopt, which was highlighted at the App Store launch at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June
2008, allows users to track the locations of their friends and offers several related social networking features. But until now, Loopt and other
similar services such as Google Latitude have required iPhone users to be actively using their applications to locate other users. Despite the fact
that Loopt currently only updates a user's location every 1-2 hours, implementation of an "always-on" location tracking service will lead to more
useful tracking of friends and development of additional location-based features as the technology continues to develop.
Loopt is offering
a free 14-day trial of the background service for a 5,000 user trial. Always-on service beyond the initial trial period will cost $3.99 per month and
will appear on users' AT&T bills.
..
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05.09.2009MS: It's Okay to Buy Vista OEM Software
Microsoft has given the go
ahead for users to buy the
low-cost OEM copies of Windows
Vista now appearing on sites
like Newegg.com; however, they
would be expected to adhere to
the licensing terms just like
any other computer
manufacturer...
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30.01.2007Vista, Word and Google Desktop circumvent TrueCrypt function
Cryptography expert
Bruce Schneier, in conjunction with a research group, has studied the
security of TrueCrypt, to see whether it meets the specifications for a
'Deniable File System' (DFS) implemented in TrueCrypt as hidden volumes and is really able to conceal the existence of a
volume within a standard system environment.
Hidden volumes are intended to conceal even the existence of encrypted files. It
allows a PC owner to deny having specific encrypted data on his PC. Even where a suspect in a police investigation reveals the key to an outer
container in order to avoid a jail term, he or she can still deny the existence of a concealed inner container. This is known as
deniable encryption. For the authorities, the only solution to this
would be to make the private use of encryption itself illegal.
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17.07.2008Enable Vista's hidden administrator account, and password-protect its equivalent in XP
You probably know about the "hidden" administrator account in Windows XP. It's the only account on XP systems on which no other accounts have been
created. Until you add a new account, you zip right to the desktop when you boot the OS, with no stop at the Welcome screen. Once you set up one or
more new accounts, the default administrator disappears, though you can bring it back in both XP Home and Pro (more on this below).
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13.02.2008The Hidden Money Trail
Those programs that pelt you
with ads and bog down your PC
are financed by some of
America's largest companies...
pcworld.com -
03.10.2005Kernel vulnerability found in Windows Vista
A flaw has been found in Windows Vista that could allow rootkits to be hidden or denial-of-service attacks to be executed on computers using the
operating system.
The vulnerability was found by Thomas Unterleitner of Austrian security company Phion, and announced on Friday.
Unterleitner told ZDNet UK on Friday that Phion told Microsoft about the flaw in October, but he understood that a fix would only be issued in the
next Vista service pack.
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23.11.2008If Not Vista Enterprise, Then What?
Microsoft's Vista Enterprise licensing changes mean some businesses will adopt something else. Could it be Linux? The answer is surprising. Microsoft
made radical changes to Windows licensing with Vista. Businesses could buy earlier versions on new PCs or through volume licensing. The majority of
businesses choose to buy through OEMs, which accounts for more than 80 percent of Windows client revenue.
With Vista, the Enterprise
version can only be purchased through volume licensing and Software Assurance, which adds the price plus X to the software's cost. The potential cost
increase is significant. On top of the license cost, "You'll pay at least $90 for SA on Vista for three years, plus you have to upgrade Vista
Business on new machines to Enterprise edition, which takes extra time and money," said Paul DeGroot, lead desktop strategies analyst for Directions
on Microsoft.
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22.08.2007Sony Uncloaks Hidden DRM Code
Criticism prompts release of a
patch that identifies copy
controls to security software...
pcworld.com -
05.11.2005iPhone 3.0 beta reveals hidden video editing graphics
One of the gripes many people have with Apple's iPhone is the lack of video features. It's been rumored that there will be video included in
the next iteration, suspected for a June announcement, but it seems Apple isn't leaving it at that. AppleInsider is reporting that a Austrian site
named Benm.at has discovered graphics in the latest iPhone 3.0 beta, that suggest video editing will be coming with the next iPhone release. Many
other cellphones makers include basic video editing tools with their phones, so it doesn't come as much of a surprise that Apple will do the same.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
06.04.2009Chrome Tip of the Week #1: Allowing more bookmarks in the bookmarks bar
jcxp.net - 09.07.2009
FTC Seeks to Halt Alleged
Spyware Site
Agency says Kazanon
file-sharing software packs
hidden programs that can't be
removed with standard
utilities...
pcworld.com - 06.10.2005
Windows XP, R.I.P. -- except on low-cost PCs
Microsoft says it will provide Windows XP Home for low-cost computers for at least two more years, but it's sticking to its June 30 cutoff date for
sales of the older operating system for mainstream PCs -- rebuffing calls to keep offering Windows XP as a Windows Vista alternative.
That means XP soon won't be available on store shelves or pre-installed on PCs, unless they're part of a category that Microsoft is defining as
"ultra low-cost" machines, such as the Asus Eee PC and Intel Classmate PC, which generally lack the hardware needed to run Windows Vista
adequately.
winbeta.org - 04.04.2008
Feature Comparison (Windows Vista vs Legacy Windows OS)
The combined features of Windows Vista create the best choice for a mainstream operating system for businesses of all sizes. Whether a corporation
deploys Windows Vista on a single computer or through a worldwide network, Windows Vista increases your computing power while lowering the total cost
of desktop ownership.
winbeta.org - 13.01.2008
Death match: Windows Vista versus XP
So there you are, signing the "Save XP" petition, shaking your fist in triumph as you stick it to "the man." It's a liberating feeling. You've
found the courage to buck the trend and jump off the Wintel upgrade treadmill. You feel empowered, enlightened. But still, there are these nagging
doubts.
Can you really skip the Vista upgrade cycle? Will Windows XP still be properly supported by Microsoft and, as a primary
development target, by third parties? Is there something we've missed, some hidden gotcha that's going to trip us up 12, 18, or 24 months from now?
winbeta.org - 18.03.2008
Microsoft offers free support for Vista SP1 installs
Microsoft Corp. is offering free support to any Windows Vista user experiencing
problems with installing Service Pack 1 (SP1), according to a company spokesman.
" needing technical support regarding
your installation of Windows Vista SP1, please go to the following URL and choose the bottom option that says, 'Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (All
Languages),'" said Brandon LeBlanc, a Microsoft employee who posted several comments to the company's Vista blog. The link LeBlanc pointed users to led to a Vista
SP1-specific support site.
"You have a variety of options you can choose for support, all of which will not cost you any support fee," said LeBlanc. "I repeat:
Support for SP1 will not cost you anything."
winbeta.org - 24.03.2008
