vista

Microsoft created quite a stir earlier this year when they launched the Windows Genuine Advantage , a program designed to root out the piracy of the company's software. It wasn't so much a "launching" as a sneaky installation, however, as Microsoft ... offered the snitch-like WGA without really telling users exactly what it was they were downloading. The fallout of such questionable business practice landed MS in hot water for some time, and it's only now emerging from that stigma with the highly anticipated launch of Vista. But, can Microsoft stay a step ahead of the pirates in this next ... (view more)

That's gotta hurt! As if being portrayed as a rigid dork in Mac commercials isn't enough, Microsoft took another blow when an email sent in January 2004 was made public at an antitrust trial. The email, which was sent from Windows Development Chief ... James Allchin to CEO Steve Ballmer and co-founder Bill Gates, said "I would buy a Mac if I didn't work for Microsoft." Ouch! (Source: macnn.com ) Allchin published an entry on a Microsoft blog on Monday which stated that he only said he wanted a Mac "for effect." His intention was to convey the severity of Microsoft's problems and push for change. ... (view more)

We knew they'd come. Problems for Vista were sure to stand in the way of a flawless launch, which seems just about impossible considering the massive task accorded Microsoft employees in implementing such a major new piece of software. The first ... notable issue is the OS' failure to run the most recent version of SQL Server, a major problem for business who were given the opportunity to use Vista after its launch at the end of November. Microsoft is scrambling to take care of the matter, although a solution probably couldn't come soon enough for business users. In the works is an upgrade to the ... (view more)

Excited about the pending release of Vista for Home users? Well, prepare yourself for this one: there's much speculation that Microsoft's new operating system could be the last based on Windows, with future operating systems branching out into ... incremental updates instead of massive, periodic releases. Why would Microsoft decapitate an ongoing software project that reaps millions upon millions of dollars? Heck, it's something (almost) everyone needs; one might even consider Windows the oxygen of the computer world. The answer? For one, it costs Microsoft almost as much to create an operating ... (view more)

Microsoft definitely does not need this. Less than two weeks after a rather successful business launch (that did, however, have its own problems), it has become clear that a crack is available to home users that will exploit one of Vista's features ... and allow pirates to use the system for free, for up to 180 days. Although Microsoft is remaining very, very quiet about the crack (with only a rep or two whispering to the media that there's no evidence to support the rumor), it isn't particularly difficult to find a torrent or two offering it up. The key is for the user to obtain a Windows Vista ... (view more)

Vista Readiness Test Is Your PC Vista Ready? TouchStone Software's new Vista Readiness test is safe, simple and fast. In just seconds you will be able to test your PC with this Vista Readiness tool. http://driveragent.com/vista/ Dataface Dataface is ... a flexible and intuitive User Interface which sits on top of MySQL (one of the world's leading Open-source database management systems) making it accessible to normal, every-day users. In practical terms, it automatically generates the appropriate forms, lists, and menus for a user to interact with the database without having to know any SQL ( ... (view more)

For those who like the look of Vista -- with all its flashy new buttons -- there's a program available to give Windows XP, Microsoft's last operating system, a graphical facelift. However, testers of the program, which is called Vista Transformation ... Pack 5.5, report that there are several problems keeping it from becoming a must-have. Think of the Transformation Pack as a Chevrolet Cavalier with big, chrome wheels, tinted windows, and maybe even a flashy spoiler. Underneath the hood, nothing special is going on, but on the surface it looks about as hot as a used Audi. Cool, maybe even ... (view more)

Did we miss something? On the same day that Microsoft is hurrying out Vista business to the outstretched arms of highly aroused corporate entities, security experts at Symantec and Trend Micro are telling the media that they're still working on the ... operating system. We're wondering what this means for the initial batch of Vista units, which were shipped out to businesses yesterday. In fact, the only selected security company to complete their work with Vista is the well-known McAfee. However, that leaves Symantec, Trend Micro, and CA with a lot of work to do. Although home buyers can be ... (view more)

Isn't that sweet. Just when you get the impression that no other company -- even a partner like Novell -- can cooperate with software giant Microsoft, along comes Dell. It appears this new relationship has spawned offspring, in the form of one ... heckuva powerful custom-built PC. It's part of Dell and Microsoft's celebration of the Vista release, and either signifies future joint endeavors, or that MS simply pays hardware producers handsomely. Regardless of your feelings towards either company -- whether you're anti-Windows, anti-Internet Explorer, or even anti-Dell -- the two have certainly ... (view more)

When a technology product goes "gold", generally it means all systems are go, and the final version should soon be lined along retail shelves soon. It's often reason to celebrate, for gamers anticipating the next big title, or in this case, ... businesses anxiously awaiting the release of Microsoft's newest operating system, Windows Vista. However, reports suggest that although Vista is indeed "gold" for corporate users, the OS will be subject to a plethora of updates and patches in the weeks after its first install. Windows Vista is due to launch in just over a week, as November comes to an end ... (view more)