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Microsoft inches closer to XP update

Microsoft late last week released an updated test version of Windows XP Service Pack 3 to about 15,000 beta testers. The update, the third such service pack for the six-year-old operating system is due out in final form in the first half of next year. The company said before its final release it expects to issue a public test version of the service pack, though it did not provide more specificity than at "a later date."

"We are targeting (the first half of) 2008 for the release of XP SP3," Microsoft said, "though our … Read more

Note to Microsoft: 90% of IT executives have concerns with Vista

King Research has issued the results of a survey of IT executives that finds that 90% of IT workers have concerns with Vista, which piles on similar results from a Forrester study which found that more than 50% of IT executives have concerns with rolling out Vista (and that only 32% will do so in 2008).

In fact, the upgrade to Vista is painful enough that "44% have considered non-Windows operating systems, such as Linux and Macintosh, to avoid the Microsoft migration." (Interestingly, 9% of those saying they have considered non-Windows operating systems already in the process of switching and a further 25% expecting to switch within the next year. I can tell you that my own company went from being 100% Windows two years ago and is now 50-60% Mac.) If you're Windows, you're concerned at this point. Very concerned.

But not necessarily with these rival operating systems. As is the case in many open-source companies (where their own software working too well is their biggest competition to their for-fee products), the Microsoft's XP may well be its biggest competitor, as Dave Rosenberg writes:… Read more

More FUD for Windows Vista

Are you kidding me? ZDNet takes something that has been common knowledge for years and treats it as if it was news?

I'm speaking of the dog and pony show that Tom Espiner wrote about on November 13th with the eye catching headline Microsoft exec calls XP hack 'frightening'. Great headline, it got my attention.

The computer in question was running Windows XP with Service Pack 1 and was connected to an unsecured wireless network. Adding more vulnerabilities to the mix, "The machine was running no antivirus, firewall, or anti-spyware software..." according to Mr. Espiner.

I'd … Read more

Windows themes hide danger

While searching for new Windows themes, Saad finds an inauspicious link in a Web forum that leads to an invasion of unwanted software on his PC. Luckily, he follows the advice of CNET Download.com editors to restore his system to a healthy state.

Get advice for avoiding similar dangerous sites during your own Web browsing sessions. Read Saad's tale of Windows theme woes in this week's Spyware Horror Story.

>>See all Spyware Horror Stories

Windows Live OneCare 2.0 released

Microsoft today released the latest version of its all-in-one security product, Windows Live OneCare. In beta since July, version 2.0 offers many enhancements of existing tools and offers several new tools, particularly in the area of networking and backup storage.

Installation from the Windows Live OneCare site requires signing with a Windows Live account. Microsoft says you can use your current Live ID or create a new one for OneCare and, if you wish, use one Live ID for Windows Live OneCare and another Live ID for Windows Live Messenger on the same machine. The Live ID you use … Read more

Vista's biggest problem is Windows XP

Computerworld reports on a recent survey of nearly 600 U.S. and European companies that have more than 1,000 employees; the study says 84 percent of all those companies' PCs now run Windows XP, up from 67 percent the year before."

That sounds pretty good for the Windows monopoly, right? So, one could assume that Vista should start to creep into those numbers.

Nearly a third of the polled businesses--32 percent to be exact--said they would begin deploying Vista by the end of 2008, while another 17 percent said they would start in 2009 or 2010.

Still good, … Read more

Dealing with software crashes, Part 2

The first part of this posting on dealing with software crashes covered preventing the leakage of personal information, portable applications, and controlling the programs that run automatically when Windows starts up. Here we look at dumps, event logs, and disk checking, but first, we pick up on the topic of drivers.

Driver Verifier

In Windows, the term "driver" refers to software used by the operating system to control the hardware in the computer. Each piece of hardware (sound, video, printer) has an associated driver program.

The last topic in the previous posting was an airplane analogy to illustrate … Read more

Microsoft still hoping consumers see 'Wow' in Vista

Microsoft is hoping that with some of Vista's wrinkles ironed out, customers will start noticing more of the advantages the year-old operating system has over its predecessor.

In an interview Wednesday morning, Corporate Vice President Mike Nash acknowledged that the initial experience for many consumers was a frustrating one as they found their old software might not work right or that their hardware lacked the proper driver.

But, he insists, the situation is much better now. Not only are the hardware drivers out there, they are readily available.

"You don't have to go on a scavenger hunt,&… Read more

Report: Microsoft planning a Flickr clone

Judging by a Microsoft job ad, the software giant wants to add a Flickr-like service to its online efforts.

According to text from the ad, republished by Long Zheng's istartedsomething blog, the company is looking for a program manager for a new division of its Windows Live effort.

"This feature team is building a next-generation photo and video sharing service that will compete with Flickr, SmugMug and other photo web solutions today. This is a 'v1' opportunity," the ad said. And video will be a part of the effort, too: "This role will work across … Read more