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Vista is Good… XP SP3 is Better… Slightly. |
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May 03, 2008 - 10:05 AM - by Digital Dave
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If you read all the press about Vista it’s the worst thing since “New Coke” hit the market. Seriously, what were those folks thinking when they decided to release that debacle? I remember when it was released people FLIPPED! I not talking kinda-sorta flipped, I’m talking flipped out like someone on 20 RedBulls flipped! Why would you try and change something that was about as good as it could get (yes, I know, if you are a Pepsi fan you hate Coke but this is my babble and I’m using Coke as an example here).
So here we sit, at a crossroads of sort, staring at our computers wondering what to do? Do we stick with XP and install SP3? Or, do we take the plunge and install Vista with SP1? Is Vista about as cooked as it’s going to get? Has XP been taken about as far as it can go? The answer to both is yes but in my personal opinion XP SP3 has a slight lead (and I do mean slight).
As with every operating system we all have used, v1.0 has pretty much been a pain in the ass for the most part. We all had to learn about the new features, install new drivers, upgrade this component and that component, and we loved it (admit it, you did). But, people seem to forget our beloved XP was hammered relentlessly prior to SP2 for having more holes in it than a slice of Swiss cheese. Day after day XP took beating after beating for security vulnerabilities and the press was more than happy to supply the bats for the beating party.
Microsoft then announces it’s going to fix those issues and SP2 is going to force people to make some changes to applications and for the most part all of us were told we better get ready for a more secure computing environment and basically, we needed to just deal with it. Well the world just exploded! Microsoft was going to tell US how to be secure? LOL! You have got to be kidding me! Well they did, and after the beating bats were collected, we were left with SP2 and guess what? The world didn’t explode and we WERE left with a more secure computing environment but…then… well, talk turned to SP3 and lordy, what an outcry when we were told it would take THIS long to get. We were not happy campers.
As you all know MS has been playing “chicken” with XP SP3 and now that we are on the cusp of FINALLY getting it, it was pulled INDEFINITLY, because of some bug with Microsoft Dynamics. Thankfully the Internet took care of us again and it’s readily available from a host of sites. I have tried SP3 myself on about 10 machines, from laptops to high-end desktops, and it has installed beautifully on all of them. It literally was one of the easiest SP’s I have ever installed and now we have word the folks who have TechNet accounts can get XP with XP SP3 already integrated which makes it even easier to stick with XP and people are in droves. Why? Simple… it works.
Now Vista is a different story, but what a lot of people seem to miss when it comes to Vista is the simple fact... [Read More]
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6 Replies | 790 Views
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The Microsoft Heyday Is Over… It’s Anyone’s Game Now. |
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Apr 30, 2008 - 6:28 AM - by Digital Dave
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1994…
Back in 1994 I was working at a large university and was just thrilled to be there. Computers were becoming more and more mainstream, people were standing in long lines looking to get more memory which back then could cost you 100.00 a MEG (yea, I’ve been doing this that long) and Microsoft was becoming the undisputed king of software.
Windows 95 was on the horizon. I remember like it was yesterday running up to the university’s store (back when I could run and not have to take 2 Aleve afterwards) looking for the much rumored magazine which promised the first screen shots of Windows 95. I found what I was looking for and like the kid (Charlie) in Charlie and Chocolate Factory, after buying the magazine I ran back to the datacenter, went out back and slowly opened up the magazine and gazed upon the screen shots. I must have spent an hour looking and reading the magazine. When I was done, I put it back into the bag it came in, went back inside the building, put it in my desk and spent the rest of the day going through my home system in my mind wondering what I needed to upgrade to get Windows 95 successfully installed.
Summer if 1995…
The world was abuzz with what we were about to see. Microsoft had blasted the “Geek” world promising a new type of innovation on the desktop the likes of which have never been seen before.
Back in those days I use to attend a bi-monthly computer show down in San Diego and as the release date drew closer for Windows 95 the buzz around the show got stronger and stronger. Hardware and software people were all about touting how they would support one of the most anticipated software release ever conceived at the time. Microsoft was going to have the Rolling Stones play at the release party (SAY WHAT!) and everyone I knew was comparing notes to what they had found out from this person and that person making sure we all knew what we needed to run the OS.
It’s Released…
There I stand with it finally in my hands. I was one of the lucky ones who got the OS in the university store that summer and I couldn’t wait to get home and install it. I had done all that I could to my home system making sure I had enough memory, hard disk space, and graphics so I could get the FULL experience of the OS.
When I was done with work, I drove home and notified my family I was going to be busy and NOT to bug me! My wife at the time looked at me like “you are out of your f*** mind. You get to help with the boy first and then you can go and play.” So I did what I needed to do with my son, got him tucked into bed and then went and installed Windows 95. I was up ALL night playing, tweaking, and looking at every corner of the OS. I installed and then uninstalled stuff thinking if I installed it a... [Read More]
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3 Replies | 828 Views
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Windows Home Server Backup Problem Fixed |
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May 10, 2008 - 9:03 AM - by Digital Dave
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Sweet...
A bug that caused problems when backing up files in Windows Home Server has been fixed, according to an announcement issued by Microsoft on Wednesday. Windows Home Server is Microsoft's consumer server product, billed as an easy-to-use storage and networking solution.
The problem stemmed from the use of NTFS to compress files via "advanced attributes settings." Files saved in this way typically got corrupted during backups.
Full Article Over On Redmondmag.com
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0 Replies | 25 Views
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Hackers Find a New Place to Hide Rootkits |
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May 10, 2008 - 8:55 AM - by Digital Dave
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More good news on the security front.
Security researchers have developed a new type of malicious rootkit software that hides itself in an obscure part of a computer's microprocessor, hidden from current antivirus products.
Called a System Management Mode (SMM) rootkit, the software runs in a protected part of a computer's memory that can be locked and rendered invisible to the operating system, but which can give attackers a picture of what's happening in a computer's memory.
The SMM rootkit comes with keylogging and communications software and could be used to steal sensitive information from a victim's computer. It was built by Shawn Embleton and Sherri Sparks, who run an Oviedo, Florida, security company called Clear Hat Consulting.
More Over On Pcworld.com
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0 Replies | 17 Views
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Iron Key - A Self-Destructing USB Key |
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May 10, 2008 - 8:50 AM - by Digital Dave
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This is really a interesting USB storage device. Secure on all fronts and available with multiple memory configurations.
IronKey, designed to be the world's most secure USB flash drive, locks down your sensitive files and passwords with some of today's most advanced security technologies, including hardware encryption for safeguarding your data and advanced Internet protection software and services for securing your passwords and web browsing. And even if your IronKey is lost or stolen, not only is your data still protected, but you can restore it from an encrypted backup to a new IronKey and be up and running again in no time.
Read More Over On Ironkey.com
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0 Replies | 14 Views
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Windows XP Service Pack 3 ISO CD Image File |
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May 09, 2008 - 5:46 PM - by Digital Dave
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And... downloading. Burn baby burn!
Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released updates for the operating system. This update also includes a small number of new functionalities, which do not significantly change customers’ experience with the operating system.
Dowload from the Mighty MS.
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0 Replies | 77 Views
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PowerShell 2.0 Will Get A GUI AND Remote Server Management Support |
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May 09, 2008 - 5:44 PM - by Digital Dave
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And the Microsoft Gods have listened!
Two of the single most begged for features for PowerShell, the devastatingly useful scripting tool now made an integral part of Windows Server 2008 and Exchange Server 2007, are being addressed in the Community Technology Preview for version 2.0.
As Microsoft now confirms, there will be a unique graphical front end for editing scripts and running commands and cmdlets (compiled PowerShell keywords). And yes, Virginia, there will be a newly supported remote link to servers running Server Core, the new minimal Windows installation introduced in WS2K8.
Full Article Over On Betanews.com
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0 Replies | 47 Views
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Mozilla Ships Worm With Firefox Addon... |
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May 09, 2008 - 5:41 PM - by Digital Dave
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Thankfully I don't have a need for the Vietnamese language pack.
Mozilla Corp. yesterday warned users about a worm that slipped into Firefox's Vietnamese language add-on and went undetected for months.
The malware-infected file has been pulled from Mozilla's servers.
"The Vietnamese language pack for Firefox 2 contains inserted code to load remote content," Window Snyder, Mozilla's chief security executive, confirmed in a post to the company's blog on Wednesday. "Everyone who downloaded the most recent Vietnamese language pack since Feb. 18, 2008, got an infected copy."
Full Article Over On Computerworld.com
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0 Replies | 42 Views
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Trojan Infects More Than 500,000 PCs |
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May 09, 2008 - 5:31 PM - by Digital Dave
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Well this is not the way I wanted to start the weekend.
Adware purveyors are using fake MP3 and MPG files on peer-to-peer networks to spread their wares.
The Trojan is spreading through MP3 and MPG files disguised to look like audio or video recordings. Some of the bogus file names are listed in a McAfee blog. When downloaded, users are directed to a Web site and prompted to download a file called PLAY_MP3.exe, McAfee researcher Craig Schmugar reported in the company’s blog.
Full Article Over On Eweek.com
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0 Replies | 41 Views
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Sun's JavaOne show re-dubbed 'VomitOne' |
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May 09, 2008 - 5:28 PM - by Digital Dave
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Thankfully I missed this show.
The thousands of techies who came to Sun Microsystems Inc.'s JavaOne conference this week were exposed not to a computer virus, but the nasty norovirus, which causes fevers and roiling stomachs.
"Several" people were confirmed to have gotten ill so far after attending the show at the city's Moscone Convention Center, according to a statement released Thursday by the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
Norovirus is similar to a bad case of stomach flu. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and nausea. It is considered highly contagious.
One wag Twittered that the show should be renamed VomitOne for its final day, Friday.
Full Sick Bag Article Over On Computerworld.com
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0 Replies | 38 Views
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Nvidia CEO details his beef with Intel |
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May 09, 2008 - 5:25 PM - by Digital Dave
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Talk about fearless... AMD has been trying this for years!
Huang will tear into Intel when he thinks it's warranted. And Intel may have reason to be worried about the content of Huang's candor. Despite Intel's colossal size and and clout, Nvidia--not Intel--supplies the defining chip for the most savvy computer users: game enthusiasts. They depend on Nvidia graphics chips to deliver the spectacular visuals of games like Crysis.
And few people will deny that computing is becoming more visual. The GPU is essentially a parallel-computing engine that is extremely efficient at running visual (and scientific) software--that is, many of the popular graphics, video, and photo applications now running on PCs.
Full Sit Down Interview Over On News.com
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0 Replies | 37 Views
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Xbox 360 To Get A New Chip... |
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May 09, 2008 - 5:22 PM - by Digital Dave
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Damn... now I have to go out and buy a new one.
Microsoft Corp. reportedly plans to release a new version its Xbox 360 video game system code-named Jasper in August and has already assigned IBM and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to make chips for the new game console. However, there are other important rumours: TSMC got orders to produce the chip for code-named Valhalla Xbox 360 design, which is rumoured to combine microprocessor and graphics chip in a single piece of silicon.
The code-named Jasper design of the Xbox 360 game console will use ATI Xenos graphics and memory controller hub (GMCH) made using 65nm process at TSMC as well as IBM Xenon central processing unit (CPU) produced at IBM’s 65nm nodes. The new system design is projected to consume less electricity, use less complex cooling systems and also produce less noise.
Full Article Over On xbitlabs.com
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0 Replies | 52 Views
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Windows XP SP3 Is Causing Global Warming... |
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May 09, 2008 - 2:30 PM - by Digital Dave
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Yep, you read right... Windows XP SP3 is causing global warming.
How?
Well, it seems certain systems are ending up in an endless reboot cycle and with all the startup power required to boot the system from beginning to end I have come to the conclusion SP3 is contributing to massive power consumption thus it is causing global warming.
Now, if you add-in the initinal problems with SP1 causing the same exact issue, one would have to assume Windows XP and Vista are now responsible for at least one ice glacier melting due to the heat all those endlessly rebooting PC's are generating.
Yep... install XP SP3 and you might be killing the planet.
Hey, it ain't my conscience (plus I got it installed... no problem'o)
Later - Digital "Green" Dave
P.S. Anyone have a generator I could borrow just in case I'm actually right here? Seriously... I can't live without the "Internet's", my 52in satellite tv, two full networks, 3 routers, 7 laptops, and three servers. Wait... let me ask this question again... does anyone have a BIG generator I could borrow?
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0 Replies | 59 Views
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Windows XP SP3 feels snappier and tighter |
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May 09, 2008 - 2:22 PM - by Digital Dave
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Yea, I would tend to agree for the most part.
On Wednesday Microsoft made the Windows XP SP3 available on Windows Update. Since I am not as daring as I was when I was younger, I waited until then to install XP SP3 on my PC.
The first good news is that everything still works and the upgrade of the Service Pack 3 went down without issues.
It has been two days since the update and it might just be me, but XP feels better than before. There are less delays in file explorer ops and overall things seem snappier to me.
Full Article Over On i4u.com
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0 Replies | 66 Views
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Windows XP SP3 Causes Havoc, Users Complaining |
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May 09, 2008 - 2:18 PM - by Digital Dave
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I don't know if the word havoc is the way I would describe it... but... that's just me.
Also, those of U who are running IE 8.0 beta will also not be able to install it AND (yep, their be more...) those who DO get SP3 installed will be stuck with IE 7.0 and will NOT be able to downgrade back to I.E. 6.0.
The service pack should offer a number of enhancements over the current version of the OS, which Microsoft is phasing out after June 30th. It includes all updates issued since Windows XP Service Pack 2 was released in 2004, and some new elements.
Among them: A feature called Network Access Protection that's borrowed from the newer Windows Vista operating system. NAP automatically validates a computer's health, ensuring that it's free of bugs and viruses before allowing it access to a network.
Windows XP SP3 also includes improved "black hole" router detection -- a feature that automatically detects routers that are silently discarding packets. In XP SP3, the feature is turned on by default, according to Microsoft.
Additionally, Windows XP SP3 steals a page from Vista's product activation model, meaning that product keys for each copy of the operating system don't need to be entered during setup. The feature should prove popular with corporate IT managers, who often need to oversee hundreds or thousands of operating system installations.
Full Article Over On Informationweek.com
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0 Replies | 41 Views
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Parallels update adds Vista SP1, XP SP3 support |
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May 09, 2008 - 1:10 PM - by Digital Dave
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This is good news for the folks who use Parallels.
Windows virtualization application Parallels received an update on Friday, adding some significant new features to the Mac program.
Among the changes is support for Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 with Boot Camp and Microsoft Windows XP SP3 with the Boot Camp support. Vista SP1 (Service Pack) and XP SP3 were recently released updates for Windows.
Full Post over on Macworld.com
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0 Replies | 47 Views
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AMD + Win SP3 = Endless Reboots |
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May 09, 2008 - 10:24 AM - by Digital Dave
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Uh-Oh...
Installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 sends some PCs into an endless series of reboots, according to posts to a Microsoft support forum.
Jesper Johansson, a former program manager for security policy at Microsoft Corp. and a prominent Windows blogger, has worked with users to tentatively identify the problem as involving only machines using processors from Advanced Micro Devices Inc.
Messages from frustrated users began accumulating on the XP SP3 support newsgroup Wednesday, just a day after Microsoft released the update to the general public.
Full Article Over On Computerworld.com
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0 Replies | 56 Views
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Opera for Windows 9.50 Build 9981 Beta |
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May 09, 2008 - 9:33 AM - by Digital Dave
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For the Opera folks who need it.
Opera lets you surf the Internet in a safer, faster, and easier way. One of the most full-featured Internet power tools on the market, it includes pop-up blocking, tabbed browsing, integrated searches, and advanced functions like Opera's groundbreaking E-mail program, RSS Newsfeeds and IRC chat.
Download from fileforum.betanews.com
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0 Replies | 41 Views
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Adobe Blames Missing Shipment On Customer For Using The Online Store |
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May 09, 2008 - 9:22 AM - by Digital Dave
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**head shake** WHAT!
Amy launched an EECB to Adobe, after her $2600 worth of software failed to ship on time. Or at all. No one at Adobe customer service can tell her why it didn't ship, or if it ever will, but one CSR suggested it was her fault for ordering through the online store rather than through a sales rep. He says no one tracks the orders on the online store, which makes absolutely no sense. What's the point in having an online store if no one fills the orders? Why the tease, Adobe? Check out her EECB inside.
Full Article over on Consumerist.com
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0 Replies | 45 Views
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Microsoft preps four security patches |
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May 09, 2008 - 6:32 AM - by Digital Dave
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Love me some patches!
Microsoft has given advanced notification of four security patches in this month's Patch Tuesday on 13 May.
The update will include fixes for vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office, Windows and OneCare.
Three of the vulnerabilities have been rated 'critical', Microsoft's highest security level. A fourth was rated 'moderate'.
Full Article Over On vnunet.com
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0 Replies | 48 Views
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Windows Vista More Vulnerable To Malware Than Windows 2000 |
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May 09, 2008 - 6:18 AM - by Digital Dave
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Say what!
Microsoft's Vista operating system is more susceptible to malware than Windows 2000, and though it's 37% more secure than Windows XP, it's still too vulnerable.
That's the contention of security vendor PC Tools Software, which has a financial interest in the vulnerability of Microsoft's software.
"Ironically, the new operating system has been hailed by Microsoft as the most secure version of Windows to date," said Simon Clausen, CEO of PC Tools, in a statement. "However, recent research conducted with statistics from over 1.4 million computers within the ThreatFire community has shown that Windows Vista is more susceptible to malware than the eight year old Windows 2000 operating system, and only 37% more secure than Windows XP."
Full Article over on Informationweek.com
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0 Replies | 47 Views
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