News You Can Use

Here is some of the latest news that pertains to CPU Help with regard to the Current Events of the computer industry.

1.  Don't Forget -- CPU Help's online computer configuration program makes it easy to configure/order a, File Server, desktop computer system or notebook computer right from your own computer desktop with the options of your choice along with the current day's pricing.  All of the computer systems are kept up to date with new systems and options appearing on the configurator as they become available.  And remember, as always, 2nd Day shipping on the Notebook Computers is FREE!.

2.  VISTA LAUNCH SURVIVAL GUIDE- Here is what I tell my customers when they ask me to "Tell them about Vista":

Microsoft Windows Vista is a brand new operating system designed to dramatically improve the computing experience of everyone from the casual home user to the business power user.  Because different user groups have different needs, there are four different editions of Vista each tailored to meet specific needs.

a.  Windows Vista Home Basic is designed for the home user with basic computing needs like simple spreadsheets and word processing, web browsing and email.  It is more secure and easier to use than XP Home and integrates a powerful search tool and new parental control features.

b.  Windows Vista Home Premium is the mainstream edition of Vista for the home user.  It is designed to improve every aspect of the digital entertainment by delivering all the capabilities of Windows Media Center.   Home Premium has a new user interface named Windows Aero that makes it easier to accomplish multiple tasks by providing three dimensional, real-time animated view of all open windows on the desktop.

c.  Windows Vista Business is designed for the business user.  It includes the Windows Aero user interface and incorporates key business features such as Domain Join, Group Policy support, Encrypting File System, Fax and Scan and mobility features like PC-to-PC Synchronization.

d.  Windows Vista Ultimate is the flagship edition of Vista encompassing every use model.  Ultimate is the first operating system to combine the digital entertainment features of a home system with the advanced infrastructure features of a business system.

3.  Tom's Hardware on Vista:
...In its current state Vista is too unstable at least from a graphics perspective and cumbersome in a number of ways to be attractive to gamers and even professional consumers. I'm not too keen on some of the networking issues I had to deal with in transferring stored performance data and getting the test system ready. Some of the gadgets for the desktop looked cool but lost their pizzazz within 30 minutes of installing a new one. Pong and Tic-Tac-Toe tend to get boring after a while and some of the other gizmos are built into applications I currently use.  I do look forward to some of the games that are scheduled for this year such as Supreme Commander, which will make good use of geometry shaders, and the star of 2007, Crysis. Like other platform renewals, Vista will take a year to achieve reliability and stability and up to an additional year for data and infrastructure critical environments to move to it...
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/01/17/gameplay-only-gets-worse-with-vista/page11.html

4.  More VISTA information: 
Windows XP vs. Vista: The Benchmark Rundown -
Generally, 2%-25% slower performance with a 2GB machine using Vista.
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/01/29/xp-vs-vista/

Office 2003 definitely works with Vista!  However there are some types of software that you should only use if they have been specifically designed for Windows Vista: Firewalls, Anti-Spyware and Anti-Virus software all need to be Vista-Ready.

Analysis: Vista's Ready Boost is no match for RAM
The performance gain that is achieved from going from 512 MB to 1 GB, which is a very affordable decision nowadays, is absolutely worth the money, even if you have to drag your computer into a local PC store and have service people take care of the upgrade.
http://www.tgdaily.com/2007/02/08/analysis_vista_ready_boost/

Useful site:  Programs that work or don't work on Vista -
http://www.iexbeta.com/wiki/index.php/Windows_Vista_Software_Compatibility_List

"Most" Vista Express upgrades confirmed to ship in March
http://www.tgdaily.com/2007/02/23/vista_express_upgrade/ 

Microsoft compatibility patch for older Office versions to read Office 2007 formats:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=941B3470-3AE9-4AEE-8F43-C6BB74CD1466&displaylang=en

Microsoft Raises Consumer Vista Tech Support Costs
More money, less help is the bottom line on Microsoft's Vista and Office tech support. 
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,128788-page,1/article.html#

Vista UI Is a 'Step Back' for Microsoft
http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20070227/tc_pcworld/129410

Geek to Live: Run Windows XP inside Vista with Virtual PC
http://lifehacker.com/software/windows/geek-to-live--run-windows-xp-inside-vista-with-virtual-pc-238071.php

Interesting story--Who gets the blame for spyware?  Teacher Faces Prison for Pop-Up Infested PC
http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20070207/tc_pcworld/128672

5.  Daylight-saving change could confuse gadgets - Under the bill, Americans in the 48 states that currently observe daylight-saving time (Arizona and Hawaii don't) would move their clocks ahead by an hour starting on the second Sunday of March, rather than the first Sunday of April. They would set clocks back an hour on the first Sunday of November, rather than the last Sunday of October. The changes would take effect beginning one year after the law's enactment or March 1, 2007, whichever date comes later:
http://news.com.com/Daylight+saving+change+could+confuse+gadgets/2100-1041_3-5823792.html
http://www.crn.com/sections/breakingnews/dailyarchives.jhtml;jsessionid=KE3UTQ1K0BP0EQSNDLRCKHSCJUNN2JVN?articleId=197006108

6.  Some great OpenSource software:  http://www.videolan.org/
VLC media player 0.8.6a:  It is a free cross-platform media player.  It supports a large number of multimedia formats without the need for additional codecs.  It can also be used as a streaming server with extended features (video on demand, on the fly transcoding, ...)

We will try to keep you up to date as the news becomes available.
Please feel free to check back often - Have a Great Day!

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