Conspiracy Theory: the Vista-ization of Windows 7 has Started…
Three years ago I wrote: Windows Seven in 2010. Does Anyone Still Care? I simply don’t get it: Vista is barely out, nobody seems to like it, CIO’s refuse to upgrade, analyst firms tell them to wait, individual users who tried it switch back to XP, others time their new PC purchase so they can [...]
Dumb Windows Error Message
This is a fairly standard (?) error message. Except when you don’t install any new devices, just turn on your computer in the morning, with unchanged configuration. Now all of a sudden this cryptic message. I have no idea what it refers to. I used to have a vistasucks tag to tie together my horror [...]
Cleaning up after Antivirus Soft on Vista
It has been about three years since I caught a computer virus, but a nasty little chunk of malware broke through my browser and Anti-Virus last night called Antivirus Soft. Here is a quick way of cleaning up after being taken out by this rogue chunk of malware in a few easy steps. The cleanup [...]
How to Use Picasa on Multiple Computers – The Updated Definitive Guide Part 2: the Solution
This is going to be a fairly detailed how-to guide, so if you are not using Google’s Picasa program, you’ll probably find it boring – and if you are, I strongly suggest you start at Part 1, where we define the problem (Picasa being hopelessly single-user, single-PC focused), why earlier solutions, whether sync-based or network [...]
People must have really hated Vista
Image by techedlive via Flickr Reports are all in that the initial launch of Windows 7 has been a huge success for Microsoft – which is good, because the general reviews of Windows 7, and my own beta testing of the product showed that it was much better than Vista. But when you see something [...]
Why Windows 7 Will Be a Success, Whether Good or Not
Windows 7 hasn’t even arrived yet but the speculation started: What’s wrong with Windows 7. To be fair, the speculation is fueled by an unlikely source: Steve Ballmer himself. He is trying to manage a potential fallout by warning us: “’The test feedback (on Windows 7) has been good, but the test feedback on Vista [...]
Windows Update Sent Me on a Wild Goose Chase
It all started like a routine WinUpdate: downlod 6 updates, install them, then surrender the persistent nuisance and reboot to let Vista do its thing.. then wait .. wait.. coffee .. back. However, after the successful reboot the system wanted to install a device driver to my monitor. I thought it was a bit weird [...]
Oh, No – Yet Another Windows Release?
Two years ago I wrote: Windows Seven in 2010. Does Anyone Still Care? I simply don’t get it: Vista is barely out, nobody seems to like it, CIO’s refuse to upgrade, analyst firms tell them to wait, individual users who tried it switch back to XP, others time their new PC purchase so they can [...]
The Vista Movie
OK, I admit. The title over-promises, the post under-delivers. This won’t be an exciting thriller. In fact it’s outright boring. Like watching paint dry. But that’s exactly the point, Vista took a good minute to delete a single file ( I got bored after 18 seconds and stopped recording). Must be a giant file…. [...]
Vista Update Causes Perpetual Reboot
My Vista-based laptop gave me the Windows has recovered from an unexpected shutdown screen: this is where you have the options to start Windows normally or select one of several “safe” driver- and service-less modes to boot. I picked normal, the system booted .. end of story. Except… I walked away for a little while, [...]
Fifty Reasons Why the Vista Era Did Happen, Indeed
Harry McCracken lists the Sixteen Reasons the Windows Vista Era Never Quite Happened. I almost agree with him, except that I do have 50 reasons to remember the Vista Era: it is the Fifty bucks ransom I paid to get out of this nightmare called Vista. So, yes, it happened. But it won’t be missed. [...]
Bought a Netbook or Super-slim Notebook? The “Free” Windows 7 Upgrade May Cost You a Bunch.
It’s back-to-school time, and there are some amazing bargains if you’re looking for new laptops: following Walmart, just about all major retailers offer at least one sub $300 model – a bit underpowered, if you ask me, but for $100 more you can get fairly powerful computers, still below the $500 treshold. Netbooks are no [...]
The Elusive Windows 7 Upgrade…
Buyer beware: you may not get the free Windows 7 upgrade if you buy a Vista-based computer now. The upgrade program is real, but you have to be careful with what you’re buying, especially now that back-to-school campaigns have started. 15.4” Lenovo with Intel Dual Core, 2GB memory ..etc for $399 sure sounds like a [...]
Confessions of a Gen X-er – Screen Size Matters
It pains me to say it but I’m a Gen X-er – admittedly I’m towards the younger end of Gen X but I’m there nonetheless. As such I’m no doubt seen as prehistoric, decrepit and pretty much due for the scrap heap. Despite all of this I’m fairly certain I’ve got a couple of years [...]
Your Ransom to Break Free of Vista: $50 Win7 Upgrade – Catch it While You Can
Fellow Windows Vista victims, there’s light at the end of the tunnel: we may soon set ourselves free and only have to pay a $50 ransom. I just did. It has been obvious for quite a while that Microsoft simply abandoned Vista and it’s users, and instead of releasing Vista SP3, or Vista Final, it [...]
