Archive for Tech
Windows 7 Review
Posted by: | CommentsWindows 7 isn’t all that new any more, but I wanted to share my upgrade experience and some of my favorite things about Microsoft’s newest OS after having used it for the past couple of months.
The upgrade process
As I suspected, the hot topic surrounding Windows 7 upgrades was just how far one could go toward performing a clean install with upgrade media. First to clear up a couple of technical terms. Upgrade media are the disks that Microsoft sells that allow you to install Windows 7, but only activate if you have a qualifying installation of a previous version of Windows. In contrast the Full version of windows by definition can be instlalled on a clean hard drive with no previous Windows install present. The other big thing is that Upgrade media costs less than the full version.
Here’s how my upgrade went. Read More→
Windows Seven Eve
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Well, that four months sure went by fast! I placed my pre-order with Amazon.com for Windows 7 Home Premium back on June 28th. I just got the shipping notification and my copy should be here right on time tomorrow. Yay!
Since I’m running Windows XP Pro I’m going to be doing what Microsoft refers to as a custom install. My 160 GB laptop drive has 25 GB free so I’ve decided to do the install on a clean drive (hopefully). I haven’t found a definite answer that this is even possible or not.
At any rate I placed an order this morning for a new 320 GB drive for my laptop, expecting to get it on Friday with my 2-Day Prime shipping. The delivery esitmate is Monday the 26th. My stuff almost always ships the same day. I placed the order early this morning so I’m wondering if all the Windows 7 shipments are slowing up the normal pace of things at Amazon?
Anyway, I’m definitely making the move to Seven, but I’m going to move in deliberate steps. Hopefully someone else will have experience doing an XP upgrade to a new drive over the weekend. If that’s you I’d love to hear from you! I will return the favor as soon as my new drive is delivered.
Top Five Tips for Picking the Perfect Domain Name
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I was recently asked for my opinion on choosing a domain name. This case was a personal site, but a lot of the considerations are the same whether the site will be used for personal or commercial purposes. I ended up putting quite a bit of thought into my answer so I decided to share it.
Here are my personal priorities and considerations for picking domains: Read More→
Waiting for Windows 7
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I’m way behind in updating my Windows 7 experience. There’s a good reason! I have had no further experience with Windows 7. No, I haven’t given up on it or changed my mind about how good an operating system I think it is. Fact is I got busy over the summer and had to go back to my XP drive.
Dell Vostro 1520 Unboxing
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My first computer had an Intel 386, 66mhz processor with 16mb of RAM and a 40 megabyte hard drive. This was in the very early nineties, probably 1991. There were 486 “screamers” out then. I wasn’t on the cutting edge by any means but it served me well. It wasn’t running Windows. Oh no, back then I got excited about the brand new DOS 6.1. I’ve been running DOS and/or Windows based PC’s ever since.
I do remember the computer lab in college having some type of Apple computer. Probably an early Macintosh operating system. I never paid much attention to Macs because they wouldn’t run games like Wing Commander, which I spent hours playing between classes. Read More→
Windows 7 ate my optical drive!
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Another quick Windows 7 beta testing update. It’s only fair to report the bad with the good and I seem to have found a bug. I’m not sure but this one may be a carry over from Vista.
Last week I wrapped up an event video project for a client. They wanted ten copies of the movie on DVD. I burned the first two or three with no problem, then the software (Sony DVD Architect Studio 4.0) locked up, or so I thought. Turns out it was looking for the optical drive to no avail. Apparently Windows 7 had eaten it! Read More→
Windows 7 feature review: Libraries
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This is an update to my Windows 7 experience and a look at one of my favorite features. I’ve been using Windows 7 full time for about a week now and it’s really beginning to feel like home. The virtual tour software that I use in my business installed and runs like a champ, so unless Microsoft really screws up the pricing model when they release Windows 7 (i.e. make it too expensive) then I don’t see any reason why I’d have to go back to XP. Read More→
Release Windows 7!
Posted by: | CommentsI think it’s ready too Kelly!
Kelly Poe is a big fan of Windows 7. So big he started a site to campaign for the release of Windows 7, the newest operating system from Microsoft. I just voted yes!
As Kelly says though, I want Microsoft to take all the necessary time it needs to make sure it is fully baked. Just don’t put it off waiting on more Vista revenue. It ain’t gonna happen! Read More→
Windows 7 Beta Review
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When Windows Vista was launched I was just starting my Middle Tennessee and Northern Alabama Virtual Tour company. I was advised to avoid Vista at that time because of the propriatery virtual tour and photo stitching software that I would be using.
Fast forward a couple of years and I still have only touched one system running Vista. I’m going to be a bit more brave with Windows 7. I downloaded the beta over the weekend and installed it on my old system. Read More→
Windows Secrets recommendation and review
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If you spend any amount of time online and you use a Microsoft Windows based PC you know, or at least I hope you know, that you need to be on your toes to protect the security of your computer and the data stored on it.
I want to share one of my core resources for keeping up with the latest news and information about keeping your Windows PC safe and running its best. That resource is Windows Secrets. Read More→
