No matter how you look at it, the release of Windows 7 has gone off without a hitch compared to the headaches that accompanied the launch of Windows Vista. Not only that, but reviews of Microsoft's new OS seem to be universally positive, with both critics and consumers liking what they see. Windows 7 is Microsoft's most eye catching OS to date, and the similarities to OS X are undoubtedly there. Read more
Using open source software in your product. Doesn't Microsoft know that bloggers, techno-dudes and everyone else is watch them like a hawk waiting for Microsoft to make a GPL license misstep? Friday blogger Rafael Rivera called Microsoft on the carpet accusing Redmond of lifting code from the ImageMaster project for use in a Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool (WUDT) for netbooks. Read more
At least Cisco is warning Unified Communications customers about it NOT successfully offering support for Microsoft Windows 7:
"Cisco will have no liability for any delay in delivery, or failure to deliver, any or all of the planned Windows 7 support features set forth herein. Therefore, any such delay or failure will not in any way grant to Cisco customers the right to return, refund, adjust, or exchange any previously purchased Cisco products or products that customers may purchase under their Cisco purchase contracts."
Are you "rolling the dice" by deploying Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit) while purchasing the following Cisco UC products? Read more
Text message this morning from CNN: Unemployment hit 10.2% in October. Microsoft announced earlier this week another 800 employee layoffs to the 5,000 previously announced employee layoffs. If you look at Microsoft's financials you see why, a 14% revenue and 18% net income drop for the last reported quarter, on top of disappointing prior quarters. Read more
As promised, the latest version of Windows Server 2008 R2 is the first Windows Server to fully support DNSSEC. DNSSEC is a security protocol that helps to verify that a Web address hasn't been hacked and redirected to a pretender. Better still, Windows 7 also supports DNSSEC, which Microsoft claims is a first among client operating systems. Read more
Now that Microsoft's first Apple-like store is open in Scottsdale Arizona, Microsoft has finally entered the world of direct consumer retail sales. Since I don't live in that part of the country I have to rely on the reports from others, and so far the feedback is that the store is a lot like Apple's, has a little less cool-vibe to it, and shows off some of the price differences between hardware running Windows compared to Apple hardware (no surprise there). Read more
For our last installment in the Windows Server 2008 R2 security changes and updates, we have a slew of new features in the Identity and Authentication areas. Most of these changes are geared toward enhancing client that is running Windows 7; in fact many of these enhancements will only be seen if you have Windows 7 as a client.
Some of the new features and changes include:
Online Identity Integration Read more
A lot of open source advocates like to rage against the machine at Microsoft, but when a former Microsoft Research employee says that Windows 7 won't stop Linux from market domination, that's an opinion to note. Keith Curtis, author of the book After the Software Wars, says just that. But he goes further. He thinks Microsoft and its customers would be better off if the company ditched Windows and instead built its own version of the Linux operating system. Read more
Last week, Gartner declared that enterprises needn't wait for Windows 7 SP1. But over the weekend, the Microsoft help forums were flooded with questions and complaints from users having installation problems. Read more
Windows 7 finally went on sale this past Thursday, and critics have been calling it the most "Mac-Like" version of Windows yet. In other words, Microsft has learned something from the fiasco that surrounded the Vista launch and has delivered an operating system that people are actually excited about.
But you didn't expect that Apple would just take this lying down, would you? Read more
Last time in this space, I mentioned an IBM research article that indicated that IT workers can be dramatically more productive when using computer systems with very fast response times. In a study of programmers, IBM found that system response times of 0.3 second more than doubled programmer transaction output compared to response times of 3 seconds. This was contrary to the conventional wisdom, which said that computer system delays are really not so bad because they give information workers time to think about their next task. Read more
In a word, Windows 7 means "everything" for Microsoft's future. We can all talk about the insane number of SharePoint licenses sold, how well Windows Server 2008 has been put together, Bing's surprising rise in the search market, and exciting moves by Microsoft into Online Services for hosted Microsoft Exchange, SharePoint and Office Web Online. But the bottom line is if Windows 7 flops, it's a steep slippery slope to the bottom for Redmond, with lots of competitors from Google to Apple ready to further sling grease on the skids for Microsoft's fall. Everything. Read more
Every now and then I get a bit nostalgic for the days when my workaday computer had a nearly instantaneous response time.
That would be when that computer was a 6 MHz IBM PC/AT.
How could it have an instantaneous response time when it was several hundred times slower that the machine I’m using to write this blog entry? Because the software was designed to be fast and efficient. If I wanted a directory of files in a folder, it appeared like lightning. (Even faster when I hot-rodded that AT to run at 8 MHz with a faster crystal on the motherboard. ) Read more
So how do you explain a picture of Linus Torvalds giving a thumbs up to Windows 7 in Japan?
Windows 7, it's here! Well, it's actually been here since PDC 2008 in some form or fashion, but Windows 7 has reached its official launch day. You've heard about the new taskbar, you've heard it's more stable and faster than Windows V(ista) (I don't want to say the V word anymore.) Windows 7 starts up, shuts down and sleeps faster, it doesn’t have all the junk loaded in it Windows V had, and Microsoft's finally tamed UAC enough that it stays out of the way. Read more
After months of hype, Windows 7 officially launches tomorrow. Most enterprises will not be rushing to adopt it immediately, but market researchers do seem to agree that for those sticking with Windows, a Windows 7 cutover is inevitable (most likely within the next 18 months). Likewise, Windows Server 2008 R2 will be officially released tomorrow, too. Read more
Windows is notorious for leaving lots of leftovers around after a program uninstall. Windows 7 is no different. Whether you use the Control Panel uninstaller or a default uninstaller listed with the application in the start menu, traces are still left in the registry and on your hard disk. Enter Revo Uninstaller.
Wouldn't it be convenient to Remote Desktop Connect into your Windows box using your iPhone? That would be great in situations where you're out to dinner, running an errand, to someplace where your computer's not. Enter RDP, Moacha Remoted Desktop iPhone app by Mochasoft.dk. Read more
The news of this has been all over Twitter today, so I thought I'd invite you to take a look for yourself. At least these spokespeople appeal to Microsoft's target 18-35 year-old generation.
I have mercilessly criticized Microsoft in the past for its never-ending bad taste in commercials from the ultimate bad taste (the woman vomiting while using Internet Exploer) to the nonsense between 90's comic icon Jerry Seinfeld and not-funny-at-all billionaire Bill Gates. Read more
With the release of Windows 7 coming October 22, enterprises need to at least begin looking at deploying Windows 7 in their environments. Whether you are excited about Windows 7 or hate the fact that XP will not be around forever, the fact is that you will probably be rolling out Microsoft's next-generation operating system to your Windows users at some point in the not-too-distant future. Read more
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