About.com Windows

Google Chrome: Windows Competitor?

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:54:09 +0000

Google is developing a new operating system, called Google Chrome. Chrome will compete with other operating systems like Windows, Mac's Leopard and desktop Linux. For purposes of this blog, the question is: how does it compare with Windows, and should you consider moving to it?

In a word, No.

This isn't to bash Google; it makes very good products. But for now, the use cases for Chrome are very narrow. It will find a niche, but is not -- nor is it intended be -- a replacement for a desktop operating system.

Chrome is an operating system primarily for netbooks -- those small, inexpensive computers designed mostly for things like Internet surfing, emailing, social networking like Facebook and Twitter, and so on. Google itself positions Chrome as a web operating system.

That means it will work well, as long as you're online. Applications, like Google Docs (a Microsoft Word-like word processing program), will be available. If you're not connected, Chrome will be of little value.

Chrome will have some nice features. For instance, it will boot up in seconds, and your work will be backed up separate from your computer -- so if your computer dies, you will still have access to your data through another computer or smartphone like the iPhone. And given the high quality of most Google products, I expect it to be well-executed and stable when it's officially released, sometime in the second half of 2010.

But a replacement for Windows or Mac? Not yet. Google could add more features in the future -- if it does that, however, it risks losing many of the advantages it touts now, like working on low-end hardware, faster operation and quick startup and shut down.

If Google holds to the vision of a web-based operating system, it has a chance to become a solid product with a well-defined market. If it tries to take on Microsoft and Apple in this space, it's in for an uphill climb.

Google Chrome: Windows Competitor? originally appeared on About.com Windows on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 10:54:09.

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Gobble, Gobble

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:18:14 +0000

I've posted an article about some of the top Microsoft turkeys through the years. There are some real stinkers in the list, but the list could have been longer, for sure.

Remember DOS 4.0? That's something old-timer, hard-core�geeks will recall less than fondly. Internet Explorer 6 was, and is, a giant security hole. What other Microsoft products do you love to hate? Look over the article, then include your own fond memories.

Gobble, Gobble originally appeared on About.com Windows on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 10:18:14.

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'Can't Give Away' Windows 7?

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:59:47 +0000

So, this guy "can't give away" his copy of Windows 7. What does it prove? Absolutely nothing.

For those who don't want to follow the link, here's the summary: an editor at a technology magazine had an extra copy of Windows 7, and had difficulty selling it in various venues. His conclusion? Windows 7 must not be a hot commodity after all.

That article is a sterling example of shoddy thinking. He takes one example -- his own experience -- and extrapolates industry trends from it. That's like me saying that my iPhone crashed when I loaded a new application on it, so all iPhones stink, and the apps written for it are garbage.

Uh, no.

I love how all the data show that Windows 7 uptake is roaring along (and it's not all from Microsoft's internal sales figures, either), but because this guy couldn't sell his copy for more than $50 (and he did sell it, by the way, so he did more than "give it away") is solid evidence that all the data is somehow wrong.

Now, this doesn't mean that Windows 7 sales will slow, or that Microsoft is hyping the numbers somehow. Both of those could be true. But to assume that your single experience somehow discounts all available evidence to the contrary is hubris in the extreme.

Remember: You can't believe everything you read on the Internet.

'Can't Give Away' Windows 7? originally appeared on About.com Windows on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 09:59:47.

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Windows 7 Big for Business, Too

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:45:16 +0000

It's not just consumers that are buying Windows 7 like hotcakes; businesses are snapping them up, too.

According to an article in PC World, Dell is among the companies that has seen a boom from Microsoft's newest operating system. Here's a quote from a Dell executive:

"As soon as Oct. 22 hit, both our consumer business and our SMB business had a very healthy increase in demand."

Oct. 22 is when Windows 7 went on sale. "SMB" stands for small- and medium-sized businesses.

This shouldn't really be surprising. The business cycle is generally very slow to adopt new technology, slower than the consumer market as a whole. A large percentage of businesses decided to skip Windows Vista altogether, given the reports of its initial problems like incompatibility with hardware and software.

Many of those businesses are now ready to upgrade to new computers, and the positive reports about Windows 7 will fuel a spending spree, I predict. With the trends in both the consumer and business market segments, Windows 7 has the potential to become Microsoft's most popular product -- ever. Note that I said "potential"; if big problems start cropping up with Windows 7, that momentum could be halted.

Windows 7 Big for Business, Too originally appeared on About.com Windows on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 09:45:16.

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'Windows 8' Slated for 2012

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:52:50 +0000

Windows 7 just went out the door, and already Microsoft is looking toward Windows 8.

At a recent software developer's conference, reports the website Australian Personal Computer, Microsoft laid out a preliminary roadmap for the successor to Windows 7. Codenamed "Windows 8", a slide from the conference shows a tentative launch year of 2012, making it about three years between Windows 7 and 8. (Note that a codename is a temporary name for a product in development. In most cases, the name changes; in the case of Windows 7, it didn't).

Whether Microsoft hits that target date, however, is another matter entirely. The company is very hit-and-miss about timelines established so far in advance. If Windows 7 ends up being a huge success, it wouldn't surprise me to see a new version of Windows delayed; there would be no great urgency to erase the memories of the last operating system, as happened with Windows Vista.

'Windows 8' Slated for 2012 originally appeared on About.com Windows on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 07:52:50.

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Less Battery Life for Windows 7 Netbooks?

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:07:14 +0000

I recently told you about the increased battery life Windows 7 gave my laptop. Some, however, are claiming that Windows 7 has the opposite effect on netbooks, those teensy-weensy notebooks that are all the rage right now.

Laptop Magazine ran some battery tests on netbooks, and found that Windows 7 battery life was significantly worse for three different models than Windows XP. In two cases, the batteries lasted about an hour less. That's big. The magazine's conclusion?

"In the case of the NB205, the difference in our test was small enough not to matter, especially given that you're still getting over 8 hours of juice. But on a system like the Eee PC 1008HA and Mini 311,� the loss of about an hour is significant."

I would have to agree. The magazine did conclude that on standard laptops and desktops, Windows 7 provided more battery life.

One thing I've asked the magazine to clarify is what version of Windows 7 it used for the tests. I don't know if there would be a difference between Windows 7 Starter, made specifically for netbooks, or a regular version, like Windows 7 Home Premium. I'll update this when I hear back.

Less Battery Life for Windows 7 Netbooks? originally appeared on About.com Windows on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 10:07:14.

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New Version of Home Server Adds Windows 7 Support

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:43:05 +0000

Windows Home Server, Microsoft's tool for managing a home network of computers, has been updated with Power Pack 3, which includes an update for Windows 7.

Home server provides a central repository for files, including documents, pictures, music and so on. Those files can be shared among multiple computers on the home network. This latest version will be automatically installed if you have automatic updating turned on and are running Power Pack 2. In addition to working with Windows 7 computers, Power Pack 3 also adds improvements for Windows Media Player and better integration for netbooks.

Power Pack 3 is free. If you have a Windows 7 computer(s) now, or have bought a netbook recently, the upgrade is well worth it.

New Version of Home Server Adds Windows 7 Support originally appeared on About.com Windows on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 09:43:05.

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Why Windows 7 Kicks Windows XP's Butt

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:42:29 +0000

There are many reasons Windows XP, as great an operating system as it's been, falls well short of Windows 7. I've listed five of them in this article.

I left out one of the primary reasons -- the Windows 7 Taskbar. That's because I cover it here.

Let me know your reasons for wanting, or using, Windows 7 instead of XP -- or, if you feel so inclined, tell me why I'm wrong.

Why Windows 7 Kicks Windows XP's Butt originally appeared on About.com Windows on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 15:42:29.

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Windows 7 Battery Life: Good for a Long Movie

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:29:47 +0000

I was traveling on business all day yesterday, and did a little experiment with my laptop as it relates to Windows 7 battery life.

On the long leg of my flight -- four-and-a-half hours from Las Vegas to Baltimore -- I put in a DVD, set my battery to "Power Saver" mode within Windows 7, and kicked off the movie.

The movie itself was two hours and 38 minutes, and ran continuously. At the end, there was anywhere between 10-20 minutes of battery life left. So on Power Saver mode, I had about three hours' battery life; not bad at all, considering that playing a DVD is a continuous drain on resources. There are no breaks for the CPU to take a breather.

There are no big pronouncements here, just an indication that Windows 7 manages power well.

Windows 7 Battery Life: Good for a Long Movie originally appeared on About.com Windows on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 11:29:47.

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Microsoft Discusses Windows 7 Development

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:08:07 +0000

Microsoft relied on mountains of user feedback as it was building Windows 7, its newest operating system.

Steven Sinofsky, a senior Microsoft executive in charge of Windows development, spoke at a software developer's conference about how important it was to hear from users, and how their input shaped Windows 7.

For instance, feedback was sent from users to Microsoft 1.7 million times on various Windows 7 issues. In addition, Microsoft got information back from 10 million Windows error reports. All that data resulted in 4,753 code changes that were driven by error features, Sinofsky said. That means Windows 7 was significantly modified during its development, to make sure it was stable and as useful as possible.

"We learned from the data how people use the product," Sinofsky said. I think it shows in how well Windows 7 works. What do you think? Tell me what you like most (and least) about Windows 7.

Microsoft Discusses Windows 7 Development originally appeared on About.com Windows on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 12:08:07.

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