Microsoft Windows Server Enterprise 2008 25 Client Review

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(More customer reviews)IMPORTANT! Windows Server 2008 can be purchased in many different forms. Picking the correct kind of license for your needs is not easy--even Microsoft says so on their site. BEFORE you buy, stop by the Microsoft "How to Buy" site. Since I can't put links in Amazon reviews, here's how you find it:
Go to Microsoft's web site, from the Windows menu choose Windows Server. Next look in the bottom right corner for How to Buy & Deploy" and click on that.
I've worked with Server 2008 almost daily for a year and a half now, and even now that I've gotten to know it pretty well, I still find it to be a mixed bag. Microsoft deserves praise for their hard work at improving Security, but the core of their solution (User Account Control) evokes a chorus of boos from the Administrator, who now has to use three or more clicks for almost every action they take.
Then there's also the matter of IIS: Server 2008 is the first operating system to implement IIS 7.0, and this version is substantially different from the IIS 6.0 found in Server 2003. Gone is the metabase, gone is the interface, all to be replaced by an entirely new way of handling everything, top to bottom. It was nice of Microsoft to still leave an IIS 6.0 mode for backwards compatibility, but really if you're going to the lengths of moving up to 2008, sticking with IIS 6.0 for web application deployment is ignoring much of the point of upgrading a web application tier in the first place. Just as with the Security layer, the goal of the IIS redo is noble: make applications easier to manage and more portable than ever. The downside is the learning curve--you really need to toss out much of what you know and patiently spend some time digging around in the interface (and reading--I recommend the Server 2008 Administrator's Pocket Consultant) to get the hang of it. You'll also need to educate your developers a bit if you want to take true advantage of its portability: for example, new sections in the web.config are created to handle the new features in IIS. Much of what was in the Metabase is now integrated into the web.config to make it easier to move an application from one machine to another and not have to manually reconfigure everything.
There are other fringe benefits that don't always seem apparent. For example, while I still feel that file copies and disk performance are bafflingly slow (Server 2008 and Vista like to think about copying, tell you how long they think the copy will take, and then continually update that estimate as they perform the copy, in my opinion wasting a lot of time to do so), we have also seen massive improvements in larger operations: backing up and restoring the system is exponentially faster for a Server 2008 box than it is Server 2003. Reboots seem to be quicker. Applications have more than one choice for memory management: Integrated mode threads resources noticeably better for our web applications than the "Classic" Mode that is more backwards compatible. Support for virtualization in both Hyper-V and VMWare has for us been (mostly) hassle-free. With both Vista and Server 2008 comes a Power Shell (command-line interface) that is amazingly strong: you can seemingly do almost anything at all using only a command line, if that sort of thing floats your boat.
The only remaining thing keeping Server 2008 from receiving much acclaim ties back into the security tedium I mentioned earlier. Reading the Event Viewer now involves an ugly, boxy interface that doesn't easily lend itself to resizing windows or boxes. Modifying a config file isn't as easy as right-clicking the file and opening in Notepad: you have to manually run Notepad as Administrator, respond to the UAC prompts, then choose File-->Open and manually browse to the file. The same is true for Command Prompts: if you don't run them as Administrator, there's seriously very little that you can accomplish. You can't copy from another machine directly into the web root: you will need to place your files in another folder on Windows Server 2008 and then locally copy them forward. And for security reasons, you cannot easily register an Assembly on the box: where Server 2003 would let you copy/paste or drag/drop, now you have to place the assembly in another folder and use the command line to manually register/unregister the assembly. IIS doesn't always pick up handler mappings: sometimes what I see in my developer's web.config I have to then manually re-add in the IIS interface.
If you're thinking of upgrading your Server 2000 or Server 2003 to 2008, you will find youself with what is ultimately safer, more powerful...and more frustrating. At the time I am writing this (Feb. 2010), I'd suggest that Server 2008 is, like Vista, not as polished and user friendly as its newer cousins Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2. Server 2008 inserts a learning curve into its use and a lot of gateways that slow down simple tasks. One can see where Microsoft was going with the new model: it just doesn't make the transition very gracefully.

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Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1 Upgrade Review

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(More customer reviews)I wrote a review of Vista not long after I started using it. I gave it two stars and suggested that while it's not worth replacing XP with Vista as there are a few annoyances, chiefly the lack of some of XP's best features, Vista isn't too bad. I am not a Microsoft basher, as I think XP is an excellent operating system. I've now realised just how good it was after a few months with Vista. I have wasted more time sorting out problems in Vista in two months than I did during the seven years I had with XP. It is fair to say that I now hate this OS to the point that it turns me into a kind of Basil Fawlty with Tourette's more often than not. My shiny new laptop has the imprint of my fist following a time when Vista just pushed me too far. Therefore I have deleted my original review and replaced it with this new one.
Let's start with Vista's good points. It looks marvellous, with its transparent windows and 3D effects. There is a display pane which gives you an overview of the contents of many file types without you having to open them. The sounds that herald failures or errors are far less annoying than those in XP. The colours are lovely too. And, er... that's it, unless you're the kind of computer user that enjoys spending hours and hours solving OS problems. If so, you'll have a field day here.
I'll start with the minor irritations, in no particular order.
Searching in XP was easy. You typed in the name of a file, specified your search criteria and you always found your file if it existed. Alas, Vista is very different. Search is done by indexing, which means that although the searches are faster your initial search won't find files in all but the most obvious locations. You can index every file on the computer of course, but this takes ages, uses a lot of space and (I am told) slows the computer down. There is an option for searching non-indexed files but you can't do this until you've done the indexed search first. Even then I have found search results to be unreliable. I would bet that people use Search to find system files rather more than they do to find a letter (it's likely to be in Letters, right?). Worse still, Service Pack 1 removed Search from the Start menu, and you have to download third-party programs or do a registry tweak to get it back.
There is no Network Connections folder - one of XP's more useful features was this folder where you could check and modify your internet connections all in one place. You can get it back, but it also involves a registry tweak.
Windows Update in XP installed the majority of the updates while the computer was running. Vista does this on shutdown and startup - which means that if updates have downloaded and you do a restart you can wait over 10 minutes to get your computer running again.
XP had a facility to associate a particular icon with certain file types. Not Vista - you have to download a third-party program to do this.
Screensavers often don't work properly.
In XP you were given useful information when you copied files, for example which particular file was being copied at any particular time. Vista doesn't do this, it just gives you a progress bar and a time estimate which is usually wildly inaccurate. Copying is painfully slow, too.
Say goodbye to Outlook Express - with Vista you get Windows Mail. It is similar to OE and indeed has some improvements, but whereas OE used your spell check from Word, Windows Mail only has a choice of 4 languages and the English option only allows for US English. I am not one of those Brits who gets sniffy about US spellings - they're just as valid as British spellings - but for work I need to use British English and get fed up with having to tell it that "realise", "marvellous" and the like are NOT wrong.
Unexpected shutdowns, freezes and the dreaded "not responding" are far more common than they were in XP. At least with XP you could, as a last resort, pull the plug and XP was savvy enough to recover from it. Do this with Vista and more often than not you'll have to wait while Vista repairs itself - admirable in one way, but it created the flipping problem itself!
I've gone on too long already, but please indulge a little further. I would like to describe how Vista ruined my computer today. I tried to copy a large collection of files from one folder to another. Halfway through the OS froze and stopped responding. I managed to restart - same thing. I mirrored this on my XP computer and there was no problem. Third time lucky...not quite. Halfway through the copy Vista froze and all the screen icons disappeared. No way to get Task Manager so I had to pull the plug. Vista then spent hours repairing itself on restart. Eventually I moved the files in small batches. Then I wanted to transfer some of these to DVD and got an error half way through. Another freeze - no way to restart normally so another unwanted switch off with the off button. Since then Vista refuses to start at all - any attempt to do so generates an error or just sits there halfway through startup. Somehow it has corrupted the hard drive and I am now waiting for those nice people at Dell to send me a new one.
There are worse things in life than OS problems, I know that all too well. But if you want to save yourself a lot of hassle, time and stress, stick with XP as long as you can. It sounds like Microsoft have already recognised that this shoddy product is a disgrace and if you're lucky, there will be a better OS (or at least a decent revamped version of Vista) before you are forced to change OS.
Thank you for listening.


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Hellbender (PC) Review

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(More customer reviews)Yes, this game is a dinosaur in the reckoning of technology years, but I love it because it brings back memories from my childhood of playing similar games with my older brother. If you are only interested in playing games with cutting-edge graphics, this is obviously not a game for you, but if you have a hunger for something nostalgic, you may want to check this one out.

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Microsoft Windows Home Server OEM Review

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(More customer reviews)What I did: got an OEM copy of the software (it's like XP Media Center - MS doesn't want to sell these without hardware) and bought a PC off of UBID - a refurbished unit with the specs to handle this OS. Because the experience is designed to be hassle-free out of the box, MS isn't encouraging do-it-yourselfers to get the product at retail. And yet, I wanted my own machine to save money and to play with the install to see how it went.
In a word, (almost) flawless. I got the ubid pc with windows home basic on it, and popped in the WHS DVD. It installed with minimal input from me, and booted right up.
There was one error message, because I was using a do-it-yourself machine, I needed to install the network drivers for my particular box. The error message and troubleshooting guide led me directly to the problem. Because this is Windows at its core, I went to the internet and downloaded an old XP driver for my network card, and it installed without a problem. I was a little bit worried that there would be a compatibility issue, but it has worked flawlessly since I installed the net driver.
Bottom line: this unit is great. It works completely as advertised, and I'm anxious to set this box up as an iTunes server, a media server for WMAs, a repository for recorded media center TV shows, and because this is a windows box at its core, it won't be long before someone ports a torrent client over to this box and has it trickling content 24-7.
The machine I used has 512k, a 1.7 amd chip, and a couple of hard drives. Any old tower case will have enough drive bays for expansion, and this one has plenty. I can fit 4 or 5 more drives in there as I need them, and the whole hardware setup cost about $340 for 650 gig of redundant storage.
Great work, Microsoft. Now get out there and tell people about this product.


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Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11 Review

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(More customer reviews)If you have an older PC or dedicated system that needs it (many are still in use). This is also MS-DOS compatible so if you need to run programs that use DOS and Windows, this is for you. Still a great product and handy for people on a budget or smaller companies.

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Win Svr Std 2008 32Bit/x64 English 1pk Review

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(More customer reviews)Normally I buy the precious versions of microsoft products because they are buggy or difficult to use until the next version comes out. Not the case here though. Installation was super easy and haven't experienced any problems with the instance yet. The server management is much easier in 2008. However, I wouldn't recommend purchasing or installing this until you have read a good book about some of the new features in it and how best to run it.
For those non-techie reader, this product is not for you.
For those techie readers, good choice without doubt, the biggest problem I have had was with IIS after I installed IIS FTP 7.5... Making a bunch of changes to a single FTP site caused the site to get botched and I ended up having to delete the si and create it with anew name.

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Windows Vista Home Basic with SP1 Review

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(More customer reviews)Yes, this is Vista Home Basic, you get what you pay for, a very good operating system without a bunch of eye-candy using up system resources, which makes it a good choice for an older computer upgrade or building your own system. You just have to ask yourself if you really need Media Center, DVD Maker, more Windows games or the RAM devouring Aero Glass desktop look. If you look around there are free DVD makers, free games and probably free substitutes for Media Center. But if you are going from XP to Vista I do recommend a clean install of Vista instead of upgrading XP. So it's your choice if you want Vista Basic or Vista Ultimate Bloatware.

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Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic Service Pack 1 From viewing photos to writing e-mail and browsing the Internet, Windows Vista™ Home Basic helps you make effective use of your home computer. Plus, it is easy to learn, features improved search, and has improved security compared to previous versions of Windows. Windows Vista Home Basic is the operating system for homes with basic computing needs. It is easy to set up, it helps you use your PC more securely and reliably, and like all of the editions of Windows Vista, it is compatible with the widest range of software, devices, and services that you use and trust. If you simply want to use your PC for tasks such as surfing the Internet, corresponding with friends and family using e-mail, or performing basic document creation and editing tasks, then Windows Vista Home Basic will deliver a safer, more reliable, and more productive computing environment.Service Pack 1 Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) is the complete set of

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Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade Review

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(More customer reviews)Here comes Windows 7, nearly three years after Windows Vista and eight years after Windows XP. By most accounts, Windows 7 is what Vista should have been. Do we finally have a worthy successor to XP?
** CLEAN UPGRADE UPDATE BELOW 10/29/09 **
PROS:
- Fast startup and performance
- Stable
- Nice aesthetic and functional changes to the desktop
- Improved networking, power management & security
- 32-bit & 64-bit versions included
- Windows Media Center
- Windows XP Mode
CONS:
- User Account Control still annoying
- Upgrade can be challenging
- Expensive
CLEAN UPGRADE UPDATE 10/29/09 **
It seems that a lot of upgraders have been complaining about the upgrade process, especially from XP. Most of us expected to be able to format our hard disks and be prompted for either the XP disc or product key. Alas, this is not the case. The upgrade is much more complicated than it should be and some workarounds have been discovered
Method A (simplest)
If you already have an older version of Windows on the hard drive, finish the Custom Install, without entering the product key. After installation, go to your System Properties and click the link to activate Windows. Enter your product key and it should activate. This has worked for me twice.
Method B (hardest)
If Method A doesn't work, try the registry hack.
1. Finish the custom install without entering the product key then click Start and type regedit.exe into the "Search programs and files" box.
2. In the registry, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/. In the pane on the right, you'll see an entry for MediaBootInstall. Double-click on it and change the value from "1" to "0" and click OK.
3. Close regedit and go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories then right-click on Command Prompt and select "Run as administrator." You'll get a UAC alert, click Yes.
4. At the command prompt, type: slmgr /rearm and hit Enter. Reboot.
5. Now try to activate. If it fails, make sure there are no pending Windows Updates to install. If there is, install them, reboot and start over from Step 4.
Method C (most time consuming)
Perform the Custom Install and skip the product key. Once completed, run the upgrade again from within Windows 7 but this time, enter the Windows 7 upgrade key and then activate Windows.
** END UPDATE **
I had been running the Windows 7 release candidate for 3 months and the full version 2 weeks before official release date. The experience convinced me to finally upgrade my Windows XP systems to 7. This review briefly touches upon some of the key features and enhancements of Microsoft's latest OS.
PERFORMANCE & STABILITY
One of the welcome enhancements Microsoft made was start-up time. The shutdown time has been improved as well. Also, in my non-benchmarked experience, Windows 7 has been at least as fast as XP if not faster. The kernel changes and ability to run the 64-bit version probably has a lot to do with that. Most benchmarks from around the Internet seem to support my observations.
64-BIT
I am elated to finally upgrade to a 64-bit operating system in order to take advantage of more memory support and modern processors. I have Intel Core 2 Duo processors in both my systems with 4GB of physical RAM but XP only allowed 3.25GB for system use.
DESKTOP
At first login, you'll notice the changes to the taskbar. The taskbar is no longer just a place to store quick launch icons and view open windows. It now provides functionality in the form of Jump Lists, which allow you to select your most frequently opened files or links from the apps you have "pinned" on the taskbar. The clock and calendar are improved and the Show Desktop icon is now integrated in the far right corner. Other desktop enhancements include Aero Peek, Aero Shake, Snap, new themes and wallpapers. You also get gadget support. All of these features combine to create a much improved and enjoyable desktop experience.
LIBRARIES
Windows 7 introduces a new feature called libraries. Previously, your system had shortcuts to My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, etc. which had files residing in only those specific folders. Files can now reside anywhere on your system and be organized inside libraries. It's similar to how many music and photo applications organize files.
NETWORKING
Even as good as XP was, networking was cumbersome. Windows 7 makes connecting two or more Windows 7 systems together easy, using HomeGroup. This enables easy sharing of files and devices. One downside is that HomeGroup is only supported between Windows 7 systems. File transfer performance between computers has been vastly improved and connecting to a wireless network has never been easier on a Windows machine.
SECURITY
Security in Windows 7 is good and comes with Windows Firewall and Defender. Still, you'll probably want to invest in a more comprehensive Internet security suite, like Norton's. User Account Control (UAC) has been tweaked in order to give user accounts more flexibility in controlling their own security as well as providing more detailed information so the user can make better decisions about whether to allow certain actions. Coming from XP however, it is still annoying. Also, in Windows 7 Ultimate, you can encrypt entire hard drives as well as external portable storage devices, like USB thumb drives. Though this is a welcome integrated feature, much of the functionality can be found in a popular open-source program called TrueCrypt.
POWER MANAGEMENT
Power management has been improved overall and you should be able to squeeze more battery life out of your laptop, even when using your DVD drive. Sleep and resume has also been improved. XP wasn't always consistent when entering or resuming from sleep mode, but Windows 7 has been perfect.
WINDOWS MEDIA CENTER
I've only briefly played around with WMC but it looks promising. It has some fun options for media, especially when you're connected to the Internet. It may even be an adequate replacement for component DVR's should you choose to use it as the centerpiece to your entertainment center. The biggest advantage for me is that Windows 7 now includes a DVD decoder. This means that I can now watch DVD's natively. WMC is available in all Windows 7 editions except Starter.
WINDOWS XP MODE
For applications that ran in XP, but won't on 7, there is now XP Mode. It isn't perfect and your system has to have virtualization support and turned on. Go to your system BIOS to check. If supported, then install Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode. Check your hardware if you intend to use XP Mode.
RECOMMENDATION
If you're an XP holdout, like I was, I recommend upgrading. Vista SP2 users may have less reason to upgrade but might want to just for the changes to the taskbar and the UAC improvements. For users who don't need to use their computers in a corporate environment, then Windows 7 Home Premium edition is a good choice. I'm guessing most power users will choose Professional. I suggest a clean install for best results. If you're a Mac OS X user, there is probably nothing in Windows 7 compelling enough for you to consider switching.
SUMMARY
Windows 7 is the premium Microsoft OS that Windows users have been waiting for. It's fast, secure, stable, visually appealing and fun to use. Windows 7 will make your old system feel fresh and new again. New system owners with Windows 7 pre-loaded can feel confident that they're getting the best Windows OS ever produced.

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Upgrade to Windows 7 Professional. With Windows 7 Professional, fewer walls stand between you and your success. You can run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode and recover data easily with automatic backups to your home or business network. You can also connect to company networks effortlessly and more securely with Domain Join. With all the exciting entertainment features of Windows Home Premium, it's a great choice for home and for business. Need to use multiple languages on your PC or help protect your data with enhanced BitLocker security? Get Windows 7 Ultimate.


Upgrade to Windows 7 All editions of Windows XP and Windows Vista qualify you to buy an upgrade license.
1. Choose your edition of Windows 7 Explore key features and choose the edition that's best for you. Be sure to check the expanded list of extended features in Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, and Windows 7 Ultimate. System requirements vary for each edition of Windows 7 because some features might require special hardware.

2. See if your PC has what it takes to run Windows 7 In general, if your PC can run Windows Vista it can run Windows 7. To make sure, download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to do a quick check. If you want certain features, such as HomeGroup or Windows Media Center, check to see if your PC has the hardware that's needed.

3. Check which operating system your PC is currently running How you make the move to Windows 7 depends on your current operating system.

Windows Vista The transition to Windows 7 should be pretty smooth, although you may need to update your system to the latest service pack first.
Windows XP (or any other operating system) Windows 7 is best experienced on a new PC with the latest hardware, but if your computer meets the minimum specifications, you can install Windows 7 on a PC running Windows XP. Windows 7 must be "custom" installed (also known as a "clean" installation) over Windows XP. Before beginning the installation, you'll need to copy your files and settings to an external drive. After Windows 7 has been installed you will need to re-install all of your programs using the original installation media and then copy over the files and settings you backed up to your external drive. Because Windows 7 requires a custom installation, we strongly recommend that you get help with this process from your local computer service provider.

Everything you need for work and home
Simplifies everyday tasks
Improved desktop navigation features like Snap, Peek and Shake, make it easier to manageall of your open windows.
Creating a home network has never been easier. You can even share files and printers with all the PCs with Windows 7 on the network.
Find virtually anything on your PC – from documents to songs to email – just by typing a word or two with Windows Search.

Works the way you want
Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
Takes full advantage of the power and multi-tasking capabilities of the latest 64-bit PCs.

Makes new things possible
Watch, pause, rewind and record TV with Windows Media Center.
Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.

Simplifies Everyday Tasks
Simple to use
Preview Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.

Pin Open files and get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar. You can easily pin programs you use often to the taskbar and launch them in just one click.

Jump Lists Open files you use regularly in just two clicks with Jump Lists on the improved taskbar.

Snap Windows 7 has simple new ways to manage open windows. For example, with Snap you can arrange two windows side-by-side just by dragging them to opposite sides of your screen.

Peek and Shake Windows 7 lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop.

Windows Search Instantly locate and open virtually any file on your PC, from documents to emails to songs, right from the Start menu, with Windows Search.

Easy to connect
Wireless setup With Windows 7, setting up wireless connections is easier with consistent, one-click connections to available networks, whether those networks are based on Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, dial-up, or corporate VPN.

HomeGroup Connect Windows 7 PCs on a home network in just four clicks and easily get to the photos, music, and files on each one--even share printers--with HomeGroup.

Easy to browse the web
Internet Explorer 8 Visual search helps you quickly find the information you want by adding visual cues and previews to search results from top search providers including Live Search, Wikipedia, Yahoo, Amazon, and others.

Internet Explorer 8 Use Web slices to conveniently keep up with changes on frequently updated websites, like eBay auctions or traffic sites, directly from the IE8 toolbar.

Easy to communicate and share
Windows Live Photo Gallery Windows Live Photo Gallery makes share your photos to your favorite photo site easy.

Windows Live Mail Windows Live Mail makes managing multiple email accounts easy.

Windows Live Family Safety Keep your child safe by managing what sites they can visit and who they can send/receive emails and im communications from.

Note: Windows Live components need to be downloaded separately.

Works The Way You Want
Faster and More Reliable
Resume from sleep We designed Windows 7 to help PCs sleep and resume from sleep more quickly by improving the way Windows 7 manages drivers, programs, and power.

Faster and more reliable We reduced the amount of memory your PC needs for open windows and to execute commands to help it be more responsive to commands.

Fewer clicks and less interruptions

Makes New Things Possible
Media on your terms
Windows Media Center Turn your PC into a TV with Windows Media Center.

Windows Media Center Watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV.

DirectX 11 DirectX 11 technology delivers breathtaking game graphics so real, it's unreal.

New ways to engage
Windows Touch Windows Touch makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use.

Media on your terms
Windows Media Player More and more consumer electronics, from TVs to digital photo frames, can be connected to home networks. With Play To in Windows 7, you'll be able to easily send music, photos, videos from your PC to a networked device throughout your home.

You can enjoy the photos, music, and videos on your home PC when you're away from home with remote media streaming.

Work anywhere
Location Aware Printing Windows 7 will automatically pick the right printer for you when you move from home to work networks.



Work anywhere with less effort.
Get connected in three clicks wherever there's a wireless network connection.
Keep documents on your PC and on network servers in sync automatically.
Your PC will automatically use the printer you prefer for whatever network you're on.
Simplify making presentations special settings that keep your PC from sleeping and turn off messages, notifications, and screen savers.
Instantly locate virtually any file, email, or document on your PC just by typing a word or two.
Get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar.
Open programs you use regularly in one click and files you use regularly in just two.
Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.
Manage multiple email accounts, including Hotmail, Gmail, AOL, and Yahoo! Mail Plus, all in one place with one simple program.
Get to the files, photos, and music on any PC with Windows 7 in the house from any other.
Print to any printer in the house from any PC with Windows 7 in the house.



Safeguard your hard work.
Advanced Backup and Restore makes it easier to keep your work safely backed up to external or network drives and accessible if you need it.
File encryption helps keep proprietary and confidential information on a PC secure if it is lost or stolen.
Preserve your investment in programs designed for Windows XP with Windows XP Mode.
Windows Internet Explorer 8 helps keep your PC safer from malware and you safer from fraudulent websites designed to fool you into divulging private information.
Easily add your PC to a secured, managed, network with domain join capabilities.
Group policy controls help administrators more easily and effectively manage the security and configuration of multiple PCs.

Choose the Windows 7 Edition That Is Best For You

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Microsoft Windows Home Server System Builder with URP1 Review

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(More customer reviews)At the time I'm writing this, Amazon has two versions of WHS listed: this one with a plain white graphic, and another more expensive one with a blue graphic. THIS is the more recent version, despite its lower price.
Microsoft hit a home run with Windows Home Server (WHS). It is one of the first times I've seen a sophisticated software product that is perfect for regular non-techie consumers. It is easy to use, but does not assume the user is a moron. It does this by placing just the right warnings at the right times. Obviously, it's been user-tested a LOT.
Under the covers is is built on Windows Server 2003 SP2. That is an excellent choice, because it is a very mature operating system, and is in use in millions of computer servers around the world. In fact, one of the things I was surprised about when first booting up the software is that you really do have access to the regular Windows desktop, including Start menu and many of the normal programs and features you would expect to see.
So for me, as someone who is very comfortable working with servers, I was very happy to see that although the product does not NEED any kind of tweaking, I had full access to be able to make subtle adjustments that I wanted. For example, I was able to adjust the encryption level on remote desktop sessions to "High" (from the default Normal) in the Administrative Tools > Terminal Services Configuration application. What a great thing that Microsoft did not "dumb down" the product and restrict access for those who know what they're doing.
One of the first things you should do with any new OS install is to run Windows Update, so that it gets patched with all the latest updates from Microsoft. This install is no different, and there were in fact many updates to install (53 or 54 in total). So before playing with your new server, first run Windows Update from the Start > All Programs menu, select the "Custom" option, and check all the boxes to install everything.
Then, after you install the updates (which includes the upgrade from IE6 to IE7) and the computer reboots, run Windows Update again. Typically, in an update that large there are updates that don't install because of some dependencies, and there will be additional updates to the updates you just installed. This is common. Every time Windows Update finishes, immediately run it again -- until you see "0" (zero) next to every category on the left. Also, don't use "Express", keep using "Custom" (contrary to the "recommended" tag next to Express).
Another thing you may want to do is get rid of the Logon Warning that appears every time you log in to the server's desktop (either remotely or on the computer itself). You can do that simply by deleting "Logon Warning" from the All Programs > Startup folder in the Start menu. It is a simple HTML file, so deleting it does not do any harm.
I am really happy with this home server product from Microsoft, and I highly recommend it for any household that has more than one computer.

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Windows Live OneCare 2.0 (Up to 3 Users) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been using Microsoft's Live OneCare System for about a year-and-a-half, and I went to the 2.0 version about three months ago. I've got to tell you though, I wasn't too happy about using it at first because of two factors: 1) Microsoft seemed to be linking a lot of things to this "Live" concept, and 2) The program seemed like it was making a lot of promises it couldn't keep. On the first matter, I still have some concerns; on the second matter, it has lived-up to its promises.
After almost a year, Microsoft upgraded my product to 2.0, and then when I added another computer to my LAN, I used one of the three licenses that came with the new version of OneCare to extend my HUB's subscription. And it did so without a problem. You will notice on the picture I uploaded from my individual computer (see customer images), that my subscription will renew in three days.
I don't know about you, but at work I've seen what not keeping-up with your virus protection and firewall protection can do to someone's computer. Mine hasn't been hit, but other's have and we use Norton's and McAfee at work with each computer set for automatic updates. At home, since I have a LAN, too, I wanted to make sure I didn't have similar problems, so for the past three years I tested several products, namely Norton's System Works, Norton's 360, e-Trust (Computer Associates), and OneCare.
Having used Norton's for over 12 years, I have been disappointed that they are doing less with their products, and I really became disenchanted when they didn't offer their firewall protection with System Works. Then, it seemed I couldn't find System Works, and I had to use 360, which was a mere shadow of System Works. It grated me that I had to buy one product, then buy their Internet Security, too. I, also, didn't think they were on top of the virus situation as much as they used to be. Then, there was an issue about renewals that did not go into effect when they should, and hour long waits for tech support to help correct the problem.
So, I tried e-Trust, and I didn't have any qualms about it, at first. At first it sent out e-mails, often times several times a day to update the software virus protection. Then, it went to an automatic check whenever you booted-up. Then, came the renewal. I had it on two machines and was successful only on one when it came to renewing my subscription. Now, batting 500 is great in the major leagues, but not when it comes to protecting my computer.
OneCare, though, has lived-up to their promises. At first I had it on one computer, and it performed a massive back-up that took all night (200 GB's... this was with version 1.0). Subsequent back-ups went quicker for only the new, or changed, files were updated. Adding 2.0 to other computers produced a back-up on individual computers much faster, 1 to 2 hours, depending on the computer, with amounts in the 100 GB range. With 2.0, I've been able to have one centralized back-up on an exterior HP Drive. I, also, have back-ups performed on each computer with various other drives: Seagate's FreeAgent, and Simple-Tech.
In total, I have four computers set-up on OneCare. Two are on the hard-wire, and two are on a WiFi connected to the hard-wire, with my laptop's back-up on another computers external drive (I added the laptop the day after writing this review, which gives me the 4th computer on the network.) One benefit I've seen of using OneCare is that the new computer's version usually recognizes the printers on the network, and it asks me if I want this computer to have access to it. If it doesn't, and I am not a networking whiz, I have just loaded the drivers for a printer that is on the network, and it then easily finds that printer and finishes out connecting the printer with that computer.
Once I set my schedule of the tasks for OneCare, I've let it do it's job, and I've had only one issue, and that's not a OneCare problem... On the iMac, I have both Mac OS X and XP Pro running. With XP Pro, I have OneCare installed. When XP Pro updates itself, it cannot download and install all updates, so OneCare gives me a "yellow," or caution warning. After manually having XP Pro on the iMac finish its download, everything goes "green," which to me is a great place to stop this review.
OneCare has greatly simplified my life. Version 2.0 is better than 1.0., and you can have from one to three computers covered with one subscription. Also, when I extended my subscription, it added the year onto my current subscription several months in advance without my having to call tech support to straighten out a problem. Regarding subscriptions, you have to have a "live.com" ID activating your initial, up to, 3 subscriptions (for me this was a "hotmail.com" address). If you have more computers to cover than 3, you will need a second "live.com" ID. Renewals are around $49.00 for one year's protection for up to three computers. Unlike some virus programs, like Norton's, you cannot uninstall OneCare and then install a newly-purchased, unused copy of OneCare, unless you install it under a different "live.com" ID. (BTW, I learned this the hard way, yet the Microsoft folks were quick at straightening it out (866-ONECARE).)
As the say on TV sometimes, I"m a happy camper, and I'd recommend this product to anyone wanting to protect one computer or several on a LAN. Be sure to check-out the pictures I uploaded to give you a better idea of what type of information you will receive from OneCare because that generally will tell you more than what I did about its capabilities.

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Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'll admit, I've been running Windows 7 for six months now: the preproduction version of it and have just upgraded to the gold code. So I have quite a bit of experience with the operating system. Let's get to the nitty gritty:
Should you upgrade from Windows Vista? YES! I mean it - upgrade today.
Windows 7 is quite simply faster, more stable, boots faster, goes to sleep faster, comes back from sleep faster, manages your files better and on top of that it's beautiful to look at and easy to use. Even the preproduction version of Windows 7 was better than my Vista with SP2.
Should you upgrade from Windows XP? Maybe, but for different reasons.
XP is a good operating system and if you don't need to add new hardware or software, XP is good. However, XP is old as an operating system. Also chances are that if you're running XP, you might not meet the minimum requirements for Windows 7 - check the compatibility site at Microsoft to see if your system will support Windows 7. That said, Windows 7 is light years ahead of Windows XP in terms of functionality, ease of use, etc - to me it's worth buying a new system.
64 bit or 32 bit?
If you don't know what I'm talking about, that's ok skip this section. If you have a core2 duo or core 2 quad or a multi cpu machine, go with the 64 bit OS, it handles memory and the CPUs much better. If you have a single core CPU, one CPU or run special programs that require 32bit, then stick with 32 bit for now.
BEFORE INSTALLATION:
I recommend you have:
-a core 2 duo or core 2 quad machine
-4gig of RAM (That's about $50 in today's market)
-good hard drive with (200 gig - it doesn't need that much but that's another $50)
-back up your files to a USB drive like Western Digital My Passport Essential 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive WDME5000TN (Midnight Black)
-check to make sure your computer is compatible with Windows 7
INSTALLATION:
Installation was very straight forward. You put in the CD and reboot your machine. You might have to enter your bios and enable the "boot from CD" option. Once the machine reboots a nice screen comes up to guide you through the installation. You have the option to upgrade your PC or do a clean installation. I did an upgrade and it brought in all of my files and settings from my windows Vista system. It worked great.
The upgrade did take about 2 hours for me so definitely consider.
I noticed that early on in the installation the operating system went out to Microsoft's site to look for the latest and greatest updates, so I think this should help Microsoft respond quickly to any hiccups with compatibility.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK:
The driver from my old HP Inkjet printer for 2001 doesn't work on Windows 7 so there are some things that will not transition. I had to use a generic HP driver which doesn't give me the quality that I got from an injet - so overall, I'm up and running with that printer but I'm degraded on the inkjet front. That said, I recently upgraded to a HP CP2025DN Color LaserJet Printer that I love so no real loss there. I'll likely pick up a cheap inkjet for the occasional photo that I might need to print. Everything else upgraded.
BENEFITS
-faster boot time
-faster go to sleep
-faster wakeup
-faster about 20% to 30% faster at running applications than my Vista - seriously (but those are my results without any benchmarks or anything like that, just seeing how fast Adobe Illustrator loads, and how fast all the applications respond)
-joining wireless networks is much easier
-the interface is just plain beautiful
-my wallpapers are now a slideshow that can be set to change every few minutes (I'm not stuck with the same picture)
-Gadgets - these are wonderful little small applications that you can drag onto your desktop. I have a weather gadget and a calendar gadget on my desktop that tell me
-Better taskbar management - hovering over the taskbar icons shows me mini windows of what's running
-Better file management - I can organize my files into Libraries that are sortable not only by type but by folder or other data. It's great! I can browse through my presentations or illustrator files!
-Windows Media appears to be smoother which I love.
-You get some virus protection and firewall with Windows 7 but consider something more comprehensive like McAfee Total Protection 3User 2010. Yes, it'll make your computer run a bit slower but
CONS:
- Some older programs might not work and some drivers might not be available like my inkjet driver.
- Other than that, there aren't too many drawbacks to Windows 7 - it's a great OS.
WHICH VERSION SHOULD I GET?
I got the ultimate version because I have clients who ask, "is your hard drive encrypted?" -- I wanted to be able to say yes and have sensitive data encrypted one of my computer volumes - Bitlocker is only available in the Ultimate version. Ultimate also includes Multilanguage support.
If you're a home user that doesn't do a lot of networking, you might consider just the home premium edition. If you're using a laptop and connect to networks at work, you might want the Professional version of the operating system to help you with domain joining. Also Windows Professional gives you the option to run applications in XP mode so if you have old applications you can use that nifty feature. I already have 1 application running in XP mode - it's nifty to run an old application.
NOTE:
The box contains both the 32 bit and 64 bit OS.
OVERALL:
It's very hard to write a comprehensive review on an entire operating system so I didn't even try - I'm sure magazines will devote entire articles to the operating system and several books will come out. My goal here is just to give everyone a glimpse of what I've found to date with this new OS. I do hope this has helped you in making a decision.
Hats off to Microsoft on Windows 7. It's more of a refined Windows Vista than an entirely new operating system but it was needed. Thank you.


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Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. You can even watch, pause, rewind, and record TV (a broadcast TV tuner may be required). Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium. Do you use your PC for work, run Windows XP programs, or require enhanced security? Consider Windows 7 Professional.

The best entertainment experience on your PC
Easiest Windows to use ever
Simplify your PC with new navigation features like Aero Shake, Jump Lists, and Snap.
Customize Windows to look and feel the way you like by changing themes and taskbar programs.
Setting up a home network and connecting to printers and devices is easier than ever.
Windows 7 Home Premium supports the latest hardware and software.

It's faster
Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
Takes full advantage of 64-bit PC hardware and memory.
Connecting to wireless networks is fast and easy.

Best PC entertainment experience
Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV with Windows Media Center.
Blu-ray read/write support for data files.
Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.

Simplifies Everyday Tasks
Simple to use
Preview Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.
Pin Open files and get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar. You can easily pin programs you use often to the taskbar and launch them in just one click.
Jump Lists Open files you use regularly in just two clicks with Jump Lists on the improved taskbar and Start menu.
Snap Windows 7 has simple new ways to manage open windows. For example, with Snap you can arrange two windows side-by-side just by dragging them to opposite sides of your screen.
Peek and Shake Windows 7 lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop.
Windows SearchInstantly locate and open virtually any file on your PC, from documents to emails to songs, right from the Start menu, with Windows Search.
Easy to connect
Wireless setup With Windows 7, setting up wireless connections is easier with consistent, one-click connections to available networks, whether those networks are based on Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, dial-up, or corporate VPN.
HomeGroup Connect Windows 7 PCs on a home network in just four clicks and easily get to the photos, music, and files on each one--even share printers--with HomeGroup.
Easy to browse the web
Internet Explorer 8Visual search helps you quickly find the information you want by adding visual cues and previews to search results from top search providers including Live Search, Wikipedia, Yahoo, Amazon, and others.
Internet Explorer 8 Use Web slices to conveniently keep up with changes on frequently updated websites, like eBay auctions or traffic sites, directly from the IE8 toolbar.
Easy to communicate and share
Windows Live Photo Gallery Windows Live Photo Gallery makes share your photos to your favorite photo site easy.
Windows Live Mail Windows Live Mail makes managing multiple email accounts easy.
Windows Live Family Safety Keep your child safeby managing what sites they can visit and who they can send/receive emails and im communications from.
Note: Windows Live components need to be downloaded separately.
Works The Way You Want
Faster and More Reliable Windows 7 will help your PC sleep and resume more quickly. It is designed to respond to commands more quickly and will help your PC to be more reliable.
Fewer clicks and less interruptions
Makes New Things Possible
Media on your terms
Windows Media CenterTurn your PC into a TV with Windows Media Center.
Windows Media Center Watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV.
DirectX 11 DirectX 11 technology delivers breathtaking game graphics so real, it's unreal.
New ways to engage
Windows Touch Windows Touch makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use.
Media on your terms
Windows Media Player More and more consumer electronics, from TVs to digital photo frames, can be connected to home networks. With Play To in Windows 7, you'll be able to easily send music, photos, videos from your PC to a networked device throughout your home.
You can enjoy the photos, music, and videos on your home PC when you're away from home with remote media streaming.
Work anywhere
Location Aware PrintingWindows 7 will automatically pick the right printer for you when you move from home to work networks.

Work anywhere with less effort.
Instantly locate virtually any file, email, or document on your PC just by typing a word or two.
Get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar.
Open programs you use regularly in one click and files you use regularly in just two.
Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.
Manage multiple email accounts, including Hotmail, Gmail, AOL, and Yahoo! Mail Plus, all in one place with one simple program.
Get to the files, photos, and music on any PC with Windows 7 in the house from any other.
Print to any printer in the house from any PC with Windows 7 in the house.


Safeguard your hard work.
Windows Internet Explorer 8 helps keep your PC safer from malware and you safer from fraudulent websites designed to fool you into divulging private information.

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Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Windows 7 Home Premium is the best version to choose for older machines and/or simpler networks. The "Backup" offered in 7 Pro can be done easily with free tools, and unless you need complex networking, 7 has what it takes to manage a home network. Last, the 'XP Mode' promised in 7 Pro and above will only work on hardware new enough to support "Virtualization Technology" (stop by Microsoft's website to learn more). This isn't the same as "XP Compatibility Mode", which you will still have for all versions of Windows 7 (there's a great video explanation of this on CNET's website in their Windows 7 Center at CNET TV).
Some very important things you need to know about upgrading:
1) There are two types of upgrade: "in-place" (where a Vista machine upgrades to 7 and you get to keep all your programs) and "clean" (where you lose all your old programs and settings).
2) Anyone going from XP to 7 will have to go "clean".
3) Anyone going from a different Vista to 7 (for example, Vista Home to 7 Pro, or Vista Ultimate to 7 Home) will also have to go "clean".
If you have to do 2) or 3), all is not lost--I'll explain in a moment.
Before you even buy 7 for your machine, stop by Microsoft's website for two things:
a) download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. Run it with every device connected to the machine that you'll ever want to use in 7. It'll thoroughly examine your machine for any roadblocks and give you good advice about upgrading.
b) Go to the Windows 7 Compatibility Center and double-check anything that came up negative in the Upgrade Advisor (or didn't show up at all). This site lists detailed compatibility info on a LOT of different devices.
Anything major, like a video card or sound card driver, I'd recommend double-checking with the manufacturer's website to be sure. This almost burned me on two of the machines that I upgraded.
Last, make a backup. There's a free tool called Macrium Reflect that can do this for you.
Do you have to do a "clean" install, but just want to carry over your user accounts and settings? Microsoft makes a program called Windows Easy Transfer that's already in Vista (and can be downloaded from Microsoft for XP) that will export your accounts and settings and let you import them back again. It's very easy to use and does a good job of putting your accounts back together again, even going from XP to 7.
Do you have to do the "clean" install, and you don't want to reinstall all your programs? Laplink has an offer for $19.95 that will let you use a special version of their program "PC Mover" to upgrade one machine one time. Read the documentation in detail.
The most important thing to doing a "clean" install is that in the Upgrade setup you choose "Custom". Windows will take all of your major files and place them in a folder called "Windows.old". PC Mover and the Easy Transfer program will use this folder to reconstruct your system from, so this is VERY important.
I wish I had more space to go into detail here...bottom line is, if you plan ahead a bit, upgrading to 7 will go very easily (and if it doesn't, you'll have something to fall back on).

Click Here to see more reviews about: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade

Upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium. Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. You can even watch, pause, rewind, and record TV (a broadcast TV tuner may be required). Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium. Do you use your PC for work, run Windows XP programs, or require enhanced security? Consider Windows 7 Professional.


Upgrade to Windows 7 All editions of Windows XP and Windows Vista qualify you to buy an upgrade license.
1. Choose your edition of Windows 7 Explore key features and choose the edition that's best for you. Be sure to check the expanded list of extended features in Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, and Windows 7 Ultimate. System requirements vary for each edition of Windows 7 because some features might require special hardware.

2. See if your PC has what it takes to run Windows 7 In general, if your PC can run Windows Vista it can run Windows 7. To make sure, download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to do a quick check. If you want certain features, such as HomeGroup or Windows Media Center, check to see if your PC has the hardware that's needed.

3. Check which operating system your PC is currently running How you make the move to Windows 7 depends on your current operating system.

Windows Vista The transition to Windows 7 should be pretty smooth, although you may need to update your system to the latest service pack first.
Windows XP (or any other operating system) Windows 7 is best experienced on a new PC with the latest hardware, but if your computer meets the minimum specifications, you can install Windows 7 on a PC running Windows XP. Windows 7 must be "custom" installed (also known as a "clean" installation) over Windows XP. Before beginning the installation, you'll need to copy your files and settings to an external drive. After Windows 7 has been installed you will need to re-install all of your programs using the original installation media and then copy over the files and settings you backed up to your external drive. Because Windows 7 requires a custom installation, we strongly recommend that you get help with this process from your local computer service provider.

The best entertainment experience on your PC
Easiest Windows to use ever

Simplify your PC with new navigation features like Aero Shake, Jump Lists, and Snap.
Customize Windows to look and feel the way you like by changing themes and taskbar programs.
Setting up a home network and connecting to printers and devices is easier than ever.
Windows 7 Home Premium supports the latest hardware and software.

It's faster

Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
Takes full advantage of 64-bit PC hardware and memory.
Connecting to wireless networks is fast and easy.

Best PC entertainment experience

Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV with Windows Media Center.
Blu-ray read/write support for data files.
Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.

Simplifies Everyday Tasks
Simple to use
Preview Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail previews and full-screen previews of open windows.

Pin Open files and get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar. You can easily pin programs you use often to the taskbar and launch them in just one click.

Jump Lists Open files you use regularly in just two clicks with Jump Lists on the improved taskbar previews and Start menu.

Snap Windows 7 has simple new ways to manage open windows. For example, with Snap you can arrange two windows side-by-side just by dragging them to opposite sides of your screen.

Peek and Shake Windows 7 lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop.

Windows Search Instantly locate and open virtually any file on your PC, from documents to emails to songs, right from the Start menu, with Windows Search.

Easy to connect
Wireless setup With Windows 7, setting up wireless connections is easier with consistent, one-click connections to available networks, whether those networks are based on Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, dial-up, or corporate VPN.

HomeGroup Connect Windows 7 PCs on a home network in just four clicks and easily get to the photos, music, and files on each one--even share printers--with HomeGroup.

Easy to browse the web
Internet Explorer 8 Visual search helps you quickly find the information you want by adding visual cues and previews to search results from top search providers including Live Search, Wikipedia, Yahoo, Amazon, and others.

Internet Explorer 8 Use Web slices to conveniently keep up with changes on frequently updated websites, like eBay auctions or traffic sites, directly from the IE8 toolbar.

Easy to communicate and share
Windows Live Photo Gallery Windows Live Photo Gallery makes share your photos to your favorite photo site easy.

Windows Live Mail Windows Live Mail makes managing multiple email accounts easy.

Windows Live Family Safety Keep your child safe by managing what sites they can visit and who they can send/receive emails and im communications from.

Note: Windows Live components need to be downloaded separately.

Works The Way You Want
Faster and More Reliable Windows 7 will help your PC sleep and resume more quickly. It is designed to respond to commands more quickly and will help your PC to be more reliable.
Fewer clicks and less interruptions

Makes New Things Possible
Media on your terms
Windows Media Center Turn your PC into a TV with Windows Media Center.

Windows Media Center Watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV.

DirectX 11 DirectX 11 technology delivers breathtaking game graphics so real, it's unreal.

New ways to engage
Windows Touch Windows Touch makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use.

Media on your terms
Windows Media Player More and more consumer electronics, from TVs to digital photo frames, can be connected to home networks. With Play To in Windows 7, you'll be able to easily send music, photos, videos from your PC to a networked device throughout your home.

You can enjoy the photos, music, and videos on your home PC when you're away from home with remote media streaming.

Work anywhere
Location Aware Printing Windows 7 will automatically pick the right printer for you when you move from home to work networks.



Work anywhere with less effort.
Instantly locate virtually any file, email, or document on your PC just by typing a word or two.
Get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar.
Open programs you use regularly in one click and files you use regularly in just two.
Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.
Manage multiple email accounts, including Hotmail, Gmail, AOL, and Yahoo! Mail Plus, all in one place with one simple program.
Get to the files, photos, and music on any PC with Windows 7 in the house from any other.
Print to any printer in the house from any PC with Windows 7 in the house.



Safeguard your hard work.
Windows Internet Explorer 8 helps keep your PC safer from malware and you safer from fraudulent websites designed to fool you into divulging private information.

Choose the Windows 7 Edition That Is Best For You

Features


Windows 7 Home Premium

Get 9% OFF

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Microsoft Visio Standard 2007 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Good for drawing flowcharts for software. The standard version has the templates used for firmware. Able to export to Visio 2002. 1 month trial can be downloaded from Microsoft. Not as easy to use as Smart Draw, but Visio does not have problems staying on grid and will go full screen on large monitors, so I switched. Only program I have that wont print to Adobe Acrobat writer 5.0.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Microsoft Visio Standard 2007

Office Visio 2007 makes it easy for IT and business professionals to visualize analyze and communicate complex information systems and processes. Using professional-looking Office Visio 2007 diagrams you can improve your understanding of systems and processes gain insight into complex information and use that knowledge to make better decisions for your business. Using Office Visio 2007 visually document design and fully understand the state of your business processes and systems with a wide range of diagrams business process flowcharts network diagrams workflow diagrams database models and software diagrams just to name a few. Make diagrams more useful by linking them with underlying data to provide a more complete picture. Office Visio Standard 2007 will make it easy for business professionals to visualize and communicate complex information processes and ideas with professional-looking diagrams. By using Office Visio 2007 people will be able to easily create diagrams to visualize complex information present them professionally and share them broadly for effective and efficient decision-making.GeneralCategory:Office applicationsSubcategory:Office applications - projects / processLicense Type:Complete packageLicense Qty:1 userLicense Pricing:StandardDistribution Media:CD-ROMPackage Type:RetailHeader / Localization:EnglishPlatform:WINSystem Requirements / OS Required:Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or laterUNSPSC CodeUNSPSC Code:43233004Product IDUPC:882224157841Manufacturer Part:D86-02751

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Microsoft Visio Professional 2007 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I been using Visio Enterprise 2003 for the last 3 years with Sql Server 2000. My only use of visio relates to database modeling. Once the drawing is been approved, I simply used "Update" option to update database. The update option is a time saving feature in a rapid application development environment for changing relationship, keys and constraints. Writing those changes back to Sql Server is a smooth process.
Recently i changed my development environment to SQL Server 2005 and figured out that Visio 2003 Enterprise does not work with SQL Server 2005. So I decided to buy visio professional 2007 to use the single feature of database modeling.
Upon installation, I figured that there is no option for writing changes back to SQL Server 2005 in either version of Visio (2003 Enterprise, 2007 Professional). In simple there is no "update" or "generate" command in visio professional 2007.
Put it simple. If you want to use database modeling and hoping to write those changes back to SQL Server 2005 with visio, DON'T BUT IT......IT WILL NOT WORK

Click Here to see more reviews about: Microsoft Visio Professional 2007

Office Visio 2007 makes it easy for IT and business professionals to visualize analyze and communicate complex information systems and processes. Using professional-looking Office Visio 2007 diagrams you can improve your understanding of systems and processes gain insight into complex information and use that knowledge to make better decisions for your business. Using Office Visio 2007 visually document design and fully understand the state of your business processes and systems with a wide range of diagrams business process flowcharts network diagrams workflow diagrams database models and software diagrams just to name a few. Make diagrams more useful by linking them with underlying data to provide a more complete picture. Office Visio Professional 2007 will make it easy for IT and business professionals to visualize analyze and communicate complex information systems and processes with clear compelling diagrams. By using Office Visio 2007 people will be able to easily visualize information from multiple data sources to better understand the current state of systems and processes analyze information visually to highlight key trends and exceptions and share diagrams broadly for effective and efficient decision-making.GeneralCategory:Office applicationsSubcategory:Office applications - projects / processLicense Type:Complete packageLicense Qty:1 userLicense Pricing:StandardDistribution Media:CD-ROMPackage Type:RetailPlatform:WINSystem Requirements / OS Required:Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or laterUNSPSC CodeUNSPSC Code:43233004Product IDUPC:882224157476Manufacturer Part:D87-02785

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Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I don't see much commentary here about the actual product performance. There is a lot of confusion about this upgrade in the retail outlets, so I thought I'd explain to those with questions.
I researched Windows 7 before I bought my computer, and knew I wanted Win 7 Professional in case I wanted to run XP programs. Most retail outlets only had Win 7 Home Premium installed on their computers. The computer stores had the Win 7 Pro computers on backorder. Through some investigation at Microsoft, I found out that all versions of Win 7 are preinstalled, and you just need to get a key to "unlock" the higher versions. This is that key.
It took a total of 14 minutes to install this upgrade on my new computer. The hardest part was typing in the multi-digit key. (In other words, not hard!) It ran for 12 minutes, and then it was ready to go!
I haven't tried the features of Win 7 Pro to rate it, but this upgrade works as promised.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade

If you want more features than you currently have in your existing edition of Windows 7, you can upgrade to another edition using Windows Anytime Upgrade. Upgrades from Windows 7 Home Premium edition to Windows 7 Professional edition.


Windows Anytime Upgrade No disks, no delays. And no leaving the house: With Windows Anytime Upgrade, you can upgrade to a more advanced edition of Windows 7 in as little as 10 minutes. That way, you get to take advantage of extra features while keeping your current programs, files, and settings intact.
In the past, upgrading Windows could be a bit of a hassle. In Windows 7, the software you need comes preinstalled. All you have to do is purchase an upgrade key from Microsoft or another authorized retailer to unlock those shiny new features.

Get more now. Move up to Windows 7 Professional. Windows 7 Professional has everything you need for work and home. Run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode2 and keep important information safer with file encryption and automatic back-ups. Connect to business networks and move more easily between business and home networks. And with all the great entertainment features of Windows Home Premium, like Windows Media Center, it's great for home as well as for business.
Simplifies everyday tasks
Improved desktop navigation features like Snap, Peek and Shake, make it easier to manage all of your open windows.
Creating a home network has never been easier. You can even share files and printers with all the PCs with Windows 7 on the network.
Find virtually anything on your PC--from documents to songs to email--just by typing a word or two with Windows Search.

Works the way you want
Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
Takes full advantage of the power and multi-tasking capabilities of the latest 64-bit PCs.
Windows XP Mode gives you the business flexibility you need.

Makes new things possible
Watch, pause, rewind and record TV with Windows Media Center.
Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.

* Requires either OEM pre-installation or post-purchase download of Windows XP Mode (which runs on Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate) and a virtualization technology such as Windows Virtual PC. Customers can download Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC free-of-charge from http://www.windows.com/business/downloads/ when available.
Windows 7 Professional. Everything you need for work and home. With Windows 7 Professional, fewer walls stand between you and your success. You can run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode and recover data easily with automatic backups to your home or business network. You can also connect to company networks effortlessly and more securely with Domain Join. With all the exciting entertainment features of Windows Home Premium, it's a great choice for home and for business. Need to use multiple languages on your PC or help protect your data with enhanced BitLocker security? Get Windows 7 Ultimate.

Simplifies everyday tasks
Improved desktop navigation features like Snap, Peek and Shake, make it easier to manageall of your open windows.
Creating a home network has never been easier. You can even share files and printers with all the PCs with Windows 7 on the network.
Find virtually anything on your PC – from documents to songs to email – just by typing a word or two with Windows Search.

Works the way you want
Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
Takes full advantage of the power and multi-tasking capabilities of the latest 64-bit PCs.

Makes new things possible
Watch, pause, rewind and record TV with Windows Media Center.
Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.

Simplifies Everyday Tasks
Simple to use
Preview Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.
Pin Open files and get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar. You can easily pin programs you use often to the taskbar and launch them in just one click.
Jump Lists Open files you use regularly in just two clicks with Jump Lists on the improved taskbar.
Snap Windows 7 has simple new ways to manage open windows. For example, with Snap you can arrange two windows side-by-side just by dragging them to opposite sides of your screen.
Peek and Shake Windows 7 lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop.
Windows Search Instantly locate and open virtually any file on your PC, from documents to emails to songs, right from the Start menu, with Windows Search.
Easy to connect
Wireless setup With Windows 7, setting up wireless connections is easier with consistent, one-click connections to available networks, whether those networks are based on Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, dial-up, or corporate VPN.
HomeGroup Connect Windows 7 PCs on a home network in just four clicks and easily get to the photos, music, and files on each one--even share printers--with HomeGroup.
Easy to browse the web
Internet Explorer 8 Visual search helps you quickly find the information you want by adding visual cues and previews to search results from top search providers including Live Search, Wikipedia, Yahoo, Amazon, and others.
Internet Explorer 8 Use Web slices to conveniently keep up with changes on frequently updated websites, like eBay auctions or traffic sites, directly from the IE8 toolbar.
Easy to communicate and share
Windows Live Photo Gallery Windows Live Photo Gallery makes share your photos to your favorite photo site easy.
Windows Live Mail Windows Live Mail makes managing multiple email accounts easy.
Windows Live Family Safety Keep your child safe by managing what sites they can visit and who they can send/receive emails and im communications from.
Note: Windows Live components need to be downloaded separately.
Works The Way You Want
Faster and More Reliable
Resume from sleep We designed Windows 7 to help PCs sleep and resume from sleep more quickly by improving the way Windows 7 manages drivers, programs, and power.
Faster and more reliable We reduced the amount of memory your PC needs for open windows and to execute commands to help it be more responsive to commands.
Fewer clicks and less interruptions
Makes New Things Possible
Media on your terms
Windows Media Center Turn your PC into a TV with Windows Media Center.
Windows Media Center Watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV.
DirectX 11 DirectX 11 technology delivers breathtaking game graphics so real, it's unreal.
New ways to engage
Windows Touch Windows Touch makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use.
Media on your terms
Windows Media Player More and more consumer electronics, from TVs to digital photo frames, can be connected to home networks. With Play To in Windows 7, you'll be able to easily send music, photos, videos from your PC to a networked device throughout your home.
You can enjoy the photos, music, and videos on your home PC when you're away from home with remote media streaming.
Work anywhere
Location Aware Printing Windows 7 will automatically pick the right printer for you when you move from home to work networks.

Work anywhere with less effort.
Get connected in three clicks wherever there's a wireless network connection.
Keep documents on your PC and on network servers in sync automatically.
Your PC will automatically use the printer you prefer for whatever network you're on.
Simplify making presentations special settings that keep your PC from sleeping and turn off messages, notifications, and screen savers.
Instantly locate virtually any file, email, or document on your PC just by typing a word or two.
Get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar.
Open programs you use regularly in one click and files you use regularly in just two.
Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.
Manage multiple email accounts, including Hotmail, Gmail, AOL, and Yahoo! Mail Plus, all in one place with one simple program.
Get to the files, photos, and music on any PC with Windows 7 in the house from any other.
Print to any printer in the house from any PC with Windows 7 in the house.


Safeguard your hard work.
Advanced Backup and Restore makes it easier to keep your work safely backed up to external or network drives and accessible if you need it.
File encryption helps keep proprietary and confidential information on a PC secure if it is lost or stolen.
Preserve your investment in programs designed for Windows XP with Windows XP Mode.
Windows Internet Explorer 8 helps keep your PC safer from malware and you safer from fraudulent websites designed to fool you into divulging private information.
Easily add your PC to a secured, managed, network with domain join capabilities.
Group policy controls help administrators more easily and effectively manage the security and configuration of multiple PCs.

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Creating the Secure Managed Desktop: Using Group Policy, SoftGrid, Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, and Other Management Tools Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been using this book to help me roll out a new Vista deployment. This book has been indispensible. It's really hard to know just how to go about a ground-up deployment (especially if you've never done one before), so this book approaches desktop management and security in an incremental approach, which is appropriate if you are still deciding on what level of desktop management is required in your situation. So I have no complaints. I just wish there was a similar book tha would help (especially small businesss, e.g. 25 employees or less) know what steps to take to plan a managed secure desktop enviroment and then roll it out.

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Learn how to secure and manage every desktop in your network with Creating the Secure Managed Desktop: Using Group Policy, SoftGrid, Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, and Other Management Tools. Understand the tools and technologies you will need to create a more secure network using Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista and other Windows platforms and learn how to manage, diagnose, configure, update, and protect multiple desktops in an Active Directory network. Master automating tasks, setting and controlling settings, managing user profiles, and locking down systems from this must-have reference.

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