It seems that there is a problem for some users who attempt to migrate an existing Vista machine to Windows 7. This comes as no surprise, since upgrading in place is always one of the toughest ways to go. It would be prudent to hold off on upgrading Vista to Windows 7 until problems like this one are all corrected.
ComputerWorld Article: Windows 7 endless reboot answer evades Microsoft
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Comments
This new blog allows for comments on all posts. Look at the bottom right side of any post and you'll see the word "Comments". To leave a comment on any post simply click on that word and the rest is pretty simple. You do not need to register or enter a userid and password. Just enter your comment. You can even leave anonymous posts, but of course I'd prefer to know who you are.
I welcome any questions or general or specific comments on any and all posts. It would make my blog a much better place for you to visit if I had your comments to help me shape future posts.
Please think about it and then give comments a try.
I welcome any questions or general or specific comments on any and all posts. It would make my blog a much better place for you to visit if I had your comments to help me shape future posts.
Please think about it and then give comments a try.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Rootkits - Be afraid, be very afraid
I had heard of, and read about, rootkits. I have even used some free, standalone rootkit detectors on my own systems. However, I had never met a rootkit until this past weekend, when a customer said her machine had become unusable. I think rootkits came into existence about 5 years ago. This is from a 2005 Computerworld article:
"Microsoft Corp. security researchers are warning about a new generation of powerful system-monitoring programs, or "rootkits," that are almost impossible to detect using current security products and could pose a serious risk to corporations and individuals. The researchers discussed the growing threat posed by kernel rootkits at a session at the RSA Security Conference in San Francisco this week. The malicious snooping programs are becoming more common and could soon be used to create a new generation of mass-distributed spyware and worms."
The rootkit I encountered over the weekend blocked all of the tools I normally use to attack a virus-, rogue-, or trojan-infected system. I tried Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, Superantispyware, and Spybot. None of these programs would even start. They were completely blocked, as was AVG Free Anti-virus. So I went into Safe Mode (Windows XP) and lo and behold, they were blocked there too! I had never run into such a situation before, and didn't know what I was faced with other than a really tough cleaning job.
I had thought of using 2 approaches: one, a complete reinstall of XP, and two, removing the customer's hard drive, slipping it into an enclosure, and then attacking it as an external hard drive attached to my own machine. Fortunately, I didn't have to do either.
I was so frustrated at not being able to start any of the usual tools, that I kept trying different approaches. It was then that I noticed an option offered by SuperAntiSpyware called "SuperAntiSpyware Alternate Start". Have you ever noticed this option and wondered what it was all about? If you click on START/ALL PROGRAMS/SuperAntiSpyware, a menu appears and one of the entries in the menu is SuperAntiSpyware Alternate Start. I tried this and IT WORKED! I think what the folks have done is to start their program using a fabricated name, and this was not recognized by the rootkit. It's too late to make a long story short, but the Alternate version ran and found and eliminated the rootkit! Thank you, once again, SuperAntiSpyware.
It also found a bunch of viruses and trojans and killed them all. I then ran the vanilla flavor of Spybot and Anti-Malware, and as has been my experience, they both found additional serious problems and fixed them!
At this point the system was completely usable and I was able to continue with a badly-needed cleaning and tuning.
Rootkits have ingenious methods for making themselves undetectable to the operating system, but I also think that they open the door to viruses and trojans, and may even intentionally seek them and allow them to be installed. This belief is based only on this one experience.
I think today's security tools do a much better job at preventing rootkits from getting into our systems, but the hackers are working every day at finding other ways to "get us". So do be afraid, be very afraid. Take the steps I have recommended in this blog, and be careful out there. Just because you are not paranoid does not mean they are not out to get you.
Review my October 16 & March 9 blog posts for my security recommendations.
"Microsoft Corp. security researchers are warning about a new generation of powerful system-monitoring programs, or "rootkits," that are almost impossible to detect using current security products and could pose a serious risk to corporations and individuals. The researchers discussed the growing threat posed by kernel rootkits at a session at the RSA Security Conference in San Francisco this week. The malicious snooping programs are becoming more common and could soon be used to create a new generation of mass-distributed spyware and worms."
The rootkit I encountered over the weekend blocked all of the tools I normally use to attack a virus-, rogue-, or trojan-infected system. I tried Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, Superantispyware, and Spybot. None of these programs would even start. They were completely blocked, as was AVG Free Anti-virus. So I went into Safe Mode (Windows XP) and lo and behold, they were blocked there too! I had never run into such a situation before, and didn't know what I was faced with other than a really tough cleaning job.
I had thought of using 2 approaches: one, a complete reinstall of XP, and two, removing the customer's hard drive, slipping it into an enclosure, and then attacking it as an external hard drive attached to my own machine. Fortunately, I didn't have to do either.
I was so frustrated at not being able to start any of the usual tools, that I kept trying different approaches. It was then that I noticed an option offered by SuperAntiSpyware called "SuperAntiSpyware Alternate Start". Have you ever noticed this option and wondered what it was all about? If you click on START/ALL PROGRAMS/SuperAntiSpyware, a menu appears and one of the entries in the menu is SuperAntiSpyware Alternate Start. I tried this and IT WORKED! I think what the folks have done is to start their program using a fabricated name, and this was not recognized by the rootkit. It's too late to make a long story short, but the Alternate version ran and found and eliminated the rootkit! Thank you, once again, SuperAntiSpyware.
It also found a bunch of viruses and trojans and killed them all. I then ran the vanilla flavor of Spybot and Anti-Malware, and as has been my experience, they both found additional serious problems and fixed them!
At this point the system was completely usable and I was able to continue with a badly-needed cleaning and tuning.
Rootkits have ingenious methods for making themselves undetectable to the operating system, but I also think that they open the door to viruses and trojans, and may even intentionally seek them and allow them to be installed. This belief is based only on this one experience.
I think today's security tools do a much better job at preventing rootkits from getting into our systems, but the hackers are working every day at finding other ways to "get us". So do be afraid, be very afraid. Take the steps I have recommended in this blog, and be careful out there. Just because you are not paranoid does not mean they are not out to get you.
Review my October 16 & March 9 blog posts for my security recommendations.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Windows 7 Delayed Ship - Intentional?
I blogged back in June, I think it was, that I had participated in a special pre-order opportunity to buy Windows 7 for $49.99. I expected the DVD to be in today's mail, or even yesterday's. First availability was yesterday.
But, at 5:30 PM today I received an e-mail from Amazon informing me that my order had shipped and is expected to arrive at my home on October 28! Now that is what I call a poorly-planned marketing effort. I was actually anxiously awaiting its arrival. Now I get to wait another week.
But, at 5:30 PM today I received an e-mail from Amazon informing me that my order had shipped and is expected to arrive at my home on October 28! Now that is what I call a poorly-planned marketing effort. I was actually anxiously awaiting its arrival. Now I get to wait another week.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Microsoft Online Store
Of course today is a big day for Microsoft. Windows 7 is launched today!
I also read where Microsoft is starting to sell PCs online. This is an interesting turn. I thought at first that maybe they were selling their own line of PCs, but they are simply selling the big name brands. It might be worth a visit to their store at http://store.microsoft.com/microsoft/Computers/category/4 if you are now, or will soon be, in the market for a new machine. I have not done any comparison of prices so don't know if they will ever be the low cost supplier.
I also read where Microsoft is starting to sell PCs online. This is an interesting turn. I thought at first that maybe they were selling their own line of PCs, but they are simply selling the big name brands. It might be worth a visit to their store at http://store.microsoft.com/microsoft/Computers/category/4 if you are now, or will soon be, in the market for a new machine. I have not done any comparison of prices so don't know if they will ever be the low cost supplier.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
SeniorNet of Vermont
For my Vermont friends, are you aware of SeniorNet? This is a very valuable resource located within an easy ride to anyone living in Chittenden County, and when I was teaching there we had students who traveled in from other surrounding counties. They found it worth the trip.
SeniorNet is a non-profit staffed entirely by volunteers. It offers low-cost computer courses for seniors 50 and over. (With each passing year I think more and more of 50 year-olds as kids!) Take a look at the wide-ranging menu of courses and seminars offered this coming November. There are some excellent offerings there, being taught by seasoned professionals who love teaching others what they know. You should give SeniorNet a close look and seriously consider registering (online) for a course or seminar.
The SeniorNet web site can be found here: http://seniornetvt.org/
SeniorNet is a non-profit staffed entirely by volunteers. It offers low-cost computer courses for seniors 50 and over. (With each passing year I think more and more of 50 year-olds as kids!) Take a look at the wide-ranging menu of courses and seminars offered this coming November. There are some excellent offerings there, being taught by seasoned professionals who love teaching others what they know. You should give SeniorNet a close look and seriously consider registering (online) for a course or seminar.
The SeniorNet web site can be found here: http://seniornetvt.org/
Monday, October 19, 2009
Vista
I worked on 3 customer machines today. All 3 had Vista installed, and were otherwise very nice machines. But if working on 3 Vista machines in one day isn't equivalent to a day in Hell, it surely must be equivalent to a day in Purgatory. Microsoft's Vista is an abomination, and I am thrilled that as of this coming Thursday no one will be sold a new machine with Vista on it.
If you are lucky enough to have an XP machine, keep it running and hang onto it as long as you can.
If you need to buy a new machine, from all accounts I have read the new Windows 7, available on new machines starting Thursday, 10/22, is much better. Even if you have to be a pioneer and be one of the first users, you should be better off.
If you are lucky enough to have an XP machine, keep it running and hang onto it as long as you can.
If you need to buy a new machine, from all accounts I have read the new Windows 7, available on new machines starting Thursday, 10/22, is much better. Even if you have to be a pioneer and be one of the first users, you should be better off.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Securing your PC - Revisited
I was looking for a certain post from some months ago, and with this new blog (thanks again Google!) it's easy to find the old stuff. On March 9 of this year I blogged on Securing Your PC with my recommendations for FREE software you can use for this purpose.
I did this because I was reading the latest Windows Secrets newsletter, and saw an article that explained how to get rid of a particularly vicious piece of malware. The following 3 paragraphs are taken directly from this newsletter and they read:
"As Peter discovered, if you try to remove the Advanced Virus Remover, you find that your access to Task Manager and the Registry Editor (Regedit) are blocked, making removal of this malware harder than normal. But there are several approaches to rid your system of this and similar kinds of malware. Even if you don't encounter this specific Trojan, the same techniques can work whenever a similar problem occurs.
The first and perhaps most-obvious step is to use one or more of the many free malware-removal tools that find and delete this Trojan. From user reviews online, two that do the job are Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and SuperAntiSpyware.
Users of Grisoft's free AVG, a full-on antivirus/anti-malware tool that prevents and disinfects — as opposed to the malware-removal tools and online scanners mentioned above — also report success in banishing the Advanced Virus Remover Trojan. Download your copy of AVG from the Grisoft site."
Well, this makes me feel pretty good, since they are talking about the same tools I have recommended to you. There are, of course, other tools in the basic security toolset I recommend. If you use all of these regularly, you can stay out of trouble, or, if you manage to get into trouble, these same tools will enable you to repair your own system.
See my March 9, 2009 post, Securing Your PC by clicking HERE.
I did this because I was reading the latest Windows Secrets newsletter, and saw an article that explained how to get rid of a particularly vicious piece of malware. The following 3 paragraphs are taken directly from this newsletter and they read:
"As Peter discovered, if you try to remove the Advanced Virus Remover, you find that your access to Task Manager and the Registry Editor (Regedit) are blocked, making removal of this malware harder than normal. But there are several approaches to rid your system of this and similar kinds of malware. Even if you don't encounter this specific Trojan, the same techniques can work whenever a similar problem occurs.
The first and perhaps most-obvious step is to use one or more of the many free malware-removal tools that find and delete this Trojan. From user reviews online, two that do the job are Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and SuperAntiSpyware.
Users of Grisoft's free AVG, a full-on antivirus/anti-malware tool that prevents and disinfects — as opposed to the malware-removal tools and online scanners mentioned above — also report success in banishing the Advanced Virus Remover Trojan. Download your copy of AVG from the Grisoft site."
Well, this makes me feel pretty good, since they are talking about the same tools I have recommended to you. There are, of course, other tools in the basic security toolset I recommend. If you use all of these regularly, you can stay out of trouble, or, if you manage to get into trouble, these same tools will enable you to repair your own system.
See my March 9, 2009 post, Securing Your PC by clicking HERE.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
AVG Anti-virus Free Edition Version 9.0
There is a new version of AVG Free named Version 9.0. I downloaded it (71MB) and installed it on my Windows XP laptop. Previously I had Version 8.5 installed. The installation went smoothly and took only 5 or 10 minutes. As before with earlier versions, I did not install the AVG Security Toolbar, nor did I elect to have Yahoo as my default search engine. At the end of the installation I was asked if I wanted to run their Optimization Scan. This is a scan they are doing right now as I write this that will (supposedly) greatly reduce future scan times, and that is good news. Apparently they eliminate, through this scan, some number of files that they know won't need to be scanned during a regular scan.
I would recommend you download the new version at download.com. Here is the link:
It's fairly easy to write comments on any of my posts. Just click on Comments below and to the right of every post to add your comments. Note that anonymous comments are allowed, but I'd prefer it if you would identify yourself. That or write me an e-mail with your comments.
I would recommend you download the new version at download.com. Here is the link:
Once there, PLEASE do a search, using the search window at the top of the display for AVG FREE. Do not click on any buttons that may look like they will lead you to AVG Free. DO THE SEARCH! If you do, you will get a window that will contain the download link for the new version. Below you will see the product you want to download. (Click on the picture below to enlarge it.)
Click on the Download Now button over on the right, and your download will begin. I usually save files like this on my desktop for immediate use after the download is completed.
As I said, the install went very smoothly. I opted out of the AVG Security Toolbar and the Yahoo as my search engine option, and I did opt for the Optimization Scan at the end of the install. This scan only took about 10 minutes.
The new AVG User Interface looks very similar to the older version. See below.
I don't see a need to rush into this brand new version for all of you, but be alert to come-ons from AVG and possibly others that may try to get you to buy the professional versions. You don't need them for your home computers.
It's fairly easy to write comments on any of my posts. Just click on Comments below and to the right of every post to add your comments. Note that anonymous comments are allowed, but I'd prefer it if you would identify yourself. That or write me an e-mail with your comments.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool
If you pay any attention at all to the updates that get downloaded from Microsoft on a fairly regular basis, probably through Automatic Updates, you may have noticed one called Malicious Software Removal Tool. I believe this is the situation with this tool: Microsoft issues a new version every month and it gets downloaded along with the updates. It turns out that you can download this tool manually. You can find it at this url: http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.aspx
Why, you might ask, would I ever want to do this? The answer, I believe, is this. If you download it and run it, you will be given the options of running a Quick Scan, a Full Scan, or a Custom Scan. This morning I went to the above web site and downloaded the October version of this tool. I ran it and elected the Full Scan. It ran for 3 hours! It found no problems, as I would have expected, but I thought this is a small price to pay for yet one more layer of security protection. I do not believe that the version one gets through Automatic Updates will run a full scan. I say this because I have never seen this program running at all, so assume it must be running the quick scan.
Note that when I began running it there was an indication that this was the October version. I'll do the same thing next month and run a Full Scan of the new November version.
Questions? Just submit a comment with your question or e-mail me. (Click on the image below for a larger version.)
Why, you might ask, would I ever want to do this? The answer, I believe, is this. If you download it and run it, you will be given the options of running a Quick Scan, a Full Scan, or a Custom Scan. This morning I went to the above web site and downloaded the October version of this tool. I ran it and elected the Full Scan. It ran for 3 hours! It found no problems, as I would have expected, but I thought this is a small price to pay for yet one more layer of security protection. I do not believe that the version one gets through Automatic Updates will run a full scan. I say this because I have never seen this program running at all, so assume it must be running the quick scan.
Note that when I began running it there was an indication that this was the October version. I'll do the same thing next month and run a Full Scan of the new November version.
Questions? Just submit a comment with your question or e-mail me. (Click on the image below for a larger version.)
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Recapping
The buzz in the trade press is all about Windows 7. Let's take a moment to recap where WE are.
Most of us have Windows XP, and we don't hate it. Some actually like it. In either case, there is no reason to leave it. Stay with XP. It will be supported by Microsoft until 2014, so if your hardware will last, you are all set for a while. I personally intend to stay with XP on my desktop and my primary laptop.
If you have Vista, I feel for you. You probably don't like it, but I know some of you do like it. If you are happy with Vista, there is no reason to change to Windows 7, although you will probably like Windows 7 more than Vista. If you do not like your Vista environment, than you should consider upgrading your machine to Windows 7. In both cases, I recommend you download, install, and run the Microsoft free program Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor Beta by clicking HERE. This program will tell you if your current machine will run Windows 7. It's worth doing this even if you are undecided about what direction you want to take. I have one Vista laptop and I intend to upgrade it to Windows 7, mostly so that I can gain some experience with it and be of help to those of you who may wish to have some assistance with your upgade.
If you are going to buy a new machine soon, keep in mind that after October 22 you will have a difficult time finding a machine with anything but Windows 7. I'd suggest you wait a while if you can, give Windows 7 a couple of months in the hands of millions of others, and then jump in and buy a machine with Windows 7. There will probably be a lot of Christmas season sales promotions, and it may be a very good time to buy.
Most of us have Windows XP, and we don't hate it. Some actually like it. In either case, there is no reason to leave it. Stay with XP. It will be supported by Microsoft until 2014, so if your hardware will last, you are all set for a while. I personally intend to stay with XP on my desktop and my primary laptop.
If you have Vista, I feel for you. You probably don't like it, but I know some of you do like it. If you are happy with Vista, there is no reason to change to Windows 7, although you will probably like Windows 7 more than Vista. If you do not like your Vista environment, than you should consider upgrading your machine to Windows 7. In both cases, I recommend you download, install, and run the Microsoft free program Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor Beta by clicking HERE. This program will tell you if your current machine will run Windows 7. It's worth doing this even if you are undecided about what direction you want to take. I have one Vista laptop and I intend to upgrade it to Windows 7, mostly so that I can gain some experience with it and be of help to those of you who may wish to have some assistance with your upgade.
If you are going to buy a new machine soon, keep in mind that after October 22 you will have a difficult time finding a machine with anything but Windows 7. I'd suggest you wait a while if you can, give Windows 7 a couple of months in the hands of millions of others, and then jump in and buy a machine with Windows 7. There will probably be a lot of Christmas season sales promotions, and it may be a very good time to buy.
Monday, October 12, 2009
A Windows to Help You Forget
Forget Vista that is!
This is a really good Walt Mossberg article on Windows 7. Here is the first paragraph of his article:
"In just two weeks, on Oct. 22, Microsoft’s long operating-system nightmare will be over. The company will release Windows 7, a faster and much better operating system than the little-loved Windows Vista, which did a lot to harm both the company’s reputation, and the productivity and blood pressure of its users. PC makers will rush to flood physical and online stores with new computers pre-loaded with Windows 7, and to offer the software to Vista owners who wish to upgrade."
You can read the whole article here, and note the comments under it while you are there.
This is a really good Walt Mossberg article on Windows 7. Here is the first paragraph of his article:
"In just two weeks, on Oct. 22, Microsoft’s long operating-system nightmare will be over. The company will release Windows 7, a faster and much better operating system than the little-loved Windows Vista, which did a lot to harm both the company’s reputation, and the productivity and blood pressure of its users. PC makers will rush to flood physical and online stores with new computers pre-loaded with Windows 7, and to offer the software to Vista owners who wish to upgrade."
You can read the whole article here, and note the comments under it while you are there.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Microsoft Security Essentials
Below is the introduction to an article in a paid subscription I have to Windows Secrets.
I read the whole thing and I must say I am impressed by what Woody has to say about the new Microsoft Security Essentials. I have an old laptop running XP, and I think I will download the Microsoft package and give it a try. I will report back on it in a couple of weeks.
Free MS Security Essentials are worth trying
Microsoft's new security suite in perspective
Last week, the 'Softies released the final version of Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE). The initial reports are remarkably upbeat, particularly for a Microsoft product labeled "version 1.0."
MSE takes over antivirus and antispyware duties while tossing in antirootkit features for good measure. If you have Windows Defender installed — Defender is a separate download for XP but comes with Vista and Windows 7 — MSE zaps it. There's no need for Defender if MSE is running.
I read the whole thing and I must say I am impressed by what Woody has to say about the new Microsoft Security Essentials. I have an old laptop running XP, and I think I will download the Microsoft package and give it a try. I will report back on it in a couple of weeks.
Free MS Security Essentials are worth trying
 | By Woody Leonhard Fast, full-featured, and free, Microsoft's new security suite is drawing accolades from experts and howls of agony from competitors. If you're tired of your bloated and expensive security suite exhorting/extorting you for more money — and you can't stomach the way free AV products try to scare you into paying — it's time to try something new and better from an unexpected source. |
Microsoft's new security suite in perspective
Last week, the 'Softies released the final version of Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE). The initial reports are remarkably upbeat, particularly for a Microsoft product labeled "version 1.0."
MSE takes over antivirus and antispyware duties while tossing in antirootkit features for good measure. If you have Windows Defender installed — Defender is a separate download for XP but comes with Vista and Windows 7 — MSE zaps it. There's no need for Defender if MSE is running.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Windows 7 Upgrade Chart
I wasn't sure who created this chart, but I found it on Walt Mossberg's All Things Digital web site, and he says Microsoft created it for him, so here it is. You can click on it to see a larger version.
I found it here: http://mossblog.allthingsd.com/20090804/deciphering-windows-7-upgrades-the-official-chart/
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
You can't teach an old dog new tricks?
I have just taken over another website, this time for a charity in Maine. It has been developed using Joomla. Heretofore all of the web sites I have developed were done using Microsoft's Frontpage 2003, and I always had the privilege of developing from scratch. This time I have inherited the existing web site and will be responsible for maintenance and improvements.
So far Joomla is a totally different animal to me, and I will have a lot to learn, but like any other learning experience, will probably wind up being a good one for me. I am fortunate enough to have an excellent support person who developed the web site and who is the owner of the hosting company. He has provided me with lots of support, which I need since I am new to Joomla and also HTML.
The site is for Rebuilding Together of Lincoln County, Maine, and can be viewed at http://rebuildingtogether-lc.org/
So far Joomla is a totally different animal to me, and I will have a lot to learn, but like any other learning experience, will probably wind up being a good one for me. I am fortunate enough to have an excellent support person who developed the web site and who is the owner of the hosting company. He has provided me with lots of support, which I need since I am new to Joomla and also HTML.
The site is for Rebuilding Together of Lincoln County, Maine, and can be viewed at http://rebuildingtogether-lc.org/
Monday, October 5, 2009
Buying a new PC?
I think I might have addressed this subject not too long ago, but I have some new information to share with you, and mind you this is just my opinion!
This is a terrible time to have to buy a new PC because of the near imminent release of Windows 7 on October 22. I have recommended that you defer your purchase decision so that you wouldn't have to buy a Vista machine. I find likers of Vista are few and far between! It's been a very bad chapter in the evolution of Microsoft's operating systems.
The new news is that I have been reading a lot about Windows 7 experiences on the trade web sites, and the reports are almost all good. Apparently Microsoft has done a good job of addressing the weaknesses in Vista and corrected them in Windows 7. Windows 7 is also apparently faster than Vista, but that's not saying much!
If I really had to buy a new PC now or soon, I'd still delay for some time, like several months if I could, and then go ahead and buy a machine with Windows 7 on it.
For those of you who would rather not take the plunge this early in the lifecycle of Windows 7, and who can blame you, then take a look at manufacturer web sites for reconditioned machines. The bigger companies like Dell and HP, and I am sure most of the others as well, sell reconditioned machines from their web sites.
And don't overlook the possibility of finally switching to a Mac or iMac or other Apple machines. You know your kids are telling you to go ahead and do that, so maybe you can humor them, do it, and get your kids to support your new machine!
This is a terrible time to have to buy a new PC because of the near imminent release of Windows 7 on October 22. I have recommended that you defer your purchase decision so that you wouldn't have to buy a Vista machine. I find likers of Vista are few and far between! It's been a very bad chapter in the evolution of Microsoft's operating systems.
The new news is that I have been reading a lot about Windows 7 experiences on the trade web sites, and the reports are almost all good. Apparently Microsoft has done a good job of addressing the weaknesses in Vista and corrected them in Windows 7. Windows 7 is also apparently faster than Vista, but that's not saying much!
If I really had to buy a new PC now or soon, I'd still delay for some time, like several months if I could, and then go ahead and buy a machine with Windows 7 on it.
For those of you who would rather not take the plunge this early in the lifecycle of Windows 7, and who can blame you, then take a look at manufacturer web sites for reconditioned machines. The bigger companies like Dell and HP, and I am sure most of the others as well, sell reconditioned machines from their web sites.
And don't overlook the possibility of finally switching to a Mac or iMac or other Apple machines. You know your kids are telling you to go ahead and do that, so maybe you can humor them, do it, and get your kids to support your new machine!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Verizon's $150 Netbook Deal Is No Deal at All
This is from today's pcworld.com. FYI, I own an Acer Aspire One Netbook, and would be glad to comment on that if anyone is interested. Write me. (See links below).
Jeff Bertolucci, PC World
Oct 1, 2009 5:15 pm
Attention, suckers: Verizon Wireless will soon offer a Gateway LT2016u netbook with the carrier's Mobile Broadband service built into the device. The Gateway mini-note costs $150 after a $100 mail-in rebate, and the deal requires a 2-year 3G contract. The plan is available starting Oct. 4.
Run, don't walk, from this offer. Even at $150, the Gateway netbook is overpriced, and subscribers will get a bum deal. Here's why:
The LT2016u is a ho-hum netbook. Its specs — a 10.1-inch SD 1024 x 600 display, Intel Atom N270 processor (1.60 GHz), 1 GB RAM, and a 160 GB hard disk — are virtually identical to those of the Acer Aspire One D250, which sells for about $300 at Amazon. The Gateway system does include built-in 3G broadband; but customers are locked into Verizon's usurious monthly fees. (More on those below.) Bottom line: The Gateway discount is far from spectacular.
You'll pay through the nose for broadband. Verizon offers two mobile broadband plans: $40 a month for a 250 MB monthly allowance, plus 10 cents per megabyte overage; or $60 a month for 5 GB, plus 5 cents per MB overage. The cheaper plan is deliberately wimpy, and most customers will choose the $60 package.
With the $60 deal, your out-of-pocket cost over 2 years totals $1590. Yowza. True, that figure includes the cost of 3G broadband service, not just the netbook. But remember that Verizon's 3G service is hard-wired to the Gateway mini-note, which you may not like. You'll pay a bundle for a run-of-the-mill netbook designed for basic tasks like e-mail, Web browsing, and loitering on social networking sites.
Wireless broadband in the U.S. remains overpriced, and carriers often disguise the true cost of their 3G plans by packaging them with seemingly cheap netbooks. But read the fine print, my friend. That bargain mini-note may be the most expensive system you ever buy.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
IRS Scam E-mail
On 9/26 my blog post was about the IRS scam e-mail. I have received as many as 100 of these in my business e-mail accounts. Giving credit to my hosting service company (ICDSOFT), they have all wound up in my Junk Mail folder.
If you receive one or more of these, don't even think of opening it, but if you do open one, do not click on the link in the e-mail. This is a scam and will lead you nowhere but into trouble. For its part, the IRS has stated that they will never contact us by e-mail if ever there were such a situation (under reported income).
Here is what the e-mail looks like. Click on it to view a larger image. Since the image below is a jpg file, you will not be able to click on the link.
If you receive one or more of these, don't even think of opening it, but if you do open one, do not click on the link in the e-mail. This is a scam and will lead you nowhere but into trouble. For its part, the IRS has stated that they will never contact us by e-mail if ever there were such a situation (under reported income).
Here is what the e-mail looks like. Click on it to view a larger image. Since the image below is a jpg file, you will not be able to click on the link.
Monday, September 28, 2009
How to Tweak Outlook Email To Work for You
If you are an Outlook user (note: Outlook is different from Outlook Express), as I am, you may find some useful tips in this Katherine Boehret article posted on the WSJ's All Things Digital web site. For those not familiar with Outlook, it has traditionally been included as an integral component of the Microsoft Office suite, not including the Home & Student version of that package. Outlook is often used in corporate environments and offers many features not normally needed or used in the home.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
IRS scam now world's biggest e-mail virus problem
If you get one of these e-mails from the IRS with a subject of "Notice of Underreported Income," or something to that effect, be aware it is a scam. If you are lucky, it will show up in your Spam or Junk folder. This article, from computerworld.com is worth reading.
Note the sentence in the article that includes "and they encourage victims to either install the Trojan attachment or click on a Web link in order to view their "tax statement." In fact, that link takes the victim to a malicious Web site." You can read the article here:
Note the sentence in the article that includes "and they encourage victims to either install the Trojan attachment or click on a Web link in order to view their "tax statement." In fact, that link takes the victim to a malicious Web site." You can read the article here:
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