Category: windows

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windows

Windows Live Installer is going to the computer near you.

TechCrunch is reporting on the evil empire Microsoft releasing Windows Live Installer Suite with whole bunch of goodies (full list available here). Citing NYTimes, that called the release a “Netscape-Level event” TechCrunch boldly disagrees saying that MS isn’t offering anything compelling to users.

So was the case with Netscape. Internet Explorer was much worse by the time it was released. In my opinion, IE now is still suffering from certain “child diseases” comparing to Firefox or Opera. Nevertheless, it’s market share is over 75% roughly. The reason behind it – it comes preinstalled with any Windows system, available immediately (while Firefox/Opera/Netscape requires additional knowledge and download) AND appeared (not anymore, though) as an picture captioned “Internet”. For some people (and I heard this myself), blue icon with word “Internet” and AOL browser were two totally different worlds. “And then my son came and put that Firefox internet on my computer, so which internet do you want me to go?”.

With both XP service pack 3 and Vista service pack 1 coming later on, I can’t help but think that one way or another Live Installer will land on everyone’s computer via service pack or somehow else. So Windows Live Installer is going to the computer near you – whether you want it or not.

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technology vista windows

Vista Shoots Itself In Both Feet

While anxiously anticipating Windows Vista to arrive on shelves accessible by consumers, I keep doing my homework researching how it will handle my collection of DVDs, CDs and mp3s. In other words – I’m thinking of using Vista not only as a productivity center, but as media one as well. However, the DRM craze seem to be putting away this idea for good.

While following links from Slashdot to originating site, I discovered the Cost Analysis of Windows Vista Content Protection. This is, obviously, not an accounting cost-analysis, but a well-weighted walk through all the issues that arise while implementing a protection for premium content. While I do think author exaggerates a little, however, the hammer is about to fall.

Microsoft, by implementing this customer-unfriendly scheme, is preventing regular users from watching premium content on Vista PCs/laptops thus tossing away a share of market for Media Center PCs. After all – why bother with $1000 Vista PC while there are a lot of much cheaper options, like set-top players?

The whole story actually (in my view) is giving Vista a very bad rap. Personally, I don’t want it anywhere near my movies. Nor anywhere near my laptop. At least not anytime soon.

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humor video web windows

Windows Of Choice

Thanks, Exler!

Fatboy Slim’s song Weapon of Choice, with Christofer Walken:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_QU98FcZWk”>

Microsoft’s spoof ad – Windows Of Choice. Watch it, it’s amazing. Rumor has it – these are actual MS executives, although I don’t know any of them personally.