Friday, August 29, 2008

Complete Guide to Microsoft's Vista



Use this guide lo help you decide which version you should get:

Windows Vista Home Basic
The good: Windows Vista Home Basic does improve some features within Windows XP; fewer system crashes than Windows XP; and Windows Vista offers better built-in support options.
The bad: Windows Vista Home Basic does not put Search on the desktop (it's buried within applications, within the Start Menu); no Aero graphics system in Home Basic; no new software yet written exclusively for Windows Vista; optimized only for the Microsoft Windows ecosystem (for example, RSS feeds from IE7 get preferential treatment); and little reason to leave Windows XP.
The bottom line: Windows Vista Home Basic is essentially warmed-over Windows XP, Windows XP SP3. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use.

Windows Vista Home Premium
The good: Windows Vista Home Premium does improve some features within Windows XP; fewer system crashes than Windows XP; and Windows Vista offers better built-in support options.
The bad: Windows Vista Home Premium does not put Search on the desktop (it's buried within applications, within the Start Menu); no new software yet written exclusively for Windows Vista; optimized only for the Microsoft Windows ecosystem (for example, RSS feeds from Internet Explorer 7 get preferential treatment); Tablet PC support unnecessary; fax and scan support missing; and there are too many editions of Windows Vista.
The bottom line: Windows Vista Home Premium is essentially warmed-over Windows XP Home Edition. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista Home Premium is stable enough for everyday use.

Windows Vista Business
The good: Windows Vista Business does improve some features within Windows XP; fewer system crashes than Windows XP; and Windows Vista offers better built-in support options.
The bad: Windows Vista Business does not put Search on the desktop (it's buried within applications, within the Start Menu); no new software yet written exclusively for Windows Vista; optimized only for the Microsoft Windows ecosystem (for example, RSS feeds from Internet Explorer 7 get preferential treatment); no BitLocker drive encryption; no DVD Maker; and there are too many editions of Windows Vista.
The bottom line: Windows Vista Business is essentially warmed-over Windows XP. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use.

Windows Vista Ultimate
The good: Windows Vista Ultimate does improve some features within Windows XP; fewer system crashes than Windows XP; Windows Vista offers better built-in support options.
The bad: Windows Vista Ultimate does not put Search on the desktop (it's buried within applications, within the Start Menu); optimized only for the Microsoft Windows ecosystem (for example, RSS feeds from Internet Explorer 7 get preferential treatment); there's simply too much and not all of it is implemented properly; no new software yet written exclusively for Windows Vista; and there are too many editions of Windows Vista.
The bottom line: Windows Vista is essentially warmed-over Windows XP. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use.

Now that you have all the necessary info, visit this site http://www.alpha-omega-electronics.com/rd_p?p=150282&t=6730&gift=27990&a=27990-blog and get your free Microsoft Vista!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Cool Laptops for School


Considering getting a new laptop? What about for free? Visit http://www.alpha-omega-electronics.com/rd_p?p=150282&t=6730&gift=25222&a=25222-blog to get one at no cost.

As you kick off the new school year, it's time to consider which laptop you want for the next few years, whether you're in high school, college, or writing a dissertation for your doctorate. This takes more than just picking the best-looking design or going with what your friends are using. You have to find something that's tailored to your needs.

Unless you're majoring in database programming or graphics design, don't get too caught up with processor models and 3D gaming cards. One thing you need to make sure of is that you have 2GB of memory and enough battery life to get you through several classes on a single charge. Almost every back-to-school laptop comes with ample connectivity ports and some flavor of built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet. A wireless technology like mobile broadband would be icing on the cake. With the proliferation of digital cameras and handheld camcorders, an integrated media card reader and at least 160GB worth of hard drive storage will help future-proof your system.

A good warranty is important, since you can't afford to have your laptop out of action. Nearly all laptops these days come with at least a one-year warranty. It's also helpful to have a good customer support network, in case your hard drive with your precious term paper decides to fail or your roommate spills beer over the keyboard. Quick turnaround times and a knowledgeable support staff are keys to a successful school year.

It's not as big a decision as choosing a major, but picking the right laptop might make the difference between frustration and smooth sailing throughout the academic year. For your information, you can get brand new laptops for free! How is this possible? Visit this site http://www.alpha-omega-electronics.com/rd_p?p=150282&t=6730&gift=25222&a=25222-blog and will find out. Now you will not have an excuse for getting bad grades. Enjoy!

Source: Cisco Cheng

Free Microsoft Money / Quicken?


This is the first "free" offer I will review related to the electronics and computers category. I am interested in getting out of debt, saving, and investing. I want to choose the best tools available in the market. So far I have managed my personal finances poorly and I want to get better at it. Instead of using spreadsheets, I want to use software to take a better look at how I spend my money.

I have read some articles regarding the most popular packages: Intuit Quicken and Microsoft Money. These software packages cost around $80. My attempts at downloading any of these programs for free were unsuccessful. Since I am making an effort to spend less, I really don't feel like purchasing the programs. What to do? I found this amazing website that offers these software for free! I will share my experience:

How did I find this website? I did a search on Google using the keywords "microsoft money deluxe". I saw an sponsored ad with the title Free Microsoft Money 2007. This is the site http://www.alpha-omega-electronics.com/rd_p?p=150282&t=6730&gift=23360&a=23360-blog. I though it was a freeware site but ended up being something better (no risk for viruses).

What company offers this software? After doing some research I found out that the company is called World Avenue. Apparently, they offer other products for free. At this point, I became a little skeptical. But I wanted to find out what this was about.

What is required to receive this software? I had to fill out a personal information form (email, address, etc.). I used a secure internet connection and the process took me about an hour and 20 minutes.

What is my overall experience with this offer? I had to answer a series of questions (yes/no) and then was asked to sign up for free trials. I was happy to sign up for a free trial of Netflix. This will probably help me because I am cancelling my cable service in order to pay some debt! I was also excited to try coffee samples (I gotta kick my morning latte habit, too). I did avoid signing up for credit cards because I couldn't handle the temptation. Using the refer a friend feature helped me avoid purchasing any other products.

Anyways, overall the process was a little time consuming but completely worth it. I am waiting to receive my free Microsoft Money 2007 software and start to track my money habits in a more effective way! I will make a follow up posting as soon as I receive it.

PD. In case you want to get the Quicken software, here is the website: http://www.alpha-omega-electronics.com/rd_p?p=150282&t=6730&gift=26999&a=26999-blog