Microsoft officially announced Windows 7 prices. Most of the retail pricing is below what Windows Vista was when it came out. However the thing that’s really catching eyes is the upgrade pricing programs. From Friday June 26th until Friday July 11th users will be able to get a huge discount on Windows 7.

If you buy a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium you can get it for just $49! If you need Windows 7 Professional you can get that upgrade for just $99! This is good for anyone who uses Windows Vista or Windows XP. The amazing part is this discount. When Windows 7 goes on sale on October 22 it will be $119 for Home Premium, $199 for Professional, and $219 for Windows 7 Ultimate. This means that if you purchase it now you can save over half on the upgrade.

If you’re planning on buying a full version of Windows 7 you may want to consider just buying a new computer as the full versions are set to be expensive. For Home Premium you can expect to pay $199, for professional it will be $299, and for Windows 7 Ultimate it will be $319. These prices seem outrageous compared to the $49 that you can get it at right now. For anyone who’s considering buying a computer you can do it anytime after the 26th. After the 26th anyone who buys a computer is eligible for Microsoft’s upgrade program in which Vista PC buyers will get a free copy of Windows 7. This may be the better route if you need a new computer and you want Windows 7.

Linux is still free though. Many users are still moving towards Linux because of that. Microsoft may want to think of a new strategy if it plans to stay where it is within the next decade.

Source: CNET

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Catholics have this belief that every child that is brought out in the world has original sin. This sin comes from mankind’s biblical ancestors, Adam and Eve. In order to get rid of original sin, the child has to be baptized. After being Christened, the child begins life without any burden of sin.

That sinless existence also comes a few times in a PC’s life. The system doesn’t bear the weight of any needless software during the time that it’s taken out of the box. Of course, a computer is practically helpless or useless without any application installed in it. The first burden that it has to carry, then, is the operating system.

First Sin?

Many consider Windows as the first sin or burden of a computer. Everything seems to be perfectly fast and smooth when a new PC conducts that first run or check in DOS or Linux. However, such pristine condition or impeccable performance won’t last long. As no PC could ever survive or be useful without embracing Apple or Microsoft’s religion, the commission of original sin is consequently inevitable.

Putting it to the Test

Of course, operating systems are made to make things easier for the user. Hence, it’s quite wrong to look at it as if it’s Pandora’s box. Of course, your system will definitely slow down once it begins to run on Windows or OS X. That’s just normal considering that DOS or Linux practically needs just a fraction of processing power in order for it to function. In contrast, Windows or OS X will definitely put processors to the test, especially if it’s a single core model.

Still Pure

Despite taking up a few gigabytes of hard drive real estate, as well as keeping task manager busy, your PC should still be able to run smoothly after the installation of XP, Vista, or OS X. I’ve installed XP on a Pentium M notebook with just 256 of RAM and it ran without a glitch. Navigating through the commands or windows was seamless. The ease by which I was able to go through things or tasks made me wonder for a short while if the specs of my notebook were mistakenly labeled.

Problem in Disguise?

Slow PC performance starts when you install the other applications. You’ll definitely feel the drag after you’ve installed an antivirus. It’s already a given that the presence of a security software in your system will slow it down. That’s a consequence that every PC user will face regardless of the processor that he has.

Some users try to solve the problem by getting rid of their antivirus altogether and just rely on their cautious nature to ferret out malware attacks. Of course, this is a reckless move. Antivirus or other system utilities will slow your PC down. However, the greatest drag or burden that keeps PCs from running at optimum speed comes from malicious applications and not from legitimate ones. You may not notice this immediately, but you’ll definitely be noticing your nails grow while waiting for your programs to load if you’ll let your system roam around cyberspace without any armor on it.

Necessary

Do not court disaster by dispensing with system utilities that you think would just waste hard drive space or slow down your system. Antivirus programs or registry cleaners may take up some space and may sometimes demand a good deal of processing power every time they’re scanning your PC for malicious instructions. The small inconveniences that you’ll experience from scans and clean ups are nothing compared to the major hard drive sweep that you’ll be doing when unwanted software starts squatting on your main disk.

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A top executive from Microsoft has revealed that the company has been more successful in squashing the bugs of its previous operating system than in the present one.

Jeff Jones, Redmond’s security strategy director, revealed in a report that out of the 27 Vista problems that appeared during its first six months, only 12 were given a solution to. In contrast, only 3 of XP’s 39 holes that were discovered during the same period weren’t patched.

Jones was quick to add that most of the vulnerabilities were not critical. He pointed out that Microsoft left only one problem unanswered that was considered as severe. On the other hand, the company failed to provide a patch for two critical problems in XP during its first 6 months.

The report didn’t spare other operating systems written by its competitors. The study showed that Vista is fairing better than the OS X and Linux as far vulnerabilities are concerned.

The comparison may be premature as it only covered the first six months of the two operating systems. It would definitely appear that XP is the more vulnerable OS. However, that conclusion or observation might change as hackers now shift their focus from XP to Vista.

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What probably took Linux or Mac OS X a year or two was abbreviated by Microsoft to just a quarter of a year.

In a speech made at the Windows Hardware and Engineering Conference (WinHEC), Microsoft Corporation’s top honcho, Bill Gates, announced that the company has already sold almost 40 million copies of Windows Vista.

The pace has been considered as somewhat blistering, considering that the figure is larger than the install base of the company’s toughest competitors. It also edged out Windows XP in sales, with Gates saying that people embraced the new OS twice as fast as they did when XP was released.

The trend or figures given by Gates on Vista are not that surprising. You might think that Gates’ numbers are inaccurate, especially since Vista’s release has been met by numerous skepticisms. One would definitely arrive at a higher figure for Vista than with any other software, even with Microsoft’s most successful product, Windows XP.

But the comparison made by the Microsoft boss is flawed. Vista sales would definitely outnumber that of XP’s during the same period since there are many persons now who own computers. PC sales have risen astronomically since XP was first introduced to the market. It’s only logical then, that Vista would outmatch XP in sales.

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Much has already been said on how OS X edges out XP and Vista in the OS market in terms of design and security. Windows fans dismiss such claims as mud slings from Apple’s henchmen who make their product look good by deforming Bill Gates’ banner products.

So which OS has the upper hand, at least as far as having the most durable and shiniest armor is concerned?

The CNET Duel

CNET has recently sponsored a duel between these two top operating systems. OS X easily put the lights out off Vista in the security category. This is hardly surprising since Vista’s predecessors were known to be vulnerable to all sorts of attacks. While Microsoft has claimed that Vista is the most secure OS in the world, their checkered track record hasn’t convinced even their software’s most loyal fans that their system will be fully protected against malware threats.

Pride-Swallowing Revelation

Take for example Vista’s User Account Controls (UAC) feature. This innovation was supposed to be one of the cornerstones of Vista’s impregnable wall. Its function is mainly to ferret out attacks from malicious programs and prevent them from making any changes to your system. I originally lauded Microsoft for this. I was even tempted to say that Vista’s security features could take Symantec and McAfee out of business.

Complacent folks such as yours truly were taken for a rude awakening by Joanna Rutkowska, a known Windows decapitator, when she revealed the useless nature of Vista’s UAC. She exposed the vulnerabilities of this supposedly impenetrable filter. Microsoft was stunned at the revelation. It didn’t heavily dispute the claims made by Rutkowska. What it only did was to sheepishly point out that the UAC is not exactly a part, or at least an important component, of Vista’s security repertoire.

Having More Enemies

One of the reasons why Vista seems more vulnerable to external threats than OS X is the fact that the former has more enemies than the latter. I’m not sure why many want to see Microsoft go down. Could it be because of its monopoly over the OS industry? I don’t know. Personally, I don’t have any problem with Microsoft ruling over the world. Maybe the reason why people prefer Windows over Linux or OS X is because the former is more easy or convenient to use. You could argue that OS X might have been the world’s most widely used program had it not been for Microsoft’s bully tactics. That’s definitely a good point to consider. But the fact remains that many people are simply comfortable using Windows than any other OS available in the market.

If OS X is more secured than Vista simply because the former is subjected to fewer attacks than the latter, then Apple’s triumph is a hollow one. The circumstances or conditions should be the same for both programs. Maybe OS X critics are indeed right in saying that the Apple software’s security record seems unblemished since nobody has ardently tried to climb its walls.

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Oooops! I may have spoken on Vista’s demise quite too soon on my previous article. In my April 16 entry, I have revealed Microsoft’s plan on pulling the plug on its most successful program. Although it’s not yet dependent on any life support system, Windows XP’s days are definitely numbered already.

Plotting XP’s End

I think I didn’t give details as to how and when Bill Gates’ company will cut the life out of XP. Microsoft will still be providing a hefty oxygen tank for its old product in 2008 before slowly letting the air flow out without any plan of replenishing it. It expects XP to suffer its first stroke in 2009 when non-security updates will be put to a halt. The fatal blow would come 6 years later when the company will cut all its ties with the software. Of course, the OS would still run after 2015. However, it would be reckless to stick with it considering that it won’t be updated anymore against any error or threat.

Many were saddened by the news, but weren’t a bit surprised. Everybody was already expecting that Microsoft would soon euthanize XP. The only question was when or how soon. I thought that we already got an answer last week when it was announced that all kinds of support over the OS would be cut by 2015. However, it would seem that Microsoft is not in a hurry to bury XP after all.

Extended CPR

Dell has recently announced that it would still be selling PCs bundled with XP. This is surprising since computer makers are supposed to be solidly one with Microsoft in exclusively promoting Windows Vista. Many were surprised then when Dell backtracked and decided to accommodate the growing clamor for XP machines.

You might suspect that the XP-bundled PCs are either low-end models or hand-me-downs. This is hardly the case. In fact, the new Dell XP PCs are powered by the latest processors. Needless to say, the units could easily handle Vista as if it’s DOS.

What made Dell decide to ditch its original plan of exclusively bundling its PCs with Vista is the growing number of complaints against the new OS. Many consumers are simply not happy with Vista. The popular PC maker is also being more receptive to consumer preference. Aside from offering XP again, it has also announced that it would soon release models bundled with Linux.

Delaying the Inevitable

You may surmise that Microsoft frowned upon Dell’s move. Well, you may have suspected or presumed wrongly. Of course, it’s a dent to the former’s campaign to get Vista into every PC in the world. However, giving its old product a new lease in life wouldn’t harm them. In fact, it’s a perfect opportunity for them to get rid of excess XP stocks rotting in their warehouses.

The news is quite vindicating for Vista critics. They have been emphasizing since day one that Vista has been unreasonably rushed and that it’s just XP sporting a new skin. I totally agree on the former, but I may have to temper my tongue on the latter. While the technology with which Vista is based has some similarities with the one used in XP, it’s definitely a lot different and far more advanced. Your PC’s muscles would not be wasted in Vista, that’s for sure.

I’m glad that an XP revival is already in the making. However, I doubt it if it could be sustained. The fact remains that there’s already a new OS. While it may not have lived up to its expectations, I’m sure that it will win critics over very soon.

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