Ed Bott cites the Pete Townsend defense in this journalistic walk on the Dark Side of the Net. I've been digging into message boards and forums run by unabashed Windows enthusiasts who are intent on breaking Microsoft’s activation technology. I've had these forums bookmarked for years and stop in every once in a while just to see what’s new. This time I decided to drop by and actually try some of tools and utilities to see if I could become a pirate, too. Unfortunately, I succeeded.
In Friday's Short Takes, I included the following blurb: Stupid People Writing Stupid Stories About Stupid Non-issues Surveying my so-called peers in the tech press can be depressing. This week is a typical example, with IDG News running a complete non-story FUD episode examining a so-called "Windows 7 issue," in which the new OS "maxes out" RAM usage at 86 percent—much higher than previous Windows versions. Attention, Joe Clueless. That's not a problem, it's a feature, and it's been around since Windows Vista. To speed performance, modern Windows versions preload applications you use frequently into memory. So, contrary to the claims in this article, the memory usage actually improves performance, not the reverse.
All of you out there still running the Windows 7 release candidate (RC), start looking forward to the shutdown of that OS. It won’t totally expire until June 1st of this year, but you will start getting nagged every few hours starting on February 15th. Then, on March 1st, users will begin seeing bi-hourly shutdowns of the OS. Microsoft warned, in a blog post : To avoid any data loss, I suggest making plans to move to a released version of Windows 7 before the automatic shutdowns start. During these shutdowns, your work will not be saved
I just received an email about this battery issue but had never experienced it (… to my knowledge, anyway. On the other hand, I'm not doing a lot of upgrades these days either). Apparently, Microsoft is looking into it : After installing the Windows 7 upgrade, many customers have seen their machine's battery life dwindle significantly, even when working with a freshly charged battery. They've also been confronted with the Windows 7 warning message: "Consider replacing your battery. There is a problem with your battery, so your computer might shut down suddenly." Ironically, Windows 7 was supposed to extend battery life on notebooks.
Microsoft recently delivered the Windows Experience Pack , a free download for users of Windows 7 and Windows Live Messenger: Customize Windows 7 and Windows Live Messenger — for free. Take a journey to the beach, escape to the mountains, explore the city, or go on a safari — while never leaving your PC. Create your own avatar for your Windows 7-powered desktop, then share it with your friends on Windows Live Messenger. Choose your destination to personalize your PC experience. Included for Windows 7 Get a Windows 7 theme including a desktop background featuring your avatar and a screensaver. Included for Windows Live Messenger Get a Windows Live Messenger personalization pack with display pictures, emoticons, and more
